Absolute quantification of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout vitellogenin by the 'signature peptide' approach using electrospray ionization QqToF tandem mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry based detection of common vitellogenin peptides across fish species for assessing exposure to estrogenic compounds in aquatic environments

The identification of myriad of chemicals in the environment that mimic hormones and affect the endocrine functions of exposed organism is a daunting analytical challenge for environmental scientists and engineers. Many of these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present at very low concentrations in the aquatic systems, but yet affect the metabolic, developmental, and reproductive functions in exposed fish and wildlife. Vitellogenin (VTG) protein is a widely used biomarker in fish for assessing exposure to EDCs, and is commonly measured using species-specific immunochemical techniques. In this study, we developed a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method that can measure common peptides from digested VTG in multiple fish species. In the initial experiments using high resolution mass spectrometry, two peptides (ALHPELR and FIELIQLLR) were identified as common fragments in the digested VTG protein isolated from three different fish species (Pimephales promelas, Micropterus salmoides, and Fundulus heteroclitus). Then, a quantitative analysis using LC-MS/MS under selected reaction monitoring mode was developed for the detection of these two peptides in trypsin-digested plasma from female fish (positive control), estrogen-exposed male fish (test sample), and unexposed male fish (negative control) using two of the same species used for identifying the common peptides (P. promelas, and M. salmoides) and one new species (Ameiurus nebulosus) that was not included during the selection of peptides. Results from this study demonstrate the potential of LC-MS/MS as an effective cross-species method to detect VTG in fish, which can be an alternative analytical technique for assessing endocrine disruption in multiple fish species.

Targeted mass spectrometry: An emerging powerful approach to unblock the bottleneck in phosphoproteomics

Following the rapid expansion of the proteomics field, the investigation of post translational modifications (PTM) has become extremely popular changing our perspective of how proteins constantly fine tune cellular functions. Reversible protein phosphorylation plays a pivotal role in virtually all biological processes in the cell and it is one the most characterized PTM up to date. During the last decade, the development of phosphoprotein/phosphopeptide enrichment strategies and mass spectrometry (MS) technology has revolutionized the field of phosphoproteomics discovering thousands of new site-specific phosphorylations and unveiling unprecedented evidence about their modulation under distinct cellular conditions. The field has expanded so rapidly that the use of traditional methods to validate and characterize the biological role of the phosphosites is not feasible any longer. Targeted MS holds great promise for becoming the method of choice to study with high precision and sensitivity already known site-specific phosphorylation events. This review summarizes the contribution of large-scale unbiased MS analyses and highlights the need of targeted MS-based approaches for follow-up investigation. Additionally, the article illustrates the biological relevance of protein phosphorylation by providing examples of disease-related phosphorylation events and emphasizes the benefits of applying targeted MS in clinics for disease diagnosis, prognosis and drug-response evaluation.

Mechanisms of Egg Yolk Formation and Implications on Early Life History of White Perch (Morone americana)

The three white perch (Morone americana) vitellogenins (VtgAa, VtgAb, VtgC) were quantified accurately and precisely in the liver, plasma, and ovary during pre-, early-, mid-, and post-vitellogenic oocyte growth using protein cleavage-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (PC-IDMS). Western blotting generally mirrored the PC-IDMS results. By PC-IDMS, VtgC was quantifiable in pre-vitellogenic ovary tissues and VtgAb was quantifiable in pre-vitellogenic liver tissues however, neither protein was detected by western blotting in these respective tissues at this time point. Immunohistochemistry indicated that VtgC was present within pre-vitellogenic oocytes and localized to lipid droplets within vitellogenic oocytes. Affinity purification coupled to tandem mass spectrometry using highly purified VtgC as a bait protein revealed a single specific interacting protein (Y-box binding protein 2a-like [Ybx2a-like]) that eluted with suramin buffer and confirmed that VtgC does not bind the ovary vitellogenin receptors (LR8 and Lrp13). Western blotting for LR8 and Lrp13 showed that both receptors were expressed during vitellogenesis with LR8 and Lrp13 expression highest in early- and mid-vitellogenesis, respectively. The VtgAa within the ovary peaked during post-vitellogenesis, while VtgAb peaked during early-vitellogenesis in both white perch and the closely related striped bass (M. saxatilis). The VtgC was steadily accumulated by oocytes beginning during pre-vitellogenesis and continued until post-vitellogenesis and its composition varies widely between striped bass and white perch. In striped bass, the VtgC accounted for 26% of the vitellogenin-derived egg yolk, however in the white perch it comprised only 4%. Striped bass larvae have an extended developmental window and these larvae have yolk stores that may enable them to survive in the absence of food for twice as long as white perch after hatch. Thus, the VtgC may play an integral role in providing nutrients to late stage fish larvae prior to the onset of exogenous feeding and its composition in the egg yolk may relate to different early life histories among this diverse group of animals.

Characterizing changes in snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) cryptocyanin protein during molting using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

We report the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI-MS) characterization of the cryptocyanin proteins of the juvenile Chionoecetes opilio crabs during their molting and non-molting phases. In order to assess the structural cryptocyanin protein differences between the molting and non-molting phases, the obtained peptides were sequenced by MALDI low-energy collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID-MS/MS).

METHODS

The cryptocyanin protein was isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. The purified cryptocyanin protein was sequenced, using the 'bottom-up' approach. After tryptic digestion, the peptide mixture was analyzed by MALDI-QqTOF-MS/MS and the data obtained were used for the peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) identification by means of the Mascot database.

RESULTS

It was demonstrated using MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS that the actual molecular weights of the non-molting and molting cryptocyanin proteins were different; these were, respectively, 67.6 kDa and 68.1 kDa. Using low-energy CID-MS/MS we have sequenced the trytic peptides to monitor the differences and similarities between the cryptocyanin molecular structures during the molting and non-molting stages.

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated for the first time that the actual molecular masses of the cryptocyanin protein during the molting and non-molting phases were different. The MALDI-CID-MS/MS analyses allowed the sequencing of the cryptocyanins after tryptic digestion, during the molting and non-molting stages, and showed some similarities and staggering differences between the identified cryptocyanin peptides.

The use of selected reaction monitoring in quantitative proteomics

Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) has a long history of use in the area of quantitative MS. In recent years, the approach has seen increased application to quantitative proteomics, facilitating multiplexed relative and absolute quantification studies in a variety of organisms. This article discusses SRM, after introducing the context of quantitative proteomics (specifically primarily absolute quantification) where it finds most application, and considers topics such as the theory and advantages of SRM, the selection of peptide surrogates for protein quantification, the design of optimal SRM co-ordinates and the handling of SRM data. A number of published studies are also discussed to demonstrate the impact that SRM has had on the field of quantitative proteomics.

Vitellogenin-like proteins among invertebrate species diversity: potential of proteomic mass spectrometry for biomarker development

Cost-effective methodologies along with cross-species applicability constitute key points for biomarker development in ecotoxicology. With the advent of cheaper affordable genomic techniques and high throughput sequencing, omics tools could facilitate the assessment of effects of environmental contaminants for all taxa biodiversity. We assessed the potential of absolute quantification of proteins using mass spectrometry to develop vitellogenin (Vg)-like protein assays for invertebrates. We used available sequences in public databases to rapidly identify Vg-proteotypic peptides in seven species from different main taxa of protostome invertebrates (mollusk bivalves, crustacean amphipods, branchiopods, copepods and isopods, and insect diptera). Functional validation was performed by comparing proteomic signals from reproductive female tissue samples and negative controls (male or juvenile tissues). In a second part, we demonstrate in gammarids, daphnids, drosophilids, and gastropods that the assay validated in Vg-sequenced species can be applied to Vg-unsequenced species thanks to the evolutionary conservation of Vg-proteotypic peptide motifs. Finally, we discuss the relevance of mass spectrometry for biomarker development (specific measurement, rapid development, transferability across species). Our study supplies an illustration of the promising strategy to address the challenge of biodiversity in ecotoxicology, which consists in employing omics tools from comparative and evolutionary perspectives.

Quantification of Greenland halibut serum vitellogenin: a trip from the deep sea to the mass spectrometer

This paper focuses on the sequential steps involved in developing a technique for quantifying Greenland halibut vitellogenin, a serum protein biomarker, using a comprehensive mass spectrometric approach. In the first phase of this study, in-gel trypsin digestions of serum proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). A characteristic band around a molecular mass of 185 kDa, present in the mature female specimens, but absent in the male samples, was identified as vitellognin according to the peptide mass fingerprint obtained by MALDI-MS. Subsequently, MALDI and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) analyses were performed on the digest of the vitellogenin band for de novo sequencing. From these studies, a characteristic 'signature' peptide (sequence: FFGQEIAFANIDK) was selected from a list of candidate peptides as a surrogate analytical standard used for quantification purposes. Sample preparation for vitellogenin quantification consisted of a simple one-step overnight trypsin digestion. Samples were spiked with an isotopologue signature peptide standard and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled in-line to an electrospray quadrupole-hexapole-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer, operated in selective reaction monitoring mode. Transitions [(m/z 750.0 --> 1020.4 and 750.0 --> 1205.4) and (754.8 --> 1028.6 and 754.8 --> 1213.2)] were monitored for the signature peptide and the internal standard, respectively. Samples obtained from the field showed that vitellogenin levels were in accordance with fish maturity determined by macroscopic examination of the gonad, proving this technique suitable for measuring vitellogenin as a serum protein biomarker for reproductive maturity in female fish.

Bioanalysis of recombinant proteins and antibodies by mass spectrometry

In recent years, biotechnologically-derived drugs have been a major focus of research and development in the pharmaceutical industry. Their pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships impact every stage of the development process and require their assessment in the circulation in preclinical species and in humans. To this end, immunoassays are a reference, but standardisation remains an issue owing to the restricted pattern of antibody specificity and interference with endogenous components. As an alternative, we report here analytical strategies involving liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for the accurate quantification of therapeutic proteins and antibodies in biological fluids.

Absolute Quantitation of β-Lactoglobulin by Protein Liquid Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry and Its Application to Different Milk Products

The absolute quantitation of proteins in biological matrixes is of great interest in many fields and can be accomplished by different methodologies. Here, a method for the absolute quantitation of the whey protein beta-lactoglobulin using protein liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry is reported. The developed approach was characterized in detail and applied to the determination of beta-lactoglobulin contents in various milk products. A special focus was placed on the recovery rates of the isolation procedure and on robust quantitation by LC-MS. For these purposes protein internal standards were employed. The observed recovery rates of beta-lactoglobulin from various samples ranged from 100% for whole milk to just over 50% for a strongly processed yogurt-based baby food product. The influence of processing was investigated in greater detail, showing that an increasing intensity of the applied heat treatment resulted in an increasing loss of beta-lactoglobulin. LC-MS quantitation at the protein level proved to be highly suitable, avoiding a potentially problematic digestion step. The use of an appropriate internal standard to compensate for sample losses during sample workup was shown to be essential for obtaining accurate results.