Béla Paizs
Ph.D. in chemistry, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary, 1998
M.Sc. degree in chemistry, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary, 1992
Address:
Im Neuenheimer Feld 580
Heidelberg D-69120
Germany
Tel.: 49-6221-422338
Fax.: 49-6221-422333
E-mail: B.Paizs(at)dkfz.de
Large-scale protein identification in proteomics is based on tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis of proteolytic peptides. In the MS/MS experiments peptides are ionized and dissociated, and the measured fragment ion spectra are used for sequencing. The basic information unit in large-scale protein identification studies is the peptide MS/MS spectrum that must unambiguously be assigned to achieve robust protein identification. To process the large number of MS/MS spectra acquired, bioinformatics tools are used to search protein databases to identify peptide sequences that are consistent with the experimental spectra.
The success of peptide sequencing strongly depends on our knowledge on gas-phase peptide chemistry. Our research aims at understanding the structure and reactivity of peptide ions with the help of modelling. We also collaborate with various experimental groups on related projects. Experimental techniques, like IRMPD and ion mobility spectroscopies and H/D exchange provide usually raw data that need further theoretical processing by modelling to understand the underlying chemistry.
Reliable large-scale protein identification in proteomics requires robust and secure bioinformatics tools for MS/MS-based peptide sequencing. Currently we are developing new sequencing algorithms that are based on the ‘Pathways in Competition’ (PIC) fragmentation model introduced by us.
B. Paizs and S. Suhai, Fragmentation Pathways of Protonated Peptides, Mass Spectrom. Rev., 2005, 24, 508-548.
N. C. Polfer, J. Oomens, S. Suhai and B. Paizs, Infrared Spectroscopy and Theoretical Studies on Gas-phase Protonated Leu-enkephalin and Its Fragments: Direct Experimental Evidence for the Mobile Proton, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129, 5887-5897.
A. G. Harrison, A. B. Young, C. Bleiholder, S. Suhai and B. Paizs, Scrambling of sequence information in collision-induced dissociation of peptides, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 10364-10365.
N. C. Polfer, J. Oomens, S. Suhai and B. Paizs, Spectroscopic and Theoretical Evidence for Oxazolone Ring Formation in Collision Induced Dissociation of Peptides, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 17154-17155.
B. Paizs and S. Suhai, Towards Understanding the Tandem Mass Spectra of Protonated Oligopeptides. 1: Mechanism of Amide Bond Cleavage. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom., 2004, 15, 103-113.