Fast and efficient sample preparation methods are a prerequisite for protein identification in bottom-up proteomics. Here, an innovative microwave irradiation sample preparation method was developed based on an optimized organic-aqueous solvent system for protein identification. Specifically, protein solutions containing high-concentration acetonitrile were subjected to 5 min microwave irradiation. After cooling down, trypsin was added and the digestion was performed with 30 s microwave irradiation, and the resulting peptides were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS). A shortened processing time of only 5.5 min is needed with this method(more than 12 h is necessary in the traditional overnight protein sample preparation). Moreover, due to the absence of urea and other chaotropic reagents, the digests can be readily identified by MALDI-TOF MS. When an assessment of this method was performed by digesting a model protein BSA, 69% ± 3% sequence coverage corresponding to 47 ± 3 peptides was obtained, which shows better protein identification than that from the standard overnight protein sample preparation method(51% ± 2% sequence coverage and 23 ± 1 peptides). Another model protein α-casein was used for the analysis of protein phosphorylation with the newly developed method that yielded 4 phosphopeptides with 8 phosphorylation sites, whereas 3 phosphopeptides with 2 phosphorylation sites were obtained from the traditional overnight approach. Moreover, the organic-aqueous microwave irradiation method provides effective digestion for proteins down to fmol.
