Abstract:
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Mass spectrometry data generated in differential profiling of complex protein samples are classically exploited using database searches. In addition, quantitative profiling is performed by various methods, one of them using isotopically coded affinity tags, where one typically uses a light and a heavy tag. Here, we present a new algorithm, ICATcher, which detects pairs of light/heavy peptide MS/MS spectra independent of sequence databases. We also give a framework on how to organize spectrum pairs into links, clusters, and hyperclusters. The method can be used for de novo sequencing and detection of posttranslational modifications. ICATcher is distributed as open source software.