Accelerated on-column lysine derivatization and cysteine methylation by imidazole reaction in a deuterated environment for enhanced product ion analysis

N-terminal protein characterization by mass spectrometry using combined microscale liquid and solid-phase derivatization

A sample-preparation method for N-terminal peptide isolation from protein proteolytic digests has been developed. Protein thiols and primary amines were protected by carboxyamidomethylation and acetylation, respectively, followed by trypsinization. The digest was bound to ZipTip(C18) pipette tips for reaction of the newly generated N-termini with sulfosuccinimidyl-6-[3'-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionamido] hexanoate. The digest was subsequently exposed to hydroxylamine for reversal of hydroxyl group acylation, followed by reductive release of the pyridine-2-thione moiety from the derivatives. The thiol group-functionalized internal and C-terminal peptides were reversibly captured by covalent chromatography on activated thiol sepharose leaving the N-terminal fragment free in solution. The use of the reversed-phase supports as a reaction bed enabled optimization of the serial modification steps for throughput and completeness of derivatization. The use of the sample-preparation method was demonstrated with low picomole amounts of in-solution- and in-gel-digested protein. The N-terminal peptide was selectively retrieved from the affinity support. The sample-preparation method provides for throughput, robustness, and simplicity of operation using standard equipment available in most biological laboratories and is anticipated to be readily expanded to proteome-wide applications.

C-terminal protein characterization by mass spectrometry: isolation of C-terminal fragments from cyanogen bromide-cleaved protein

A sample preparation method for protein C-terminal peptide isolation from cyanogen bromide (CNBr) digests has been developed. In this strategy, the analyte was reduced and carboxyamidomethylated, followed by CNBr cleavage in a one-pot reaction scheme. The digest was then adsorbed on ZipTipC18 pipette tips for conjugation of the homoserine lactone-terminated peptides with 2,2'-dithiobis (ethylamine) dihydrochloride, followed by reductive release of 2-aminoethanethiol from the derivatives. The thiol-functionalized internal and N-terminal peptides were scavenged on activated thiol sepharose, leaving the C-terminal peptide in the flow-through fraction. The use of reversed-phase supports as a venue for peptide derivatization enabled facile optimization of the individual reaction steps for throughput and completeness of reaction. Reagents were replaced directly on the support, allowing the reactions to proceed at minimal sample loss. By this sequence of solid-phase reactions, the C-terminal peptide could be recognized uniquely in mass spectra of unfractionated digests by its unaltered mass signature. The use of the sample preparation method was demonstrated with low-level amounts of a whole, intact model protein. The C-terminal fragments were retrieved selectively and efficiently from the affinity support. The use of covalent chromatography for C-terminal peptide purification enabled recovery of the depleted material for further chemical and/or enzymatic manipulation. The sample preparation method provides for robustness and simplicity of operation and is anticipated to be expanded to gel-separated proteins and in a scaled-up format to high-throughput protein profiling in complex biological mixtures.

Optimization of the β-elimination/michael addition chemistry on reversed-phase supports for mass spectrometry analysis of O-linked protein modifications

We previously adapted the β-elimination/Michael addition chemistry to solid-phase derivatization on reversed-phase supports, and demonstrated the utility of this reaction format to prepare phosphoseryl peptides in unfractionated protein digests for mass spectrometric identification and facile phosphorylation-site determination. Here, we have expanded the use of this technique to β-N-acetylglucosamine peptides, modified at serine/threonine, phosphothreonyl peptides, and phosphoseryl/phosphothreonyl peptides, followed in sequence by proline. The consecutive β-elimination with Michael addition was adapted to optimize the solid-phase reaction conditions for throughput and completeness of derivatization. The analyte remained intact during derivatization and was recovered efficiently from the silica-based, reversed-phase support with minimal sample loss. The general use of the solid-phase approach for enzymatic dephosphorylation was demonstrated with phosphoseryl and phosphothreonyl peptides and was used as an orthogonal method to confirm the identity of phosphopeptides in proteolytic mixtures. The solid-phase approach proved highly suitable to prepare substrates from low-level amounts of protein digests for phosphorylation-site determination by chemical-targeted proteolysis. The solid-phase protocol provides for a simple, robust, and efficient tool to prepare samples for phosphopeptide identification in MALDI mass maps of unfractionated protein digests, using standard equipment available in most biological laboratories. The use of a solid-phase analytical platform is expected to be readily expanded to prepare digest from O-glycosylated- and O-sulfonated proteins for mass spectrometry-based structural characterization.

Phosphopeptide enrichment by covalent chromatography after derivatization of protein digests immobilized on reversed-phase supports

A rugged sample-preparation method for comprehensive affinity enrichment of phosphopeptides from protein digests has been developed. The method uses a series of chemical reactions to incorporate efficiently and specifically a thiol-functionalized affinity tag into the analyte by barium hydroxide catalyzed β-elimination with Michael addition using 2-aminoethanethiol as nucleophile and subsequent thiolation of the resulting amino group with sulfosuccinimidyl-2-(biotinamido) ethyl-1,3-dithiopropionate. Gentle oxidation of cysteine residues, followed by acetylation of α- and ε-amino groups before these reactions, ensured selectivity of reversible capture of the modified phosphopeptides by covalent chromatography on activated thiol sepharose. The use of C18 reversed-phase supports as a miniaturized reaction bed facilitated optimization of the individual modification steps for throughput and completeness of derivatization. Reagents were exchanged directly on the supports, eliminating sample transfer between the reaction steps and thus, allowing the immobilized analyte to be carried through the multistep reaction scheme with minimal sample loss. The use of this sample-preparation method for phosphopeptide enrichment was demonstrated with low-level amounts of in-gel-digested protein. As applied to tryptic digests of α-S1- and β-casein, the method enabled the enrichment and detection of the phosphorylated peptides contained in the mixture, including the tetraphosphorylated species of β-casein, which has escaped chemical procedures reported previously. The isolates proved highly suitable for mapping the sites of phosphorylation by collisionally induced dissociation. β-Elimination, with consecutive Michael addition, expanded the use of the solid-phase-based enrichment strategy to phosphothreonyl peptides and to phosphoseryl/phosphothreonyl peptides derived from proline-directed kinase substrates and to their O-sulfono- and O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc)-modified counterparts. Solid-phase enzymatic dephosphorylation proved to be a viable tool to condition O-GlcNAcylated peptide in mixtures with phosphopeptides for selective affinity purification. Acetylation, as an integral step of the sample-preparation method, precluded reduction in recovery of the thiolation substrate caused by intrapeptide lysine-dehydroalanine cross-link formation. The solid-phase analytical platform provides robustness and simplicity of operation using equipment readily available in most biological laboratories and is expected to accommodate additional chemistries to expand the scope of solid-phase serial derivatization for protein structural characterization.

The effect of starvation stress on Lactobacillus brevis L62 protein profile determined by de novo sequencing in positive and negative mass spectrometry ion mode

RATIONALE

We describe a novel negative chemically activated fragmentation/positive chemically activated fragmentation (CAF-/CAF+) technique for protein identification. The technique was used to investigate Lactobacillus brevis adaptation to nutrient deprivation.

METHODS

The CAF-/CAF+ method enables de novo sequencing of derivate peptides with negative and positive ion mode matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Peptide sequences obtained from MS/MS spectra were matched against the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) non-redundant (nr) database and confirmed by the mass spectrometry data of elucidated peptide mass sequences derived from the annotated genome. This improved protein identification method highlighted 36 differentially expressed proteins in the proteome of L. brevis after 75 days of starvation.

RESULTS

The results revealed the key differences in the metabolic pathways that are responsible for the survival of L. brevis in a hostile environment. Proteomics analysis demonstrated that numerous proteins engaged in glucose and amino-acid catabolizing pathways, glycerolipid metabolizing pathways, and stress-response mechanisms are differentially expressed after long-term starvation. Amino acid and proteomics analysis indicated that starved L. brevis metabolized arginine, glycine, and histidine from dead cells as alternative nutrient sources. The production of lactic acid also varied between the parent cells and the starved cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Differentially expressed proteins identified exclusively by peptide sequence reading provided promising results for CAF-/CAF+ implementation in a standard proteomics workflow (e.g., biomarker and mutation discovery and biotyping). The practical performance of a reliable de novo sequencing technique in routine proteomics analysis is emphasized in this article.

C-terminal protein characterization by mass spectrometry using combined micro scale liquid and solid-phase derivatization

A sample preparation method for protein C-terminal peptide isolation has been developed. In this strategy, protein carboxylate glycinamidation was preceded by carboxyamidomethylation and optional α- and ϵ-amine acetylation in a one-pot reaction, followed by tryptic digestion of the modified protein. The digest was adsorbed on ZipTip(C18) pipette tips for sequential peptide α- and ϵ-amine acetylation and 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide-mediated carboxylate condensation with ethylenediamine. Amino group-functionalized peptides were scavenged on N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated agarose, leaving the C-terminal peptide in the flow-through fraction. The use of reversed-phase supports as a venue for peptide derivatization enabled facile optimization of the individual reaction steps for throughput and completeness of reaction. Reagents were exchanged directly on the support, eliminating sample transfer between the reaction steps. By this sequence of solid-phase reactions, the C-terminal peptide could be uniquely recognized in mass spectra of unfractionated digests of moderate complexity. The use of the sample preparation method was demonstrated with low-level amounts of a model protein. The C-terminal peptides were selectively retrieved from the affinity support and proved highly suitable for structural characterization by collisionally induced dissociation. The sample preparation method provides for robustness and simplicity of operation using standard equipment readily available in most biological laboratories and is expected to be readily expanded to gel-separated proteins.

Phosphopeptide characterization by mass spectrometry using reversed-phase supports for solid-phase β-elimination/Michael addition

We have adapted the Ba(2+) ion-catalyzed concurrent Michael addition reaction to solid-phase derivatization on ZipTip(C18) pipette tips using 2-aminoethanethiol as a nucleophile. This approach provides several advantages over the classical in-solution-based techniques, including ease of operation, completeness of reaction, improved throughput, efficient use of dilute samples, and amenability to automation. Phosphoseryl and phosphothreonyl peptides, as well as phosphoserine peptides with adjoining prolines, were used to optimize the reaction conditions, which proved highly compatible with the integrity of the samples. The analyte was recovered from the silica-based C18 resin at minimal sample loss. The use of the protocol for improved phosphopeptide detection by signal enhancement was demonstrated with low-level amounts of proteolytic digests from model proteins and experimental samples, an effect found especially prominent with multiple phosphorylated species. The reaction products proved highly suitable for structural characterization by collisionally induced dissociation (CID), and the resultant increased spectral information content, greatly facilitating mapping of the site of phosphorylation. In select cases, the method enables phosphorylation site localization within known protein sequences on the basis of single-stage data alone. The solid-phase strategy presented here provides a simple, versatile, and efficient tool for phosphopeptide structural characterization equipment readily available in most biological laboratories.

Minimization of side reactions during Lys Tag derivatization of C-terminal lysine peptides

Several issues need to be considered concerning chemical labeling strategies in proteomics. Some of these are labeling specificity, possible side reactions, completeness of reaction, recovery rate, conserving integrity of sample, hydrolysis of peptide bonds at high pH, and signal suppression in mass spectrometry (MS). We tested the effects of different reaction conditions for 2-methoxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole (Lys Tag) derivatization of the ε-amine group of lysine (K) residues. By using nanoflow LC-electrospray ionization-MS (LC-ESI-MS) and MS/MS in combination with MSight 2-D image analysis, we found that standard Lys Tag derivatization processes and conditions induce side reactions such as (i) Lys Tag labeling of the N-terminus, (ii) methylation of internal aspartic acid (D), glutamic acid (E) and C- and N-peptide termini and (iii) deamidation of asparagine (N) and glutamine (Q). We found temperature and pH to be the main variables to control side reactions. Lowering the reaction temperature from 55°C to room temperature reduced deamidation from 22.8±1.4% (SEM) to 7.7±5.5% (SEM) and almost totally blocked methylation (7.0±1.2% (SEM) to 0.4±0.4% (SEM) of the internal acidic amino acids (D and E) at high pH. We conclude that lowering the reaction temperature minimizes undesired side reactions during Lys Tag derivatization in solution.

Applications of chemical tagging approaches in combination with 2DE and mass spectrometry

Chemical modification reactions play an important role in various protocols for mass-spectrometry-based proteome analysis; this applies to both gel-based and gel-free proteomics workflows. In combination with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE), the addition of "tags" by means of chemical reactions serves several purposes. Potential benefits include increased sensitivity or sequence coverage for peptide mass fingerprinting and improved peptide fragmentation for de novo sequencing studies. Tagging strategies can also be used to obtain complementary quantitative information in addition to densitometry, and they may be employed for the study of post-translational modifications. In combination with the unique advantages of 2DE as a separation technique, such approaches provide a powerful toolbox for proteomic research. In this review, relevant examples from recent literature will be given to illustrate the capabilities of chemical tagging approaches, and methodological requirements will be discussed.

Lys Tag: an easy and robust chemical modification for improved de novo sequencing with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Mass spectrometry using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) instrument is a widespread technique for various types of proteomic analysis. Along with an expanding interest in proteomics, there is a strong requirement for the identification of proteins with high confidence from biological samples. Peptide modification by a wide variety of post-translational modifications (PTMs), the existence of different protein isoforms and the presence of uncharacterized genomes of many species, make protein identification through peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) often unachievable. Peptide de novo sequencing has been proven to be a useful approach to overcome these variables, and efficient derivatization processes are important tools to achieve this goal. In the present work we describe the methodology and experimental applications of a fast, efficient and cheap lysine derivatization. This chemical modification improves the signals from lysine-terminated peptides and can be efficiently used as a lysine-blocking agent in combination with other derivatization techniques. Most importantly, upon peptide fragmentation it generates a neat series of predominantly y-ions, allowing the determination of unambiguous amino acid sequences. Moreover, this chemical compound was used with target-eluted samples, enabling a second, alternative analysis of the same sample in the MALDI mass spectrometer.

Automated derivatization and analysis of malondialdehyde using column switching sample preparation HPLC with fluorescence detection

Analyte derivatization is advantageous for the analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a biomarker of oxidative stress in biological samples. Conventionally, however, derivatization is time consuming, error-prone and has limited options for automation. We have addressed these challenges for the solid phase analytical derivatization of MDA from small volume tissue homogenate samples. A manual derivatization method was first developed using Amberlite XAD-2 (12 mg) as the solid phase. Subsequently an automated column switching process was developed that provided simultaneous derivatization and extraction of the MDA-DH hydrazone product on a cartridge packed with XAD-2, followed by quantitative elution of the product to an analytical LC column (Waters NovoPak C18, 3.9 x 150 mm). The LOD was 0.02 microg/mL and recovery was quantitative. The method was linear (r(2) >0.999) with precision < 5% from the LOQ (0.06 microg/mL) to at least 35 microg/mL. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of small volume (30 microL) mouse tissue homogenate samples. Endogenous levels of MDA in the tissues ranged from 20 to 40 nmol/g tissue (ca. 0.1-0.2 microg/mL homogenate). Compared to conventional MDA analyses, the current method has advantages in automation, selectivity, precision and sensitivity for analysis from very small sample volumes.

Quantitative analysis of polypeptide pharmaceuticals by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

An accurate method based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) has been developed for quantitative analysis of calcitonin and insulin in different commercially available pharmaceutical products. Tryptic peptides derived from these polypeptides were chemically modified at their C-terminal lysine-residues with 2-methoxy-4,5-dihydro-imidazole (light tagging) as standard and deuterated 2-methoxy-4,5-dihydro-imidazole (heavy tagging) as internal standard (IS). The heavy modified tryptic peptides (4D-Lys tag), differed by four atomic mass units from the corresponding light labelled counterparts (4H-Lys tag). The normalized peak areas (the ratio between the light and heavy tagged peptides) were used to construct a standard curve to determine the concentration of the analytes. The concentrations of calcitonin and insulin content of the analyzed pharmaceutical products were accurately determined, and less than 5% error was obtained between the present method and the manufacturer specified values. It was also found that the cysteine residues in CSNLSTCVLGK from tryptic calcitonin were converted to lanthionine by the loss of one sulfhydryl group during the labelling procedure.

Production of active eukaryotic proteins through bacterial expression systems: a review of the existing biotechnology strategies

Among the various expression systems employed for the over-production of proteins, bacteria still remains the favorite choice of a Protein Biochemist. However, even today, due to the lack of post-translational modification machinery in bacteria, recombinant eukaryotic protein production poses an immense challenge, which invariably leads to the production of biologically in-active protein in this host. A number of techniques are cited in the literature, which describe the conversion of inactive protein, expressed as an insoluble fraction, into a soluble and active form. Overall, we have divided these methods into three major groups: Group-I, where the factors influencing the formation of insoluble fraction are modified through a stringent control of the cellular milieu, thereby leading to the expression of recombinant protein as soluble moiety; Group-II, where protein is refolded from the inclusion bodies and thereby target protein modification is avoided; Group-III, where the target protein is engineered to achieve soluble expression through fusion protein technology. Even within the same family of proteins (e.g., tyrosine kinases), optimization of standard operating protocol (SOP) may still be required for each protein's over-production at a pilot-scale in Escherichia coli. However, once standardized, this procedure can be made amenable to the industrial production for that particular protein with minimum alterations.

Production of active eukaryotic proteins through bacterial expression systems: a review of the existing biotechnology strategies

Among the various expression systems employed for the over-production of proteins, bacteria still remains the favorite choice of a Protein Biochemist. However, even today, due to the lack of post-translational modification machinery in bacteria, recombinant eukaryotic protein production poses an immense challenge, which invariably leads to the production of biologically in-active protein in this host. A number of techniques are cited in the literature, which describe the conversion of inactive protein, expressed as an insoluble fraction, into a soluble and active form. Overall, we have divided these methods into three major groups: Group-I, where the factors influencing the formation of insoluble fraction are modified through a stringent control of the cellular milieu, thereby leading to the expression of recombinant protein as soluble moiety; Group-II, where protein is refolded from the inclusion bodies and thereby target protein modification is avoided; Group-III, where the target protein is engineered to achieve soluble expression through fusion protein technology. Even within the same family of proteins (e.g., tyrosine kinases), optimization of standard operating protocol (SOP) may still be required for each protein's over-production at a pilot-scale in Escherichia coli. However, once standardized, this procedure can be made amenable to the industrial production for that particular protein with minimum alterations.

Structural characterization of PEGylated rHuG-CSF and location of PEG attachment sites

Mass spectrometry structural characterization is an essential tool in validating the quality of PEG-rHu-proteins. However, in either case top-down or bottom-up fashion, the interference of high intensity PEG signals on MS detection or detrimental influence of PEG on protein structure, leads to incomplete structural characterization. We propose here a method that permits complete and reliable structural characterization of PEGylated recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rHuG-CSF). The approach includes on-column 2-methoxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole derivatization of digested PEG rHuG-CSF and subsequent LC/MS investigation. By comparing the LC/MS retention of derivatized and underivatized digested PEG rHuG-CSF, location of the PEG attachment within rHuG-CSF could be deduced. Besides, the protein sequence coverage and position of the disulfide bridges was fully deducible from the MS data interpretation. Additionally, ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-to-the-E (UPLC-MS(E)) was introduced for analysis of label-free digested PEG rHuG-CSF here to enable high resolution and mass accuracy of MS detection and facilitate deep structural insights of peptides.

Standardisation of rapid in-gel digestion by mass spectrometry

In-gel digestion has been standardised using a poly(propylene) disposable. We designed a four-step rapid and simple in-gel digestion protocol which is carried out in one self-contained reaction tube avoiding keratin contamination. In order to quantify the efficiency of in-gel digestion, we developed a rapid on-column peptide acetylation protocol. Results show that trypsin in-gel uptake is increased and in-gel digestion is 90% complete within 15 min. We further show that spectrum quality, peptide yield and sequence coverage for mass spectrometric analysis are enhanced. We utilise 2-D PAGE separation of photosystem II from barley to demonstrate that the protocol facilitates identification of highly hydrophobic membrane proteins.

Establishing the feasibility of coupled solid-phase extraction–solid-phase derivatization for acidic herbicides

The significance of this research is that it improves analytical methodology used for organic chemicals in aqueous solutions by establishing the feasibility of heterogeneous chemical derivatization at the liquid-solid interface (i.e., solid-phase reaction or solid-phase derivatization). A solid-phase derivatization method for determining chlorinated herbicide acids was developed. Solid-phase extraction was used to concentrate and retain analytes on sorbents for subsequent solid-phase derivatization. Background interferences were removed from the chromatograms by electronically subtracting the responses of blank, nonfortified analyses from spiked samples. Two extraction sorbents (octadecyl bonded silica and polystyrene-divinylbenzene) and two derivatizing reagents (BF3-MeOH and trimethylsilyldiazomethane) were investigated. Recovery of 13 chlorinated herbicide acids--including pentachlorophenol, dinoseb, and bentazon (having a derivatizable functional group, -OH or -NH, bonded directly to a phenyl group); dicamba, picloram, acifluorfen, 3,5-dichlorobenzoic acid, and dacthal (having a derivatizable functional group, -COOH, bonded directly to a phenyl group); and 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, dichlorprop, 2,4,5-TP, and 2,4-DB (having a derivatizable functional group, -COOH, bonded directly to a sp3 carbon atom)--was tested. The analytical method developed was proven successful for determining acidic herbicides, except for the dacthal diacid metabolite, in aqueous samples.

Mass Spectrometry-Based Glycoproteomic Approach Involving Lysine Derivatization for Structural Characterization of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin

Lysine-containing peptides comprising glycosylation sites derived from recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) by trypsin or Lys-C and PNGase F dual digestion were derivatized with 2-methoxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole and its deuterated analogues. In the same reaction, under reducing conditions (beta-mercaptoethanol), cysteines were converted into methyl-cysteines and lysines into Lys-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole. Both modifications on cysteines and lysines simplified the CID-MS/MS spectra, while preserving the structural information by yielding y-series ions and improved the mass spectral signal intensity up to 25 times. Moreover, by this approach, the N-glycan occupation sites were unambiguously determined. O-Glycosylation sites as well as O-glycan structures were determined by a LC-MS/MS experiment carried out on dually digested rHuEPO. N-Glycan mixture purified on a graphitized carbon column using a newly developed method that extracted only sialylated carbohydrates was analyzed first using MALDI-TOF in negative linear ion mode with low mass accuracy but without interferences and metastabile ions and then a reflectron with high mass accuracy. After defining the precursor ions, we performed the nanoESI QTOF MS/MS analysis on N-glycans, mainly targeting the distinction between carbohydrates with sialylated antennae and those lacking sialic acid moieties.