Monodisperse REPO4 (RE=Yb, Gd, Y) Hollow Microspheres Covered with Nanothorns as Affinity Probes for Selectively Capturing and Labeling Phosphopeptides

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 18; no. 7; pp. 2014 - 2020
• Main Authors: Cheng, Gong, Zhang, Ji-Lin, Liu, Yan-Lin, Sun, De-Hui, Ni, Jia-Zuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 13.02.2012; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Chemistry; lanthanides; Lanthanoid Series Elements - chemistry; Microscopy; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microspheres; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; peptides; phosphate; Phosphopeptides - analysis; Phosphopeptides - chemistry; Probes; rare-earth metals; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Titanium dioxide; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201103328

Rare‐earth phosphate microspheres with unique structures were developed as affinity probes for the selective capture and tagging of phosphopeptides. Prickly REPO4 (RE=Yb, Gd, Y) monodisperse microspheres, that have hollow structures, low densities, high specific surface areas, and large adsorptive capacities were prepared by an ion‐exchange method. The elemental compositions and crystal structures of these affinity probes were confirmed by energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The morphologies of these compounds were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen‐adsorption isotherms. The potential ability of these microspheres for selectively capturing and labeling target biological molecules was evaluated by using protein‐digestion analysis and a real sample as well as by comparison with the widely used TiO2 affinity microspheres. These results show that these porous rare‐earth phosphate microspheres are highly promising probes for the rapid purification and recognition of phosphopeptides. Nanothorn in the flesh: The prickly REPO4 (RE=Yb, Gd, Y) hollow microspheres, which have low densities, high specific surface areas, and large adsorptive capacities, are promising affinity probes because they can selectively trap and label phosphopeptides from complex biological samples based on the specific affinity and catalysis of the rare‐earth ions and their unique hierarchical architectures.