Virtual 2-D Gel Electrophoresis: Visualization and Analysis of the E. coli Proteome by Mass Spectrometry

Abstract
Mass spectrometric surface analysis of isoelectric focusing gels provides an ultrasensitive approach to proteome analysis. This “virtual 2-D gel” approach, in which mass spectrometry is substituted for the size-based separation of SDS−PAGE, provides advantages in mass resolution and accuracy over classical 2-D gels and can be readily automated. Protein identities can be postulated from molecular mass (±0.1−0.2% for proteins of 2 to E. coli proteins.