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International journal of nanomedicine2017; 12; 4443-4454; doi: 10.2147/IJN.S136819

Species-specific identification of collagen components in Colla corii asini using a nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry proteomics approach.

Abstract: Colla corii asini (CCA) is a protein-based traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey skins. Because it has the ability to nourish blood, its demand is increasing rapidly. The shortage of donkey skins increases the risk of the adulteration of CCA products with other animal skins. To ensure the drug efficacy and safety of CCA products, a proteomics technique was applied to reveal proteins in the skins of donkey, horse, cattle, and pig. Species-specific peptides for each animal species were predicted using bioinformatics, and their presence in the skins and gelatin samples was examined by nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS). One unique marker peptide for each animal species was selected to develop an LC-MS/MS multiple reaction monitoring method. The capability of this method to identify donkey, horse, cattle, and pig materials was demonstrated by analyzing in-house-made donkey gelatins containing different amounts of other animal skins and commercial CCA products. The adulteration of non-donkey species could be sensitively detected at a low level of 0.5%. Hybrid animals, such as mules and hinnies, were also differentiated from donkeys. We provide a practical tool for the quality control of CCA products. The strategy can also be used to study other important traditional Chinese medicines which contain animal proteins.
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Publication Date: 2017-06-15 PubMed ID: 28670118PubMed Central: PMC5479303DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S136819Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study is about the development of a unique method using nanotechnology and bioinformatics to identify specific peptides in different animal skins, an essential step to ensure the quality and safety of traditional Chinese medicine products made from donkey skins, known as Colla corii asini (CCA).

Approach to Colla corii asini (CCA) Analysis

  • In this piece of research, the authors explore the production of Colla corii asini (CCA), a traditional Chinese medicine derived from donkey skins, used to bolster blood health. Due to increasing demand for CCA, there’s a noticeable scarcity of donkey skins leading to the potential adulteration of CCA products using other animal skins.
  • To safeguard the efficacy and safety of CCA products, it is crucial to identify any adulterations, and as such, a proteomics technique was utilized to investigate the proteins present in different animal skins.

Species-specific Peptides Identification

  • Scientists leveraged bioinformatics to predict unique peptides in the skin of different animal species, such as donkeys, horses, cattle, and pigs.
  • After prediction, they verified the presence of these peptides using a nanotechnology-based method, namely, nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS).
  • Through this process, a unique marker peptide for each animal species was identified.

Technique Development and Evaluation

  • Using the identified marker peptides, researchers developed an LC-MS/MS-based multiple reaction monitoring method.
  • This novel approach’s capability was demonstrated by evaluating its ability to differentiate between donkey, horse, cattle, and pig materials in CCA products.
  • The new technique was applied to in-house made donkey gelatins that included different proportions of other animal skins.
  • Further, the approach could even detect the inclusion of non-donkey species at extremely low levels, as little as 0.5%, demonstrating its sensitivity.
  • This technique could also differentiate between hybrid animals such as mules and hinnies from pure donkeys, illustrating its specificity.

Significance and Future Directions

  • This research delivered a practical tool to ensure traditional Chinese medicines are of high quality and safe for consumption.
  • This novel approach is not limited to CCA products and can also extend its utility to study other traditional Chinese medicines that incorporate animal proteins.

Cite This Article

APA
Li X, Shi F, Gong L, Hang B, Li D, Chi L. (2017). Species-specific identification of collagen components in Colla corii asini using a nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry proteomics approach. Int J Nanomedicine, 12, 4443-4454. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S136819

Publication

International journal of nanomedicine
ISSN: 1178-2013
NlmUniqueID: 101263847
Country: New Zealand
Language: English
Volume: 12
Pages: 4443-4454

Researcher Affiliations

Li, Xue
  • National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Glycobiology, and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Shi, Feng
  • Scientific Research Division, Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Gong, Liping
  • Scientific Research Division, Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Hang, Baojian
  • Scientific Research Division, Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Li, Daoyuan
  • National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Glycobiology, and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Chi, Lianli
  • National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Glycobiology, and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, Liquid / instrumentation
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Collagen / analysis
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Equidae
  • Gelatin / chemistry
  • Horses
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Proteins / analysis
  • Proteomics / instrumentation
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Skin / chemistry
  • Species Specificity
  • Swine
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / instrumentation
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Conflict of Interest Statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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