A new procedure for peptide alignment in protein sequence determination using fast atom bombardment mass spectral data

A computer program allowing the correct alignment of peptides generated by a first cleaving agent during protein sequence determination studies has been developed. The program elaborates data obtained from fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis of different digests of the protein. The recorded mass values are used to identify peptides in these digests that overlap peptides from the first cleavage, thus making it possible to establish unambiguously the correct order of these peptides in the protein chain. This procedure has been tested on a model protein by reconstructing the complete sequence of human beta-globin chain, determining the correct alignment of 14 tryptic peptides.