Gradient-Elution Nanoflow Liquid Chromatography without a Binary Pump: Smoothed Step Gradients Enable Reproducible, Sensitive, and Low-Cost Separations for Single-Cell Proteomics.

Mass spectrometry-based proteome profiling of trace analytes including single cells benefits from liquid chromatography separations operated at low flow rates (e.g., <50 nL/min). However, high-pressure binary pumps needed to achieve such flow rates are not commercially available, and instead require splitting of the gradient flow to achieve low-nanoliter-per-minute flow rates. Gradient flow splitting can waste solvent and lead to flow inconsistencies. To address this, we have developed a method for creating gradients by combining plugs of mobile phase of increasing solvent strength together in a column, and then relying on Taylor dispersion to form the desired smooth gradient profile. Additionally, our method dramatically reduces costs, as only a single isocratic high-pressure pump is required. Following development of gradient profiles for both 10- and 20-min active gradients, we measured 200 pg injections of HeLa digest using a timsTOF mass spectrometer. Finally, we investigated differences in protein expression between single cells originating from two different colonies of ATG-knockout HeLa cells. Thousands of proteins were quantified, and a potential mechanism explaining differential immune responses of these two colonies upon exposure to viral DNA treatment was determined.