Development of a sample preparation method for monitoring correct disulfide linkages of monoclonal antibodies by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

The number and positions of disulfide linkages in a therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) play a crucial role in forming and stabilizing a correct mAb structure that is critical to its function. Peptide mapping by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of enzymatically digested mAb under nonreducing condition is a powerful method for disulfide linkage characterization to ensure mAb drug function and quality. However, the development of a robust sample preparation method with improved digestion efficiency and minimized disulfide scrambling for disulfide linkage analysis is essential but challenging. In this study, a sample preparation method for analysis of correct disulfide linkages in therapeutic mAbs was developed. Instead of common trypsin digestion, Lys-C plus trypsin was used in this approach to improve digestion efficiency. In addition, lower digestion temperature (25 °C) and lower digestion pH (pH 6.8) were also examined to minimize disulfide scrambling. Our results showed that Lys-C plus trypsin digestion at pH 6.8 and 25 °C is a better sample preparation condition for all therapeutic mAbs tested in this study because of a better digestion efficiency (all expected disulfide linkages can be confidently observed) and minimal disulfide scrambling.