LC-MS/MS Identification of Species-Specific Muscle Peptides in Processed Animal Proteins

An
innovative analytical strategy has been applied to identify
signature peptides able to distinguish among processed animal proteins
(PAPs) derived from bovine, pig, fish, and milk products. Proteomics
was first used to elucidate the proteome of each source. Starting
from the identified proteins and using a funnel based approach, a
set of abundant and well characterized peptides with suitable physical-chemical
properties (signature peptides) and specific for each source was selected.
An on-target LC-ESI-MS/MS method (MRM mode) was set up using standard
peptides and was then applied to selectively identify the PAP source
and also to distinguish proteins from bovine carcass and milk proteins.
We believe that the method described meets the request of the European
Commission which has developed a strategy for gradually lifting the
“total ban” toward “species to species ban”,
therefore requiring official methods for species-specific discrimination
in feed.