Solution to dark matter identified by mass-tolerant database search

Abstract

Recently a mass-tolerant search approach was proposed which suggested novel types of abundant modification with delta masses that left many scratching their heads. These surprising new findings which were hard to explain were later referred to as dark matter of mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Rewards were promised for those who could solve these intriguing new findings. We propose here simple solutions to the novel delta masses identified by mass-tolerant database search.