TransExION: a transformer based explainable similarity metric for comparing IONS in tandem mass spectrometry

Bibliographic Details
Title: TransExION: a transformer based explainable similarity metric for comparing IONS in tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Danh Bui-Thi, Youzhong Liu, Jennifer L. Lippens, Kris Laukens, Thomas De Vijlder
Source: Journal of Cheminformatics, Vol 16, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2024)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Information technology
LCC:Chemistry
Subject Terms: Tandem mass spectrometry, Small molecule identification, Spectral similarity, Structural similarity, Explainable deep neural network, Information technology, T58.5-58.64, Chemistry, QD1-999
More Details: Abstract Small molecule identification is a crucial task in analytical chemistry and life sciences. One of the most commonly used technologies to elucidate small molecule structures is mass spectrometry. Spectral library search of product ion spectra (MS/MS) is a popular strategy to identify or find structural analogues. This approach relies on the assumption that spectral similarity and structural similarity are correlated. However, popular spectral similarity measures, usually calculated based on identical fragment matches between the MS/MS spectra, do not always accurately reflect the structural similarity. In this study, we propose TransExION, a Transformer based Explainable similarity metric for IONS. TransExION detects related fragments between MS/MS spectra through their mass difference and uses these to estimate spectral similarity. These related fragments can be nearly identical, but can also share a substructure. TransExION also provides a post-hoc explanation of its estimation, which can be used to support scientists in evaluating the spectral library search results and thus in structure elucidation of unknown molecules. Our model has a Transformer based architecture and it is trained on the data derived from GNPS MS/MS libraries. The experimental results show that it improves existing spectral similarity measures in searching and interpreting structural analogues as well as in molecular networking. Scientific Contribution We propose a transformer-based spectral similarity metrics that improves the comparison of small molecule tandem mass spectra. We provide a post hoc explanation that can serve as a good starting point for unknown spectra annotation based on database spectra.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1758-2946
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1758-2946
DOI: 10.1186/s13321-024-00858-5
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/73ad185aefad4f4d9acc13963584d7e1
Accession Number: edsdoj.73ad185aefad4f4d9acc13963584d7e1
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:17582946
DOI:10.1186/s13321-024-00858-5
Published in:Journal of Cheminformatics
Language:English