William S. Hancock

Full Professor

140 The Fenway
Tel: 617.373.4881
Fax: 617.373.8795
wi.hancock@neu.edu

Analytical and Protein Chemistry

Education:

1970 Ph.D., Adelaide University, South Australia
1966 B.Sc., Adelaide University, South Australia

Research Interests

Prof. Hancock’s research is directed at the study of disease mechanisms and discovery of potential therapeutic agents by proteomic analysis of biological fluids and tissue samples. Proteomic analysis is performed by an approach known as shotgun sequencing in which a sample is digested with a proteolytic enzyme and the resulting complex peptide mixture is separated by HPLC. The identity of the peptide is determined by on-line mass spectrometry (ion trap or Fourier transform), using MS/MS fragmentation patterns and accurate mass measurements. The corresponding proteins are then identified by searching of genomic and proteomic databases and in a typical analysis of plasma several hundred proteins are identified.

Prof. Hancock’s laboratory has developed two new platforms that significantly extend the dynamic range of clinical proteomic studies. One approach uses combinations of lectins to study the glycoproteome of blood samples from cancer patients. The other platform uses highly specific MW filtration to analyze peptides in blood generated by disease-associated proteolysis and is being applied to the understanding of diabetes and autoimmune diseases.

Selected Publications

"Glycation of Interferon-beta-1b and human serum albumin in a lyophilized glucose formulation", Zheng, X., Wu, S.L., and Hancock, W.S. (2006) Int. J. Pharmaceutics, 322, 136-145.

"Analysis of the Low Molecular Weight Serum Peptidome Using Ultrafiltration and a Hybrid Ion Trap-Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometer", Zheng, X., Baker, H., and Hancock, W.S. (2006) J. Chromatogr., 1120, 173-184.

"Characterization of Multiple Glycoprotein Biomarker Candidates in Serum from Breast Cancer Patients Using Multi-lectin Affinity Chromatography (M-LAC)", Yang, Z., Harris, L.E., Palmer-Toy, D.E. and Hancock, W.S. (2006) Clin. Chem.,52, 1897-1905.

"A Proteomic Analysis of the Plasma Glycoproteins of a MCF-7 Mouse Xenograft : A Model System for the Detection of Tumor Markers", Orazine, C.I., Hincapie, M., Hancock, W.S., Hattersley, M.and Hanke, J. (2008) J. Proteome Res., 7, 1542-54.

"A Two Step Fractionation Approach for Plasma proteomics Using Immunodepletion of Abundant Proteins and Multi-lectin Affinity Chromatography (M-LAC) : Application to the Analysis of Obesity, Diabetes and Hypertension", Dayarathna†, MKD, Hancock, W.S. and Hincapie, M. (2008) J. Sep. Science, 6-7, 1156-66.

"Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Innovator, Counterfeit, and Follow-On Recombinant Human Growth Hormone", Jiang, H., Wu, S.-L., Karger, B. and Hancock, W.S. (2009) Biotechnology Progress, 25(1), 207-218.

"Mass Spectrometric Determination of Disulfide Linkages in Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins Using Online LC-MS with Electron-Transfer Dissociation", Wu, S-L., Jiang, H., Lu, Q, Dai, S., Hancock, W.S. and Karger, B.L. (2009), Anal. Chem., 81, 1, 112-122.

"Development of Different Analysis Platforms with LC-MS for Pharmacokinetic Studies of Protein Drugs", Lu, Q., Zheng, X., McIntosh, T., Davis, H., Nemeth, J.F., Pendley, C., Wu, S.-L and Hancock W.S., Anal Chem. (2009) 81(21):8715-23.

"An Automated Platform for Fractionation of Human Plasma Glycoproteome in Clinical Proteomics", Kullolli, M., Hancock, W.S., and Hincapie,M., Anal.Chem., (2010), 82, 115-120.

"Characterization of the Glycosylation Occupancy and the Active Site in the Follow-on Protein Therapeutic: TNK-Tissue Plasminogen Activator", Jiang, H., Wu, S.L., Hancock, W.S. and Karger, B.L., Anal.Chem., (2010) 82(14):6154-62.