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Zhai Z, Schoenmakers PJ, Gargano AFG. Identification of heavily glycated proteoforms by hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography and native size-exclusion chromatography - High-resolution mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1304:342543. [PMID: 38637052 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The non-enzymatic glycation of proteins and their advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are associated with protein transformations such as in the development of diseases and biopharmaceutical storage. The characterization of heavily glycated proteins at the intact level is of high interest as it allows to describe co-occurring protein modifications. However, the high heterogeneity of glycated protein makes this process challenging, and novel methods are required to accomplish this. RESULTS In this study, we investigated two novel LC-HRMS methods to study glycated reference proteins at the intact protein level: low-flow hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and native size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Model proteins were exposed to conditions that favored extensive glycation and the formation of AGEs. After glycation, complicated MS spectra were observed, along with a sharply reduced signal response, possibly due to protein denaturation and the formation of aggregates. When using HILIC-MS, the glycated forms of the proteins could be resolved based on the number of reducing monosaccharides. Moreover, some positional glycated isomers were separated. The SEC-MS method under non-denaturing conditions provided insights into glycated aggregates but offered only a limited separation of glycated species based on molar mass. Overall, more than 25 different types of species were observed in both methods, differing in molar mass by 14-162 Da. 19 of these species have not been previously reported. SIGNIFICANCE The proposed strategies show great potential to characterize highly glycated intact proteins from native and denaturing perspectives and provide new opportunities for fast clinical diagnoses and investigating glycation-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziran Zhai
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Peter J Schoenmakers
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrea F G Gargano
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Li J, Qiu D, Li F, Kang J. Preparation of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone-co-pentaerythritol triacrylate) monolithic column for hydrophilic interaction chromatography. J Sep Sci 2023; 46:e2201033. [PMID: 36774335 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202201033] [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: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
A method for the preparation of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone-co-pentaerythritol triacrylate copolymerization)-based monolithic capillary column was reported for the separation of polar small molecular weight compounds with nano-liquid chromatography in hydrophilic interaction chromatography mode. The monolithic columns were prepared by in situ copolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone and a cross-linker pentaerythritol triacrylate in a binary porogenic agent consisting of methanol and water. The composition of the polymerization solution was systematically optimized in terms of column permeability, theoretical plate number, asymmetric factor, and retention factor. A typical hydrophilic chromatography retention mechanism was observed with a mobile phase composed of a high content of organic solvent. The preparation method is simple and robust, the precursor N-vinylpyrrolidone is chemically stable, cheap, and easily available. The N-vinylpyrrolidone-based hydrophilic interaction chromatography stationary phase displays satisfactory separation selectivity for a range of polar test analytes, including benzoic acid derivatives, nucleosides, and phenols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. China.,School of Physical Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Danye Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Feng Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Food Safety Testing and Risk Assessment, Xi'an University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Jingwu Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. China.,School of Physical Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, P. R. China
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Influence of ion-pairing reagents on the separation of intact glycoproteins using hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography - high-resolution mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1688:463721. [PMID: 36565654 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463721] [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: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) of intact proteins offers high-resolution separations of glycoforms of glycoproteins differing in the number of (neutral) glycans. However, to obtain efficient separations it is essential that the positively charged sites of the proteins are shielded by acidic (negative) ion-pair reagents (IPRs), so as to enhance the contribution of the hydroxyl groups of the (neutral) sugars in the glycoprotein. Here, we studied the influence of various IPRs that differ in physico-chemical properties, such as hydrophobicity and acidity, on the capillary-scale HILIC separation of intact (glyco)proteins. We evaluated the use of fluoroacetic acid (MFA), difluoroacetic acid (DFA), trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) as diluents for sample preparation, as solvents for sample loading on a reversed-phase trap prior to the HILIC separation, and as mobile-phase components for HILIC and HILIC-MS. To reduce the contribution of ion-exchange interaction with the (silica-based) stationary phase, we used an acrylamide-based monolithic column. We studied the influence of the different IPRs on each step of the separation of a mixture of proteins of different size and hydrophilicity and on the separation of the five glycoforms of ribonuclease B. The content of IPR in the sample was shown not to affect the separation and the MS detection. However, a low content of TFA and DFA in the mobile phase is favourable, as it reduces adduct formation and leads to higher signal intensity. The optimized HILIC conditions successfully resolved nine major glycoforms groups of a ∼40 kDa glycoprotein horseradish peroxidase (HRP), as an example of a complex glycoprotein.
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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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Wilson J, Bilbao A, Wang J, Liao YC, Velickovic D, Wojcik R, Passamonti M, Zhao R, Gargano AFG, Gerbasi VR, Pas̆a-Tolić L, Baker SE, Zhou M. Online Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography (HILIC) Enhanced Top-Down Mass Spectrometry Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor-Binding Domain. Anal Chem 2022; 94:5909-5917. [PMID: 35380435 PMCID: PMC9003935 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 cellular infection is mediated by the heavily glycosylated spike protein. Recombinant versions of the spike protein and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) are necessary for seropositivity assays and can potentially serve as vaccines against viral infection. RBD plays key roles in the spike protein's structure and function, and thus, comprehensive characterization of recombinant RBD is critically important for biopharmaceutical applications. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry has been widely used to characterize post-translational modifications in proteins, including glycosylation. Most studies of RBDs were performed at the proteolytic peptide (bottom-up proteomics) or released glycan level because of the technical challenges in resolving highly heterogeneous glycans at the intact protein level. Herein, we evaluated several online separation techniques: (1) C2 reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), (2) capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), and (3) acrylamide-based monolithic hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) to separate intact recombinant RBDs with varying combinations of glycosylations (glycoforms) for top-down mass spectrometry (MS). Within the conditions we explored, the HILIC method was superior to RPLC and CZE at separating RBD glycoforms, which differ significantly in neutral glycan groups. In addition, our top-down analysis readily captured unexpected modifications (e.g., cysteinylation and N-terminal sequence variation) and low abundance, heavily glycosylated proteoforms that may be missed by using glycopeptide data alone. The HILIC top-down MS platform holds great potential in resolving heterogeneous glycoproteins for facile comparison of biosimilars in quality control applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse
W. Wilson
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Aivett Bilbao
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Juan Wang
- Biological
Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National
Laboratories, 902 Battelle
Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Yen-Chen Liao
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Dusan Velickovic
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Roza Wojcik
- National
Security Directorate, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratories, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Marta Passamonti
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The
Netherlands
- Van’t
Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University
of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Rui Zhao
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Andrea F. G. Gargano
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The
Netherlands
- Van’t
Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University
of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent R. Gerbasi
- Biological
Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National
Laboratories, 902 Battelle
Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Ljiljana Pas̆a-Tolić
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Scott E. Baker
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Mowei Zhou
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
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