MS3 eliminates ratio distortion in isobaric labeling-based multiplexed quantitative proteomics

Quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics is highly versatile, but not easily multiplexed. Isobaric labeling strategies allow mass spectrometry-based multiplexed proteome quantification; however, ratio distortion due to protein quantification interference is a common effect. We present a multi-proteome model (mixture of human and yeast proteins) in a 6-plex isobaric labeling system to fully document the interference effect, and we report that a multistage MS3-based approach almost completely eliminates interference.