Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry to Define Sortase Cleavage Products

Sortase enzymes have specific endopeptidase activity, cleaving within a defined pentapeptide sequence at the C-terminal end of their protein substrates. Here, we describe how monitoring sortase cleavage activity can be achieved using peptide substrates. Peptide cleavage can be readily analyzed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), which allows for the precise definition of cleavage sites. This technique could be used to analyze the peptidase activity of any enzyme, and identify sites of cleavage within any peptide.