Synthesis and characterization of the N-terminal acetylated 17-23 fragment of thymosin beta 4 identified in TB-500, a product suspected to possess doping potential.

Drug testing and analysis201229 citationsPMID: 22962027

Plain Language Summary

This study identified and characterized the N-terminal acetylated 17-23 fragment of thymosin beta-4 (Ac-LKKTETQ) in TB-500, a product suspected of doping use in sports. Using high-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry, researchers detected and confirmed the peptide's identity. They synthesized the Ac-LKKTETQ fragment via solid-phase peptide synthesis and developed an analytical detection strategy for plasma and urine using triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry, providing anti-doping laboratories with tools to detect TB-500 use.

Abstract

The formulation TB-500 is suspected to be used as doping agent in sport. This work describes the detection and the identification of the N-terminal acetylated 17-23 fragment of human thymosin beta 4 (Ac-LKKTETQ) in TB-500 by means of high-performance liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry using an Orbitrap Exactive benchtop mass spectrometer. Ac-LKKTETQ was also synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis, and an analytical strategy for detection in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography/low resolution triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry was suggested.

Authors

Esposito, Simone; Deventer, Koen; Goeman, Jan; Van der Eycken, Johan; Van Eenoo, Peter