MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Zeins Extracted from Maize Seeds

Abstract

Abstract We report the mass spectrometric analysis of zeins extracted from degreased maize flour with either an aqueous 70% ethanol solution or 60% acetonitrile containing 10 mM dithiothreitol. The analysis was performed on a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer using α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid as matrix. The method allowed the detection of α-, β- and γ-zeins, but not δ-zeins and was used for the analysis of zein content in the maize inbred KWS 3381 and in commercial flour at different flour particles sizes: between 710 μm and 1.0 mm, between 250 μm and 355 μm and smaller than 100 μm.