Verification of Protein Biomarker Specificity for the Identification of Biological Stains by Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

• NCJ Number: 252304
• Journal: ELECTROPHORESIS: Volume: 38 Issue: 6 Dated: 2017
• Author(s): Kevin M. Legg; Roger Powell; Nichole Reisdorph; Rick Reisdorph; Philip B. Danielson
• Date Published: March 2017
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2006-DN-BX-K001; 2009-DN-BX-K165
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Isolation of Highly-Specific Protein Markers for the Identification of Biological Stains: Adapting Comparative Proteomics to Forensics; Validation of Highly-Specific Protein Markers for the Identification of Biological Stains

Annotation

This article reports on a project that developed a multiplex quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry assay to verify the tissue/body fluid specificity the 23 protein biomarkers that comprise these panels and the consistency with which they can be detected across a sample population of 50 humans.

Abstract

Advances in proteomics technology over the past decade offer forensic serologists a greatly improved opportunity to accurately characterize the tissue source from which a DNA profile has been developed. Such information can provide critical context to evidence and can help to prioritize downstream DNA analyses. Previous proteome studies compiled panels of "candidate biomarkers" specific to each of five body fluids (i.e., peripheral blood, vaginal/menstrual fluid, seminal fluid, urine, and saliva). In the current study, single‐source samples of these human body fluids were accurately identified by the detection of one or more high‐specificity biomarkers. Recovery of body fluid samples from a variety of substrates did not impede accurate characterization and, of the potential inhibitors assayed, only chewing tobacco juice appeared to preclude the identification of a target body fluid. Using a series of 2‐component mixtures of human body fluids, the multiplex assay accurately identified both components in a single‐pass. Only in the case of saliva and peripheral blood did matrix effects appear to impede the detection of salivary proteins. (Publisher abstract modified)