The high level of participation (i.e., 40 labs submitted peptide samples) in last year's study has encouraged this committee to again ask ABRF member laboratories to synthesize and submit aliquots of a peptide that will then be extensively characterized by a variety of techniques. These will include amino acid analysis, CZE, HPLC, and mass spectrometry, with the latter utilizing three different ionization modes (PDMS, FABMS, and ESMS). In addition, selected peptide resins will be subjected to "on resin" sequencing. Based on the experience and results gained from the 1991 peptide, the committee has designed a new sequence for 1992 that should significantly extend and elaborate on last year's findings, which are detailed in (Smith, et al, in Techniques in Protein Chemistry III, Angeletti, R., ed. Academic Press, 1992).
Participating core facilities have been asked to synthesize a 16 residue peptide by the method most commonly used in their laboratory and to then submit aliquots of the resin-peptide, crude cleaved peptide and, when available, the purified peptide to the peptide synthesis/mass spectrometry committee for analysis. By submitting samples via a third party, the absolute anonymity of all participants is guaranteed.
Upon completion of the study, participating laboratories will receive a package of data that will include both the detailed results of the above analyses of their sample as well as a compilation of the overall data obtained in this study. Since the 1992 peptide sequence has already been selected (and tested), all paid ABRF core facility directors should have received a letter detailing this study by the middle of March. By conducting this study, the peptide synthesis/mass spectrometry committee hopes to provide ABRF core facilities with an effective means for evaluating their own peptide synthesis capabilities in relationship to a large number of other laboratories.
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