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Rogers HT, Melby JA, Ehlers LE, Fischer MS, Larson EJ, Gao Z, Rossler KJ, Wang D, Alpert AJ, Ge Y. Small-Scale Serial Size Exclusion Chromatography (s 3SEC) for High Sensitivity Top-Down Proteomics of Large Proteoforms. Anal Chem 2024:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05733. [PMID: 38315630 PMCID: PMC11298573 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Top-down-mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has emerged as a premier technology to examine proteins at the proteoform level, enabling characterization of genetic mutations, alternative splicing, and post-translational modifications. However, significant challenges that remain in top-down proteomics include the analysis of large proteoforms and the sensitivity required to examine proteoforms from minimal amounts of sample. To address these challenges, we have developed a new method termed "small-scale serial Size Exclusion Chromatography" (s3SEC), which incorporates a small-scale protein extraction (1 mg of tissue) and serial SEC without postfractionation sample handling, coupled with online high sensitivity capillary reversed-phase liquid chromatography tandem MS (RPLC-MS/MS) for analysis of large proteoforms. The s3SEC-RPLC-MS/MS method significantly enhanced the sensitivity and reduced the proteome complexity across the fractions, enabling the detection of high MW proteoforms previously undetected in one-dimensional (1D)-RPLC analysis. Importantly, we observed a drastic improvement in the signal intensity of high MW proteoforms in early fractions when using the s3SEC-RPLC method. Moreover, we demonstrate that this s3SEC-RPLC-MS/MS method also allows the analysis of lower MW proteoforms in subsequent fractions without significant alteration in proteoform abundance and equivalent or improved fragmentation efficiency to that of the 1D-RPLC approach. Although this study focuses on the use of cardiac tissue, the s3SEC-RPLC-MS/MS method could be broadly applicable to other systems with limited sample inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holden T. Rogers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Jake A. Melby
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Lauren E. Ehlers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Matthew S. Fischer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Eli J. Larson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Zhan Gao
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, USA
| | - Kalina J. Rossler
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, USA
| | | | | | - Ying Ge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, USA
- Human Proteomics Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, USA
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Yu H, Tai Q, Yang C, Gao M, Zhang X. Technological development of multidimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in proteome research. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1700:464048. [PMID: 37167805 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is the method of choice for high-throughput proteomic research. Limited by the peak capacity, the separation performance of conventional single-dimensional LC hampers the development of proteomics. Combining different separation modes orthogonally, multidimensional liquid chromatography (MDLC) with high peak capacity was developed to address this challenge. MDLC has evolved rapidly since its establishment, and the progress of proteomics has been greatly facilitated by the advent of novel MDLC-MS-based methods. In this paper, we will review the advances of MDLC-MS-based methodologies and technologies in proteomics studies, from different perspectives including novel application scenarios and proteomic targets, automation, miniaturization, and the improvement of the classic methods in recent years. In addition, attempts regarding new MDLC-MS models are also mentioned together with the outlook of MDLC-MS-based proteomics methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Yu
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, China
| | - Qunfei Tai
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, China
| | - Chenjie Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, China
| | - Mingxia Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, China
| | - Xiangmin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, China.
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Liang Y, Zhang L, Zhang Y. Chromatographic separation of peptides and proteins for characterization of proteomes. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:270-281. [PMID: 36504223 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc05568f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Characterization of proteomes aims to comprehensively characterize proteins in cells or tissues via two main strategies: (1) bottom-up strategy based on the separation and identification of enzymatic peptides; (2) top-down strategy based on the separation and identification of intact proteins. However, it is challenged by the high complexity of proteomes. Consequently, the improvements in peptide and protein separation technologies for simplifying the sample should be critical. In this feature article, separation columns for peptide and protein separation were introduced, and peptide separation technologies for bottom-up proteomic analysis as well as protein separation technologies for top-down proteomic analysis were summarized. The achievement, recent development, limitation and future trends are discussed. Besides, the outlook on challenges and future directions of chromatographic separation in the field of proteomics was also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liang
- CAS Key Lab of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic Research and Analysis Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Lihua Zhang
- CAS Key Lab of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic Research and Analysis Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Yukui Zhang
- CAS Key Lab of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic Research and Analysis Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China.
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Seeing the complete picture: proteins in top-down mass spectrometry. Essays Biochem 2022; 67:283-300. [PMID: 36468679 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Top-down protein mass spectrometry can provide unique insights into protein sequence and structure, including precise proteoform identification and study of protein–ligand and protein–protein interactions. In contrast with the commonly applied bottom-up approach, top-down approaches do not include digestion of the protein of interest into small peptides, but instead rely on the ionization and subsequent fragmentation of intact proteins. As such, it is fundamentally the only way to fully characterize the composition of a proteoform. Here, we provide an overview of how a top-down protein mass spectrometry experiment is performed and point out recent applications from the literature to the reader. While some parts of the top-down workflow are broadly applicable, different research questions are best addressed with specific experimental designs. The most important divide is between studies that prioritize sequence information (i.e., proteoform identification) versus structural information (e.g., conformational studies, or mapping protein–protein or protein–ligand interactions). Another important consideration is whether to work under native or denaturing solution conditions, and the overall complexity of the sample also needs to be taken into account, as it determines whether (chromatographic) separation is required prior to MS analysis. In this review, we aim to provide enough information to support both newcomers and more experienced readers in the decision process of how to answer a potential research question most efficiently and to provide an overview of the methods that exist to answer these questions.
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Zhang W, Xiang Y, Xu W. Probing protein higher-order structures by native capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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