I found the site (http://sx102a.niddk.nih.gov/smass.html) that Len Packman
(Thank you very much) passed along to the ABRF Bulletin Board to be very
exciting. I think Dr. Lewis Pannell and his group should be congratulated, and
supported in their dealings with the NCBI.
I just have a quick comment from my brief experience using the searchable mass
database this evening for a couple of peptides I have recently synthesized.
When I searched for the mass for Neuropeptide Y, 4271.7, the result was for
Neropeptide Y, # P09640, having a mass of 4272.7 while noting that the 36th
position (the C-terminus) was amidated. Also, when I searched for the mass of
the chemokine MIP-1alpha, 7783.7, the result was for MIP-1alpha, # AAC03539.1,
having a mass of 7787.7. Both differences seem to stem from the one-letter code
sequence for the protein generating the mass value and not taking into account
things like C-terminal amidation or disulfide bridges (2 in the case of
MIP-1alpha). I know the above issues are trivial, but should be recognized.
Personally, I would love to see a searchable mass software application that
allows the synthetic peptide chemist to enter the side-chain protecting groups
used in the synthesis, in order to more easily identify side products. Yeah, I
know it would be challenging, but wishful thinking is nice too.
Again, I encourage others to use the searchable mass database and support Dr.
Pannell in his dealings with the NCBI and the National Librarty of Medicine.
Cheers,
Dick
Dr. Richard Noble
PE Biosystems
email: noblern@pebio.com
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