Proteomic predictors of individualized nutrient-specific insulin secretion in health and disease

Population level variation and molecular mechanisms behind insulin secretion in response to carbohydrate, protein, and fat remain uncharacterized despite ramifications for personalized nutrition. Here, we define prototypical insulin secretion dynamics in response to the three macronutrients in islets from 140 cadaveric donors, including those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. While islets from the majority of donors exhibited the expected relative response magnitudes, with glucose being highest, amino acid moderate, and fatty acid small, 9% of islets stimulated with amino acid and 8% of islets stimulated with fatty acids had larger responses compared with high glucose. We leveraged this insulin response heterogeneity and used transcriptomics and proteomics to identify molecular correlates of specific nutrient responsiveness, as well as those proteins and mRNAs altered in type 2 diabetes. We also examine nutrient-responsiveness in stem cell-derived islet clusters and observe that they have dysregulated fuel sensitivity, which is a hallmark of functionally immature cells. Our study now represents the first comparison of dynamic responses to nutrients and multi-omics analysis in human insulin secreting cells. Responses of different people's islets to carbohydrate, protein, and fat lay the groundwork for personalized nutrition.

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY

Deep phenotyping and multi-omics reveal individualized nutrient-specific insulin secretion propensity.

Methods to extract and analyze fluid from human pluripotent stem cell-derived choroid plexus organoids

The choroid plexus (ChP) is a highly vascularized tissue lining the ventricular space of the brain. The ChP generates cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and forms a protective barrier in the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, a three-dimensional human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived ChP organoid model has been developed. This model generates cystic structures that are filled with a fluid resembling CSF and are surrounded by an epithelial layer expressing ependymal choroid plexus-specific markers. Here we describe a method to generate these choroid plexus organoids using a commercial kit and methods to extract the CSF-like fluid for use in downstream analysis.

Bicyclic Picomolar OGA Inhibitors Enable Chemoproteomic Mapping of Its Endogenous Post-translational Modifications

Owing to its roles in human health and disease, the modification of nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial proteins with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues (O-GlcNAc) has emerged as a topic of great interest. Despite the presence of O-GlcNAc on hundreds of proteins within cells, only two enzymes regulate this modification. One of these enzymes is O-GlcNAcase (OGA), a dimeric glycoside hydrolase that has a deep active site cleft in which diverse substrates are accommodated. Chemical tools to control OGA are emerging as essential resources for helping to decode the biochemical and cellular functions of the O-GlcNAc pathway. Here we describe rationally designed bicyclic thiazolidine inhibitors that exhibit superb selectivity and picomolar inhibition of human OGA. Structures of these inhibitors in complex with human OGA reveal the basis for their exceptional potency and show that they extend out of the enzyme active site cleft. Leveraging this structure, we create a high affinity chemoproteomic probe that enables simple one-step purification of endogenous OGA from brain and targeted proteomic mapping of its post-translational modifications. These data uncover a range of new modifications, including some that are less-known, such as O-ubiquitination and N-formylation. We expect that these inhibitors and chemoproteomics probes will prove useful as fundamental tools to decipher the mechanisms by which OGA is regulated and directed to its diverse cellular substrates. Moreover, the inhibitors and structures described here lay out a blueprint that will enable the creation of chemical probes and tools to interrogate OGA and other carbohydrate active enzymes.

Identification of Avian Corticosteroid-binding Globulin (SerpinA6) Reveals the Molecular Basis of Evolutionary Adaptations in SerpinA6 Structure and Function as a Steroid-binding Protein

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) was isolated from chicken serum and identified by mass spectrometry and genomic analysis. This revealed that the organization and synteny of avian and mammalian SerpinA6 genes are conserved. Recombinant zebra finch CBG steroid-binding properties reflect those of the natural protein in plasma and confirm its identity. Zebra finch and rat CBG crystal structures in complex with cortisol resemble each other, but their primary structures share only ∼40% identity, and their steroid-binding site topographies differ in several unexpected ways. Remarkably, a tryptophan that anchors ligands in mammalian CBG steroid-binding sites is replaced by an asparagine. Phylogenetic comparisons show that reptilian CBG orthologs share this unexpected property. Glycosylation of this asparagine in zebra finch CBG does not influence its steroid-binding affinity, but we present evidence that it may participate in protein folding and steroid-binding site formation. Substitutions of amino acids within zebra finch CBG that are conserved only in birds reveal how they contribute to their distinct steroid-binding properties, including their high (nanomolar) affinities for glucocorticoids, progesterone, and androgens. As in mammals, a protease secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa cleaves CBG in zebra finch plasma within its reactive center loop and disrupts steroid binding, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved property of CBGs. Measurements of CBG mRNA in zebra finch tissues indicate that liver is the main site of plasma CBG production, and anti-zebra finch CBG antibodies cross-react with CBGs in other birds, extending opportunities to study how CBG regulates the actions of glucocorticoids and sex steroids in these species.

Development and application of a quantitative multiplexed small GTPase activity assay using targeted proteomics

Small GTPases are a family of key signaling molecules that are ubiquitously expressed in various types of cells. Their activity is often analyzed by western blot, which is limited by its multiplexing capability, the quality of isoform-specific antibodies, and the accuracy of quantification. To overcome these issues, a quantitative multiplexed small GTPase activity assay has been developed. Using four different binding domains, this assay allows the binding of up to 12 active small GTPase isoforms simultaneously in a single experiment. To accurately quantify the closely related small GTPase isoforms, a targeted proteomic approach, i.e., selected/multiple reaction monitoring, was developed, and its functionality and reproducibility were validated. This assay was successfully applied to human platelets and revealed time-resolved coactivation of multiple small GTPase isoforms in response to agonists and differential activation of these isoforms in response to inhibitor treatment. This widely applicable approach can be used for signaling pathway studies and inhibitor screening in many cellular systems.

Liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry for the structural analysis of peptides and proteins

Atmospheric pressure electron capture dissociation (AP-ECD) is an emerging technique with the potential to be a more accessible alternative to conventional ECD/electron transfer dissociation (ETD) methods because it can be implemented using a stand-alone ion source device suitable for use with any existing or future electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. With AP-ECD, no modification of the main instrument is required, so it may easily be retrofitted to instruments not originally equipped with ECD/ETD capabilities. Here, we present our first purpose-built AP-ECD source and demonstrate its use in conjunction with capillary LC for the analysis of substance P, a tryptic digest of bovine serum albumin, and a phosphopeptide mixture. Quality ECD spectra were obtained for all the samples at the low femtomole level, proving that LC-AP-ECD-MS is suitable for the structural analysis of peptides and protein digests, in this case using an unmodified quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer built ca. 2002.

p53-dependent transcription and tumor suppression are not affected in Set7/9-deficient mice

Methylation of specific lysine residues in the C terminus of p53 is thought to govern p53-dependent transcription following genotoxic and oncogenic stress. In particular, Set7/9 (KMT7)-mediated monomethylation of human p53 at lysine 372 (p53K372me1) was suggested to be essential for p53 activation in human cell lines. This finding was confirmed in a Set7/9 knockout mouse model (Kurash et al., 2008). In an independent knockout mouse strain deficient in Set7/9, we have investigated its involvement in p53 regulation and find that cells from these mice are normal in their ability to induce p53-dependent transcription following genotoxic and oncogenic insults. Most importantly, we detect no impairment in canonical p53 functions in these mice, indicating that Set7/9-mediated methylation of p53 does not seem to represent a major regulatory event and does not appreciably control p53 activity in vivo.

A new ion source and procedures for atmospheric pressure-electron capture dissociation of peptides

We introduce a new atmospheric pressure-electron capture dissociation (AP-ECD) source in which conventional nanospray emitters are coupled with the source block and photoionization lamp of a PhotoSpray APPI source. We also introduce procedures for data collection and processing, aimed at maximizing the signal-to-background ratio of ECD products. Representative data from Substance P are presented to demonstrate the performance of the technique. Further, we demonstrate the effects of two important experimental variables, source temperature and vacuum-interface declustering potential (DP), on the method. Last, we show that even when a high source temperature is used to maximize efficiency, AP-ECD fragments of a model phosphorylated peptide retain the modification.

Atmospheric pressure-electron capture dissociation of peptides using a modified PhotoSpray ion source

An improved in-source atmospheric pressure-electron capture dissociation (AP-ECD) method is described. Building upon the early example of Laprévote's group, photoelectrons generated within a commercial PhotoSpray atmospheric pressure photoionization source are used to induce ECD of multiply charged peptide ions originating from an upstream heated nebulizer device. To attain high sensitivity, the method makes use of a novel electropneumatic-heated nebulizer to assist in the creation and transmission of multiply charged ions from sample solutions. Here, we demonstrate that readily interpretable AP-ECD spectra of infused peptides can be acquired from 100 fmol sample consumed, on a chromatographic time scale, using a conventional quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-ToF) mass spectrometer otherwise incapable of ECD/ETD experiments. Though much work remains to be done to develop and characterize the method, the results indicate that AP-ECD has the potential to be a practical new tool for the mass spectrometric analysis of peptides and proteins.

Identification of nitroxyl-induced modifications in human platelet proteins using a novel mass spectrometric detection method

Nitroxyl (HNO) exhibits many important pharmacological effects, including inhibition of platelet aggregation, and the HNO donor Angeli's salt has been proposed as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of many diseases including heart failure and alcoholism. Despite this, little is known about the mechanism of action of HNO, and its effects are rarely linked to specific protein targets of HNO or to the actual chemical changes that proteins undergo when in contact with HNO. Here we study the presumed major molecular target of HNO within the body: protein thiols. Cysteine-containing tryptic peptides were reacted with HNO, generating the sulfinamide modification and, to a lesser extent, disulfide linkages with no other long lived intermediates or side products. The sulfinamide modification was subjected to a comprehensive tandem mass spectrometric analysis including MS/MS by CID and electron capture dissociation as well as an MS(3) analysis. These studies revealed a characteristic neutral loss of HS(O)NH2 (65 Da) that is liberated from the modified cysteine upon CID and can be monitored by mass spectrometry. Upon storage, partial conversion of the sulfinamide to sulfinic acid was observed, leading to coinciding neutral losses of 65 and 66 Da (HS(O)OH). Validation of the method was conducted using a targeted study of nitroxylated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase extracted from Angeli's salt-treated human platelets. In these ex vivo experiments, the sample preparation process resulted in complete conversion of sulfinamide to sulfinic acid, making this the sole subject of further ex vivo studies. A global proteomics analysis to discover platelet proteins that carry nitroxyl-induced modifications and a mass spectrometric HNO dose-response analysis of the modified proteins were conducted to gain insight into the specificity and selectivity of this modification. These methods identified 10 proteins that are modified dose dependently in response to HNO, whose functions range from metabolism and cytoskeletal rearrangement to signal transduction, providing for the first time a possible mechanistic link between HNO-induced modification and the physiological effects of HNO donors in platelets.

A multiplexed post-translational modification monitoring approach on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins are essential for proper function, as they regulate many aspects of a protein's activity and interaction with substrates. When analyzing modified peptides derived from such proteins by mass spectrometry, these modifications can dissociate, producing either a marker ion or neutral loss characteristic of the modification, which have conventionally been monitored with a precursor ion scan or neutral loss scan, respectively. Although powerful, both precursor ion scans and neutral loss scans can only screen for one particular modification at a time. This has led to the development of multiple neutral loss monitoring (MNM) for neutral losses and multiple precursor ion monitoring (MPM) for marker ions on electrospray instruments. Here, we report their implementation on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) instrument as well as the inception of a novel scan strategy termed targeted multiple precursor ion monitoring (tMPM). This latter scan strategy has been developed on a MALDI tandem time-of-flight (TOF/TOF) mass spectrometer for the identification of multiple PTMs via their associated marker ions by manipulating certain components of the instrument, notably the timed ion selector and the delayed extraction source 2. Targeted MPM combined with a second approach, multiple neutral loss monitoring (MNM), is shown to be a successful approach in the identification of PTMs, identifying multiple modified peptides in a complex sample matrix.

Correlation and Convolution Analysis of Peptide Mass Spectra

As proteomics continues to establish itself as an effective postgenomic research tool, there is an increasingly urgent need for efficient, automated analysis techniques capable of effectively dealing with the vast amounts of data generated via mass spectrometry. Wholesale analysis packages, often used to deal with these enormous amounts of data, may benefit from supplementary, targeted analyses as current research begins to emphasize posttranscriptional/translational protein modifications, protein truncations, and poorly characterized mutations. We demonstrate the application of a new analysis technique based on mathematical correlation that is computationally efficient and robust against different instruments, noise levels, and experimental conditions. We have previously shown that this technique is able to extract pertinent mass shift signals from MS data, corresponding to the neutral loss of a modification from a peptide, e.g., a loss of 79.97 Th from phosphorylated tyrosine. Here we show that an extension of this method is applicable to MS and MS/MS data in general, allowing visualization of ions that produce a particular mass shift signal, be it from differential stable isotope labeling, overlap of fragment ions in a series, or ions that produce a neutral loss. The application of this method allows the researcher to discover individual features, such as the presence of specific modified or isotopically labeled peptides, to eliminate overlapping fragment ion series, and to localize specific sites of modification.

Multiple neutral loss monitoring (MNM): a multiplexed method for post-translational modification screening

Post-translational modifications of proteins are involved in determining the activity of proteins and are essential for proper protein function. Current mass spectrometric strategies require one to specify a particular type of modification, in some cases also a particular charge state of a protein or peptide that is to be studied before the actual analysis. Due to these requirements, most of the modifications on proteins are not considered in such an experiment and, thus, a series of similar analyses need to be performed to ensure a more extensive characterization. A novel scan strategy has been developed, multiple neutral loss monitoring (MNM), allowing for the comprehensive screening of post-translational modifications (PTM) on proteins that fragment as neutral losses in a mass spectrometer. MNM method parameters were determined by performing product ion scans on a number of modified peptides over a range of collision energies, providing neutral loss energy profiles and optimal collision energies (OCE) for each modification, supplying valuable information pertaining to the fragmentation of these modifications and the necessary parameters that would be required to obtain the best analysis. As the optimal collision energy was highly dependent on the type of modification and the charge state of the peptide, the MNM scan was operated with a collision energy gradient. Autocorrelation analyses identified the type of modification, and convolution mapping analyses identified the associated peptide. The MNM scan with the new collision energy parameters was successfully applied to a mixture of four modified peptides in a BSA digest. The implementation of this technique will allow for comprehensive screening of all modifications that fragment as neutral losses.

Statistical evaluation of electrospray tandem mass spectra for optimized peptide fragmentation

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has become the method of choice for the analysis of complex peptide mixtures. It combines the separation power of nanoflow LC with highly specific sequence analysis, allowing automated peptide sequencing with high resolution and throughput. For peptide fragmentation, the current experimental setup uses predefined parameters based on the mass-to-charge ratio of the individual precursor. Suitable parameters are typically established by empirical evaluation of fragment spectra of individual peptides used as standards. As a result, nonoptimal fragment spectra are obtained if peptides show fragmentation behavior different from these standards, which often result in the loss of sequence-specific fragment ion information. Here we describe a statistical approach for the systematic evaluation of the quality of individual peptide fragment spectra based on the calculation of their arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The method utilizes the dependence of these parameters on the difference in electric potential across the collision cell to determine the value that results in maximum information content. We show that the method is applicable to fragment spectra generated from a variety of multiply-charged tryptic peptides, over a wide concentration range, and on different types of mass analyzers. We also show how this novel approach can be used to define optimized collision energy settings over a wide mass-to-charge range.