Improved breast milk proteome coverage by DIA based LC-MS/MS method




Viitaharju, Jenni; Polari, Lauri; Kauko, Otto; Merilahti, Johannes; Rokka, Anne; Toivola, Diana M.; Laitinen, Kirsi

PublisherWiley-VCH

2024

Proteomics

Proteomics

Proteomics

2300340

24

14

1615-9853

1615-9861

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.202300340

https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.202300340

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/456994723



The breast milk composition includes a multitude of bioactive factors such as viable cells, lipids and proteins. Measuring the levels of specific proteins in breast milk plasma can be challenging because of the large dynamic range of protein concentrations and the presence of interfering substances. Therefore, most proteomic studies of breast milk have been able to identify under 1000 proteins. Optimised procedures and the latest separation technologies used in milk proteome research could lead to more precise knowledge of breast milk proteome. This study (n = 53) utilizes three different protein quantification methods, including direct DIA, library-based DIA method and a hybrid method combining direct DIA and library-based DIA. On average we identified 2400 proteins by hybrid method. By applying these methods, we quantified body mass index (BMI) associated variation in breast milk proteomes. There were 210 significantly different proteins when comparing the breast milk proteome of obese and overweight mothers. In addition, we analysed a small cohort (n = 5, randomly selected from 53 samples) by high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS). FAIMS coupled with the Orbitrap Fusion Lumos mass spectrometer, which led to 41.7% higher number of protein identifications compared to Q Exactive HF mass spectrometer.


This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (#258606 (Kirsi Laitinen) and #332582 (Diana M. Toivola). State research funding for university-level health research of the Turku University Hospital Expert Responsibility Area (Kirsi Laitinen), the Diabetes Research Foundation (Kirsi Laitinen), the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation (Kirsi Laitinen), the Juho Vainio Foundation (Kirsi Laitinen), Tyks Foundation (Jenni Viitaharju) and Sigrid Juselius Foundation (Kirsi Laitinen). These funding sources had no role in the design, execution, analyses, interpretation of the data, or decision to submit these results.


Last updated on 2025-13-03 at 12:25