Quantitation of protein S-glutathionylation by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: Correction for contaminating glutathione and glutathione disulfide

Investigation of Cysteine Modifications in Recombinant Protein Tetanus Toxoid Heavy Chain Fragment C

For conjugated HIV-1 fusion peptide vaccine development, recombinant Tetanus toxoid heavy chain fragment C (rTTHC) was applied as a carrier protein to boost peptide immunogenicity. Understanding the characteristics of rTTHC is the first step prior to the peptide conjugation. A comprehensive mass spectrometry (MS) characterization was performed on E. coli expressed rTTHC during its purification process. Intact mass along with peptide mapping analysis discovered the existence of three cysteine modification forms: glutathionylation, trisulfide bond modification, and disulfide bond shuffling, in correlation to a three-peak profile during a hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) purification step. Coexistence of these multiple oxidative forms indicated that the active thiols underwent redox reaction in the rTTHC material. Identity confirmation of the rTTHC carrier protein by MS analysis provided pivotal guidance to assess the purification step and helped ensure that vaccine development could proceed.

Measurement of S-glutathionylated proteins by HPLC

S-glutathionylated proteins (GSSP), i.e., protein-mixed disulfides with glutathione (GSH), are considered a suitable biomarker of oxidative stress. In fact, they occur within cells at low level and their concentration increases markedly under pro-oxidant conditions. Plasma is something different, since it is physiologically rich in S-thiolated proteins (RSSP), i.e., protein-mixed disulfides with various types of low molecular mass thiols (LMM-SH). However, albumin, which is largely the most abundant plasma protein, possesses a cysteine residue at position 34 that is mostly reduced (about 60%) under physiological conditions, but easily involved in the formation of additional RSSP in the presence of oxidants. The quantification of GSSP requires special attention to sample handling, since their level can be overestimated as a result of artefactual oxidation of GSH. We have developed the present protocol to avoid this methodological problem. Samples should be treated as soon as possible after their collection with the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide that masks –SH groups and prevents their oxidation. The GSH released from mixed disulfides by reduction with dithiothreitol is then labeled with the fluorescent probe monobromobimane and quantified by HPLC. The method can be applied to many different biological samples, comprising blood components, red blood cell plasma membrane, cultured cells, and solid organs from animal models.

Assessment of glutathione/glutathione disulphide ratio and S-glutathionylated proteins in human blood, solid tissues, and cultured cells

Glutathione (GSH) is the major non-protein thiol in humans and other mammals, which is present in millimolar concentrations within cells, but at much lower concentrations in the blood plasma. GSH and GSH-related enzymes act both to prevent oxidative damage and to detoxify electrophiles. Under oxidative stress, two GSH molecules become linked by a disulphide bridge to form glutathione disulphide (GSSG). Therefore, assessment of the GSH/GSSG ratio may provide an estimation of cellular redox metabolism. Current evidence resulting from studies in human blood, solid tissues, and cultured cells suggests that GSH also plays a prominent role in protein redox regulation via S -glutathionylation, i.e., the conjugation of GSH to reactive protein cysteine residues. A number of methodologies that enable quantitative analysis of GSH/GSSG ratio and S-glutathionylated proteins (PSSG), as well as identification and visualization of PSSG in tissue sections or cultured cells are currently available. Here, we have considered the main methodologies applied for GSH, GSSG and PSSG detection in biological samples. This review paper provides an up-to-date critical overview of the application of the most relevant analytical, morphological, and proteomics approaches to detect and analyse GSH, GSSG and PSSG in mammalian samples as well as discusses their current limitations.

Protein S-Glutathionylation Mediates Macrophage Responses to Metabolic Cues from the Extracellular Environment

AIMS

Protein S-glutathionylation, the formation of a mixed disulfide between glutathione and protein thiols, is an oxidative modification that has emerged as a new signaling paradigm, potentially linking oxidative stress to chronic inflammation associated with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, and aging. Using a novel, highly sensitive, and selective proteomic approach to identify S-glutathionylated proteins, we tested the hypothesis that monocytes and macrophages sense changes in their microenvironment and respond to metabolic stress by altering their protein thiol S-glutathionylation status.

RESULTS

We identified over 130 S-glutathionylated proteins, which were associated with a variety of cellular functions, including metabolism, transcription and translation, protein folding, free radical scavenging, cell motility, and cell death. Over 90% of S-glutathionylated proteins identified in metabolically stressed THP-1 monocytes were also found in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated cells, suggesting that H₂O₂ mediates metabolic stress-induced protein S-glutathionylation in monocytes and macrophages. We validated our findings in mouse peritoneal macrophages isolated from both healthy and dyslipidemic atherosclerotic mice and found that 52% of the S-glutathionylated proteins found in THP-1 monocytes were also identified in vivo. Changes in macrophage protein S-glutathionylation induced by dyslipidemia were sexually dimorphic.

INNOVATION

We provide a novel mechanistic link between metabolic (and thiol oxidative) stress, macrophage dysfunction, and chronic inflammatory diseases associated with metabolic disorders.

CONCLUSION

Our data support the concept that changes in the extracellular metabolic microenvironment induce S-glutathionylation of proteins central to macrophage metabolism and a wide array of cellular signaling pathways and functions, which in turn initiate and promote functional and phenotypic changes in macrophages. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 25, 836-851.