Avidin Affinity Chromatography Research Articles

Identification of carbonylated proteins from monocytic cells under diabetes‐induced stress conditions

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of elevated glucose in the blood and enhanced oxidative stress. It affects the cellular homeostasis that leads to the development of micro-and macro-vascular complications. Monocytes are the primary immune cells present in the circulatory system. Under high-glucose conditions, the cells undergo oxidative stress and secrete reactive oxygen species. The enhanced release of reactive species is known to modify biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids. Protein carbonylation, one of the most harmful and irreversible protein modifications, is considered as a key player in the progression of diabetes and associated complications. Hence, the present study explores the identification of carbonylated proteins from the monocytes under diabetic stress and determination of their site of modification. Combined avidin affinity chromatography and bottom-up proteomics experiments identified 13 consistently expressed carbonylated proteins. Most of the identified proteins were reported to have altered functions under diabetic conditions that contribute to the development of diabetes-associated inflammation and complications. We were able to determine oxidative stress-induced modifications on Lys, Val, Ile, Cys, Thr and Asp residues.

Identification of oxidant susceptible proteins in Salmonella Typhimurium.

The human gut pathogen, Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) not only survives but also replicates inside the phagocytic cells. Bacterial proteins are the primary targets of phagocyte generated oxidants. Because of the different amino acid composition, some proteins are more prone to oxidation than others. Many oxidant induced modifications to amino acids have been described. Introduction of carbonyl group is one of such modifications, which takes place quite early following exposure of proteins to oxidants and is quite stable. Therefore, carbonyl groups can be exploited to identify oxidant susceptible proteins. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is one of the most potent oxidants produced by phagocytes. Incubation of S. Typhimurium with 3mM HOCl resulted in more than 150 folds loss of bacterial viability. Proteins extracted from HOCl exposed S. Typhimurium cells showed about 60 folds (p < 0.001) more carbonyl levels as compared to unexposed cells. Similarly, 2, 4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (2, 4-DNPH) derivatized proteins of HOCl treated S. Typhimurium cultures reacted strongly with anti-DNP antibodies as compared to buffer treated counterpart. Next, we have derivatized carbonyl groups on the proteins with biotin hydrazide. The derivatized proteins were then isolated by avidin affinity chromatography. Mass spectrometry based analysis revealed the presence of 204 proteins.

Pyruvate carboxylase from Corynebacterium glutamicum : purification and characterization.

Pyruvate carboxylase of Corynebacterium glutamicum serves as anaplerotic enzyme when cells are growing on carbohydrates and plays an important role in the industrial production of metabolites derived from the tricarboxylic acid cycle, such as L-glutamate or L-lysine. Previous studies suggested that the enzyme from C. glutamicum is very labile, as activity could only be measured in permeabilized cells, but not in cell-free extracts. In this study, we established conditions allowing activity measurements in cell-free extracts of C. glutamicum and purification of the enzyme by avidin affinity chromatography and gel filtration. Using a coupled enzymatic assay with malate dehydrogenase, Vmax values between 20 and 25 μmol min-1 mg-1 were measured for purified pyruvate carboxylase corresponding to turnover numbers of 160 - 200 s-1 for the tetrameric enzyme. The concentration dependency for pyruvate and ATP followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Km values of 3.76 ± 0.72 mM and 0.61 ± 0.13 mM, respectively. For bicarbonate, concentrations ≥5 mM were required to obtain activity and half-maximal rates were found at 13.25 ± 4.88 mM. ADP and aspartate inhibited PCx activity with apparent Ki values of 1.5 mM and 9.3 mM, respectively. Acetyl-CoA had a weak inhibitory effect, but only at low concentrations up to 50 μM. The results presented here enable further detailed biochemical and structural studies of this enzyme.

Cell Surface Protein Biotinylation for SDS-PAGE Analysis.

Proteins expressed at the cell surface play important roles in physiology and represent valuable targets for new therapeutic agents. Indeed, the so-called druggable proteome consists, for about two thirds, of proteins that are either integral toor associated with the cell membrane. In spite of its importance, however, a complete characterization of the cell surface proteome has remained elusive because of the difficulty to efficiently purify these proteins from other contaminants. Methods exploiting the strong interaction between biotin and streptavidin have paved the way for the most significant advances in this field. The present chapter focuses on techniques for cell surface biotinylation with commercially available reagents and capture by avidin affinity chromatography and release of the biotinylated surface proteins for downstream analysis by electrophoretic methods.

Synthesis and Avidin Binding of Ruthenium Complexes Functionalized with a Light-Cleavable Free Biotin Moiety.

In this work the synthesis, photochemistry, and streptavidin interaction of new [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(SRR′)](PF6)2 complexes where the R′ group contains a free biotin ligand, are described. Two different ligands SRR′ were investigated: An asymmetric ligand 1 where the Ru‐bound thioether is a N‐acetylmethionine moiety linked to the free biotin fragment via a triethylene glycol spacer and a symmetrical ligand 2 containing two identical biotin moieties. The coordination of these two ligands to the precursor [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl]Cl was studied in water at 80 °C. In such conditions the coordination of the asymmetric ligand 1 occurred under thermodynamic control. After the reaction, a mononuclear and a binuclear complex were isolated. In the mononuclear complex, the ratio of methionine‐ {[6](PF6)2} vs. biotin‐bound {[7](PF6)2} regioisomer was 5.3 and the free biotin fragment of [6](PF6)2 allowed to purify it from its isomer [7](PF6)2 at small scales using avidin affinity chromatography. Coordination of the symmetrical ligand 2 afforded [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(2)](PF6)2 {[8](PF6)2} in synthetically useful scales (100 mg), good yield (82 %), and without traces of the binuclear impurity. In this complex, one of the biotin remains free whereas the second one is coordinated to ruthenium. Photochemical release of ligand 2 from [8](PF6)2 occurred upon blue light irradiation (465 nm) with a photosubstitution quantum yield of 0.011 that was independent of the binding of streptavidin to the free biotin ligand.

Specific Affinity Enrichment of Electrochemically Cleaved Peptides Based on Cu(II)-Mediated Spirolactone Tagging.

Specific digestion of proteins is an essential step for mass spectrometry-based proteomics, and the chemical labeling of the resulting peptides is often used for peptide enrichment or the introduction of desirable tags. Electrochemical oxidation yielding specific cleavage C-terminal to tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp) residues provides a potential alternative to enzymatic digestion and a possibility for further chemical labeling by introducing reactive spirolactone moieties. However, spirolactone-containing peptides suffer from low stability due to hydrolysis and intramolecular side reactions. We found that Cu(II) ions stabilize the spirolactone and prevent intramolecular side reactions during chemical labeling, allowing efficient chemical tagging with a reduced excess of labeling reagent without intramolecular side reactions. On the basis of this reaction, we developed an analytical procedure combining electrochemical digestion, Cu(II)-mediated spirolactone biotinylation, and enrichment by avidin affinity chromatography with mass spectrometry. The method was optimized with the tripeptide LWL and subsequently applied to chicken egg white lysozyme, in which one biotinylated electrochemistry (EC)-cleaved peptide was identified after affinity enrichment. This proof-of-principle shows that specific enrichment of electrochemically cleaved spirolactone-containing peptides can be used for protein identification and notably that inclusion of Cu(II) ions is essential for stabilizing spirolactones for subsequent biotinylation.

Carbonylated plasma proteins as potential biomarkers of obesity induced type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Protein carbonylation is a common nonenzymatic oxidative post-translational modification, which is often considered as biomarker of oxidative stress. Recent evidence links protein carbonylation also to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), though the protein targets of carbonylation in human plasma have not been identified. In this study, we profiled carbonylated proteins in plasma samples obtained from lean individuals and obese patients with or without T2DM. The plasma samples were digested with trypsin, carbonyl groups were derivatized with O-(biotinylcarbazoylmethyl)hydroxylamine, enriched by avidin affinity chromatography, and analyzed by RPC-MS/MS. Signals of potentially modified peptides were targeted in a second LC-MS/MS analysis to retrieve the peptide sequence and the modified residues. A total of 158 unique carbonylated proteins were identified, of which 52 were detected in plasma samples of all three groups. Interestingly, 36 carbonylated proteins were detected only in obese patients with T2DM, whereas 18 were detected in both nondiabetic groups. The carbonylated proteins originated mostly from liver, plasma, platelet, and endothelium. Functionally, they were mainly involved in cell adhesion, signaling, angiogenesis, and cytoskeletal remodeling. Among the identified carbonylated proteins were several candidates, such as VEGFR-2, MMP-1, argin, MKK4, and compliment C5, already connected before to diabetes, obesity and metabolic diseases.

Trypsin-Catalyzed N-Terminal Labeling of Peptides with Stable Isotope-Coded Affinity Tags for Proteome Analysis

An enzymatic approach to label peptide N-termini with isotope-coded affinity tags is presented. This method exploits the high activity of trypsin for peptide synthesis in organic solvents. A cosubstrate containing a stable isotope-coded Arg residue and a biotin tag was synthesized. When the cosubstrate was incubated with tryptic peptides and trypsin in ethanol solution, the stable isotope-coded affinity tag was specifically coupled onto the N-termini of peptides via the formation of new peptide bonds. The labeled peptides were specifically enriched by avidin affinity chromatography and then were submitted to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for quantification. This enrichment step effectively reduced the interference by unlabeled peptides. The excellent performance of this approach was demonstrated by labeling standard peptides as well as a mouse liver digest. In addition to one amino acid residue, a few dipeptide tags were also introduced to the N-termini of peptides successfully by this enzymatic approach. It was found that the identifications for samples labeled with these tags were highly complementary. Coupling a short sequence tag onto peptides could be an effective approach to improve the coverage for proteome analysis.

VHL-dependent regulation of a β-dystroglycan glycoform and glycogene expression in renal cancer

Identification of novel biomarkers and targets in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains a priority and one cellular compartment that is a rich potential source of such molecules is the plasma membrane. A shotgun proteomic analysis of cell surface proteins enriched by cell surface biotinylation and avidin affinity chromatography was explored using the UMRC2- renal cancer cell line, which lacks von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumour suppressor gene function, to determine whether proteins of interest could be detected. Of the 814 proteins identified ∼22% were plasma membrane or membrane-associated, including several with known associations with cancer. This included β-dystroglycan, the transmembrane subunit of the DAG1 gene product. VHL-dependent changes in the form of β-dystroglycan were detected in UMRC2−/+VHL transfectants. Deglycosylation experiments showed that this was due to differential sialylation. Analysis of normal kidney cortex and conventional RCC tissues showed that a similar change also occurred in vivo. Investigation of the expression of genes involved in glycosylation in UMRC2−/+VHL cells using a focussed microarray highlighted a number of enzymes involved in sialylation; upregulation of bifunctional UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) was validated in UMRC2− cells compared with their +VHL counterparts and also found in conventional RCC tissue. These results implicate VHL in the regulation of glycosylation and raise interesting questions regarding the extent and importance of such changes in RCC.

Mass spectrometry characterization of acrolein protein targets in the liver: Focus on site‐specific analysis

Acrolein is the most reactive α, β‐unsaturated aldehyde and this property also makes it extremely cytotoxic. Toxicity is mediated, in part, by carbonylation of amino acids through Michael addition, which potentially alters the structure and function of target proteins. Acrolein can be generated endogenously: It is a product of lipid peroxidation and of metabolism of exogenous substances, such as the chemotherapeutic cyclophosphamide and the herbicide allyl alcohol. Total protein carbonylation is elevated in mouse hepatocytes due to acrolein exposure. However, the specific proteins that are modified by acrolein, and importantly, the amino acid sites changed by the aldehyde are not known. Thus, in this study, we determined the identity of the proteins selectively adducted by acrolein with a focus on characterizing carbonylated amino acid residues. Rat liver microsomes were resuspended in buffer and the non‐denatured mix was treated with acrolein. Microsomal proteins were kept in their native conformations in this experiment in order to determine acrolein accessible sites that may have relevance in vivo. Carbonylated proteins were labeled with biotin hydrazide and digested with trypsin. Then, biotinylated peptides were isolated from the mixture with avidin affinity chromatography and analyzed via LC‐MS/MS. Eighty‐seven different proteins and 125 unique modification sites were discerned using a Mascot score &gt;; 30 and a precursor mass error &lt; 20 ppm. Identified proteins include 9 isotypes of cytochrome P450, which plays an important role in metabolism, and 12 ribosomal proteins that are critical for protein synthesis. Our results validate this peptide‐centric methodology and should facilitate an understanding of the role that protein carbonylation plays in acrolein's toxicity within the liver.

RuBisCO depletion improved proteome coverage of cold responsive S-nitrosylated targets in Brassica juncea

Although in the last few years good number of S-nitrosylated proteins are identified but information on endogenous targets is still limiting. Therefore, an attempt is made to decipher NO signaling in cold treated Brassica juncea seedlings. Treatment of seedlings with substrate, cofactor and inhibitor of Nitric-oxide synthase and nitrate reductase (NR), indicated NR mediated NO biosynthesis in cold. Analysis of the in vivo thiols showed depletion of low molecular weight thiols and enhancement of available protein thiols, suggesting redox changes. To have a detailed view, S-nitrosylation analysis was done using biotin switch technique (BST) and avidin-affinity chromatography. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) is S-nitrosylated and therefore, is identified as target repeatedly due to its abundance. It also competes out low abundant proteins which are important NO signaling components. Therefore, RuBisCO was removed (over 80%) using immunoaffinity purification. Purified S-nitrosylated RuBisCO depleted proteins were resolved on 2-D gel as 110 spots, including 13 new, which were absent in the crude S-nitrosoproteome. These were identified by nLC-MS/MS as thioredoxin, fructose biphosphate aldolase class I, myrosinase, salt responsive proteins, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase and malate dehydrogenase. Cold showed differential S-nitrosylation of 15 spots, enhanced superoxide dismutase activity (via S-nitrosylation) and promoted the detoxification of superoxide radicals. Increased S-nitrosylation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase sedoheptulose-biphosphatase, and fructose biphosphate aldolase, indicated regulation of Calvin cycle by S-nitrosylation. The results showed that RuBisCO depletion improved proteome coverage and provided clues for NO signaling in cold.

Comparing the efficiencies of hydrazide labels in the study of protein carbonylation in human serum albumin

In this work, we establish a methodology for comparing the efficiencies of different hydrazide labels for detecting protein carbonyls. We have chosen acrolein-modified human serum albumin as a model. This system provides a convenient means of reproducibly generating carbonylated protein. Five hydrazide-based labels were tested. Three carry a biotin affinity tag, and the others are simple fatty acid hydrazides. For the biotin-based labels, the yield of the labeling reaction varies considerably, and the most commonly used label, biotin hydrazide, gives the lowest yield. The total tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectrum counts of modified peptides are similar for all of the biotin-based tags, indicating that factors beyond the labeling efficiency are important in determining the effectiveness of the label. In addition, there is a large variation in the number of spectra obtained for specific, modified peptides depending on the nature of the labeling group. This variation implies that the relative detectability of a particular modification site is highly dependent on the tagging reagent, and more importantly, titration schemes aimed at identifying the most reactive site based on its threshold concentration will be biased by the choice of tagging reagent. The fatty acid hydrazides are somewhat more effective than the biotin-based hydrazides in generating identifiable MS/MS spectra but offer no opportunity for enrichment. For the biotin-based tags, avidin affinity chromatography was used with the tryptic digests, and each tag led to similar enrichment levels.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase Regulates Global Histone Acetylation

Histone acetylation depends on intermediary metabolism for supplying acetyl-CoA in the nucleocytosolic compartment. However, because nucleocytosolic acetyl-CoA is also used for de novo synthesis of fatty acids, histone acetylation and synthesis of fatty acids compete for the same acetyl-CoA pool. The first and rate-limiting reaction in de novo synthesis of fatty acids is carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to form malonyl-CoA, catalyzed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase. In yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, acetyl-CoA carboxylase is encoded by the ACC1 gene. In this study, we show that attenuated expression of ACC1 results in increased acetylation of bulk histones, globally increased acetylation of chromatin histones, and altered transcriptional regulation. Together, our data indicate that Acc1p activity regulates the availability of acetyl-CoA for histone acetyltransferases, thus representing a link between intermediary metabolism and epigenetic mechanisms of transcriptional regulation.

Allergen‐derived proteinases: Isolation, characterization and signaling via proteinase‐activated receptors (PARs)

ObjectiveTo identify proteolytic enzymes in insect and mould asthma allergens and assess their ability to signal via the PARs.MethodsAllergen‐derived trypsin‐like enzymes known to contribute to lung inflammation were visualized (western blot) with serine proteinase activity‐based probes (ABP). Enzymes were purified using ion‐exchange chromatography and analyzed for their ABP reactivity &amp; substrate‐inhibitor kinetic profiles. Each enzyme was tested for its activation of PAR–dependent calcium signaling in PAR1 &amp; PAR2‐expressing KNRK cells. ABP‐labeled enzymes were isolated by avidin affinity chromatography and their peptide sequences determined (mass spectrometry).ResultsBoth allergens contained ABP‐labeled proteinases with MWs of 20–26 kDa. Each enzyme had distinct kinetic substrate (Km) and inhibitor (Ki) profiles. The enzymes all caused PAR2 calcium signaling, and differentially activated PAR1. Sequencing revealed that the allergen proteinases were homologous with previously described trypsin‐like enzymes.ConclusionsDiverse allergens contain multiple biochemically distinct trypsin‐like proteinases that are able to target PARs 1 and 2. Thus, PARs and their activating allergen proteinases may be attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of allergen‐induced asthma.Support: Canadian Institutes of Health Research, NIH USA and Lung Association of Alberta &amp; NWT

Targeting Proteases in Cardiovascular Diseases by Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics

Proteases hydrolyze peptide bonds, thereby controlling the function of proteins and peptides on the posttranslational level. In the cardiovascular system, proteases play pivotal roles in the regulation of blood pressure, coagulation and other essential physiological processes. Accordingly, proteases are prime targets for therapeutic interventions and diagnostics. Proteases are part of complex proteolytic networks comprised of enzymes, inhibitors, activators, substrates and cleavage products. Analyzing these networks on a system-wide level is essential to understanding cardiovascular function and how dysregulation can lead to pathological conditions. Mass spectrometry-based quantitative and dynamic proteomics approaches are leading the way to enhance our knowledge of proteolytic networks such as the renin-angiotensin-system. Here, we critically review proteomics tools utilized in protease biology and provide an overview on how these methods can be used to characterize and validate protease function.

Determining the Effects of Antioxidants on Oxidative Stress Induced Carbonylation of Proteins

There is potential that the pathological effects of oxidative stress (OS) associated diseases such as diabetes could be ameliorated with antioxidants, but this will require a clearer understanding of the pathway(s) by which proteins are damaged by OS. This study reports the development and use of methods that assess the efficacy of dietary antioxidant supplementation at a mechanistic level. Data reported here evaluate the impact of green tea supplementation on oxidative stress induced post-translational modifications (OSi-PTMs) in plasma proteins of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. The mechanism of antioxidant protection was examined through both the type and amount of OSi-PTMs using mass spectrometry based identification and quantification. Carbonylated proteins in freshly drawn blood samples were derivatized with biotin hydrazide. Proteins thus biotinylated were selected from plasma samples of green tea fed diabetic rats and control animals by avidin affinity chromatography, further fractionated by reversed phase chromatography (RPC); fractions from the RPC column were tryptic digested, and the tryptic digest was fractionated by RPC before being identified by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Relative quantification of peptides bearing carbonylation sites was achieved for the first time by RPC-MS/MS using selective reaction monitoring (SRM). Seventeen carbonylated peptides were detected and quantified in both control and treated plasma. The relative concentration of eight was dramatically different between control and green tea treated animals. Seven of the OSi-PTM bearing peptides had dropped dramatically in concentration with treatment while one increased, indicating differential regulation of carbonylation by antioxidants. Green tea antioxidants were found to reduce carbonylation of proteins by lipid peroxidation end products most, followed by advanced glycation end products to a slightly lower extent. Direct oxidation of proteins by reactive oxygen species (ROS) was protected the least by green tea.

Differential carbonylation of proteins as a function of in vivo oxidative stress.

This study reports for the first time qualitative and quantitative differences in carbonylated proteins shed into blood as a function of increasing levels of OS. Carbonylated proteins in freshly drawn blood from pairs of diabetic and lean rats were derivatized with biotin hydrazide, dialyzed, and enriched with avidin affinity chromatography. Proteins thus selected were used in several ways. Differences between control and diabetic subjects in relative concentration of proteins was achieved by differential labeling of tryptic digests with iTRAQ reagents followed by reversed phase chromatography (RPC) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Identification and characterization of OS induced post-translational modification sites in contrast was achieved by fractionation of affinity selected proteins before proteolysis and RPC-MS/MS. Relative quantification of peptides bearing oxidative modifications was achieved for the first time by selective reaction monitoring (SRM). Approximately 1.7% of the proteins in Zucker diabetic rat plasma were selected by the avidin affinity column as compared to 0.98% in lean animal plasma. Among the 35 proteins identified and quantified, Apo AII, clusterin, hemopexin precursor, and potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 7 showed the most dramatic changes in concentration. Seventeen carbonylation sites were identified and quantified, 11 of which changed more than 2-fold in oxidation state. Three types of carbonylation were identified at these sites: direct oxidative cleavage from reactive oxygen species, glycation and addition of advanced glycation end products, and addition of lipid peroxidation products. Direct oxidation was the dominant form of carbonylation observed while hemoglobin and murinoglobulin 1 homologue were the most heavily oxidized proteins.

Profiling Carbonylated Proteins in Human Plasma

This study reports the first proteomic-based identification and characterization of oxidized proteins in human plasma. The study was conducted by isolating carbonylated proteins from the plasma of male subjects (age 32-36) with avidin affinity chromatography subsequent to biotinylation of carbonyl groups with biotin hydrazide and sodium cyanoborohydride reduction of the resulting Schiff's bases. Avidin selected proteins were digested with trypsin, and the peptide fragments were separated by C18 reversed phase chromatography and identified and characterized by both electrospray ionization and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Approximately 0.2% of the total protein in plasma was selected with this method. Sixty-five high, medium, and low abundance proteins were identified, the majority appearing in all subjects. An interesting feature of the oxidized proteins isolated was that in addition to carbonylation they often bore other types of oxidative modification. Twenty-four oxidative modifications were mapped in 14 proteins. Fifteen carbonylation sites carried on 7 proteins were detected. Methionine oxidation was the most frequent single type of oxidative modification followed by tryptophan oxidation. Apolipoprotein B-100 had 20 oxidative modifications, the largest number for any protein observed in this study. Among the organs contributing oxidized proteins to plasma, kidney, liver, and soft tissues were the most frequent donors. One of the more important outcomes of this work was that mass spectral analysis allowed differentiation between different biological mechanisms of oxidation in individual proteins. For the first time, oxidation products arising from direct ROS oxidation of amino acid side chains in proteins, formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) adducts, and formation of adducts with lipid peroxidation products were simultaneously recognized and assigned to specific sites in proteins.

Enrichment and Site Mapping of O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine by a Combination of Chemical/Enzymatic Tagging, Photochemical Cleavage, and Electron Transfer Dissociation Mass Spectrometry

Numerous cellular processes are regulated by the reversible addition of either phosphate or O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. Although sensitive methods exist for the enrichment and identification of protein phosphorylation sites, those for the enrichment of O-GlcNAc-containing peptides are lacking. Reported here is highly efficient methodology for the enrichment and characterization of O-GlcNAc sites from complex samples. In this method, O-GlcNAc-modified peptides are tagged with a novel biotinylation reagent, enriched by affinity chromatography, released from the solid support by photochemical cleavage, and analyzed by electron transfer dissociation mass spectrometry. Using this strategy, eight O-GlcNAc sites were mapped from a tau-enriched sample from rat brain. Sites of GlcNAcylation were characterized on important neuronal proteins such as tau, synucleins, and methyl CpG-binding protein 2.

Characterization of Receptor Proteins using Affinity Cross-linking with Biotinylated Ligands

The plant genome encodes a wide range of receptor-like proteins but the function of most of these proteins is unknown. We propose the use of affinity cross-linking of biotinylated ligands for a ligand-based survey of the corresponding receptor molecules. Biotinylated ligands not only enable the analysis of receptor-ligand interactions without the use of radioactive compounds but also the isolation and identification of receptor molecules by a simple affinity trapping method. We successfully applied this method for the characterization, isolation and identification of the chitin elicitor binding protein (CEBiP). A biocytin hydrazide conjugate of N-acetylchitooctaose (GN8-Bio) was synthesized and used for the detection of CEBiP in the plasma or microsomal membrane preparations from rice and carrot cells. Binding characteristics of CEBiP analyzed by inhibition studies were in good agreement with the previous results obtained with the use of a radiolabeled ligand. The biotin-tagged CEBiP could be purified by avidin affinity chromatography and identified by LC-MALDI-MS/MS after tryptic digestion. We also used this method to detect OsFLS2, a rice receptor-like kinase for the perception of the peptide elicitor flg22, in membrane preparations from rice cells overexpressing OsFLS2. This work demonstrates the applicability of this method to the purification and identification of plant receptor proteins.