Papain digestion of different mouse IgG subclasses as studied by electrospray mass spectrometry.

On-line liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) has been utilized to monitor the papain digestion of mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of different subclasses (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3). The method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and allows for simultaneous determination of digestion products and the identification of microheterogenous fragments. The results provide important insight into the mechanism of papain digestion of mouse IgGs of different subclasses.