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Biomedical subjects

Ole N Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to Ole N Jensen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of the human atheroma plaque secretome by proteomic analysis.

Atherosclerosis is one of the most common causes of death in developed countries. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process that results in the development of complex lesions or plaques that protrude into the arterial lumen. Plaque rupture and thrombosis result in the acute clinical complications of myocardial infarction and stroke. Although certain risk factors (dyslipidemias, diabetes, hypertension) and humoral markers of plaque vulnerability (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, -10 and -18, CD-40L) have been identified, a highly sensitive and specific biomarker or protein profile, which could provide information on the stability/vulnerability of atherosclerotic lesions, remains to be identified. Recently, we have described a novel strategy consisting in the proteomic analysis of proteins released by normal and atherosclerotic arterial walls in culture. This method enables harvesting of proteins that are only secreted by pathological or normal arterial walls. By focusing only on the secreted proteins found in the tissue culture media, there is an intended bias toward those molecules that would have a higher probability of later being found in plasma. Using this approach, we have shown that carotid atherosclerotic plaques cultured in vitro are able to secrete proteins, and also that a differential pattern of protein secretion of normal arteries vs pathological ones has been observed. In this chapter, the proteomic analysis of the human atheroma plaque secretome is described.

Atherosclerosis↗

Characterization of HSP27 phosphorylation sites in human atherosclerotic plaque secretome.

Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of death in developed countries. Atheroma plaque formation is promoted by the interaction between the cells conforming the arterial wall, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells, together with lipoproteins and inflammatory cells (mainly macrophages and T-lymphocytes). These interactions can be mediated by proteins secreted from these cells, which therefore exert an important role in the atherosclerotic process. We recently described a novel strategy for the characterization of the human atherosclerotic plaque secretome, combining two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MS). Among the identified proteins, two isoforms of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), a protein recently described as a potential biomarker of atherosclerosis, were detected. However, the putative mechanisms in which HSP27 isoforms could be involved in the atherosclerotic process are unknown. Thus, the role that phosphorylated HSP27 could play in the atherosclerotic process is actually under study. The present work shows the strategies employed to characterize the phosphorylation in the HSP27 secreted by atheroma plaque samples. The application of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), as well as the combination of immobilized metal affinity chromatography methodology with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS/MS are described.

Atherosclerosis↗

Genetic and molecular interactions of the Erv41p-Erv46p complex involved in transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex.

Erv41p and Erv46p are integral membrane proteins conserved across species. They were originally identified as abundant constituents of COPII-coated vesicles, and form a complex which cycles between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex. Yeast strains lacking these proteins are viable but display subtle secretory phenotypes. In order to obtain information about possible biological roles of this protein complex in endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport, we employed the Synthetic Genetic Array approach to screen for synthetic genetic interactions with the erv46 null mutation. We identified synthetic interactions with vma12, vma21, vma22 and vps1 deletion mutations. The vma21Delta mutation exacerbates transport defects caused by the erv46Delta mutation. Unexpectedly, yeast strains lacking Vma21p fail to sort the endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi v-SNARE, Bos1p, efficiently into COPII vesicles, yet these vesicles are fully fusion competent. In addition, we set out to identify, by a biochemical approach, proteins interacting with the Erv41p-Erv46p complex. We report a strong interaction between the Erv41p-Erv46p complex and endoplasmic reticulum glucosidase II. Strains lacking a cycling Erv41p-Erv46p complex display a mild glycoprotein processing defect.

COP-Coated Vesicles↗

BRAG1, a Sec7 domain-containing protein, is a component of the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses.

The postsynaptic density (PSD) at excitatory synapses is a dynamic complex of glutamatergic receptors and associated proteins that governs synaptic structure and coordinates signal transduction. In this study, we report that BRAG1, a putative guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the Arf family of GTP-binding proteins, is a major component of the PSD. BRAG1 was identified in a 190 kDa band in the PSD fraction with the use of mass spectrometry coupled to searching of a protein sequence database. BRAG1 expression is abundant in the adult rat forebrain, and it is strongly enriched in the PSD fraction compared to forebrain homogenate and synaptosomes. Immunocytochemical localization of BRAG1 in dissociated hippocampal neurons shows that it forms discrete clusters that colocalize with the postsynaptic marker PSD-95 at sites along dendrites. BRAG1 contains a Sec7 domain, a domain that catalyzes exchange of GDP for GTP on the Arf family of small GTP-binding proteins. In their GTP-bound active state, Arfs regulate trafficking of vesicles and cytoskeletal structure. We demonstrate that the Sec7 domain of BRAG1 promotes binding of GTP to Arf in vitro. These data suggest that BRAG1 may modulate the functions of Arfs at synaptic sites.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1↗

A specific p47phox -serine phosphorylated by convergent MAPKs mediates neutrophil NADPH oxidase priming at inflammatory sites.

Neutrophil NADPH oxidase plays a key role in host defense and in inflammation by releasing large amounts of superoxide and other ROSs. Proinflammatory cytokines such as GM-CSF and TNF-alpha prime ROS production by neutrophils through unknown mechanisms. Here we used peptide sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry to show that GM-CSF and TNF-alpha induce phosphorylation of Ser345 on p47phox, a cytosolic component of NADPH oxidase, in human neutrophils. As Ser345 is located in the MAPK consensus sequence, we tested the effects of MAPK inhibitors. Inhibitors of the ERK1/2 pathway abrogated GM-CSF-induced phosphorylation of Ser345, while p38 MAPK inhibitor abrogated TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of Ser345. Transfection of HL-60 cells with a mutated p47phox (S345A) inhibited GM-CSF- and TNF-alpha-induced priming of ROS production. This event was also inhibited in neutrophils by a cell-permeable peptide containing a TAT-p47phox-Ser345 sequence. Furthermore, ROS generation, p47phox-Ser345 phosphorylation, and ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation were increased in synovial neutrophils from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and TAT-Ser345 peptide inhibited ROS production by these primed neutrophils. This study therefore identifies convergent MAPK pathways on Ser345 that are involved in GM-CSF- and TNF-alpha-induced priming of neutrophils and are activated in RA. Inhibition of the point of convergence of these pathways might serve as a novel antiinflammatory strategy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and characterization of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored peptides by hydrophilic interaction chromatography and MALDI tandem mass spectrometry.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) are posttranslationally processed proteins that become tethered to the extracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane via a C-terminal glycan-like moiety. Since the first GPI-AP was described in the 1970s, more than 500 GPI-APs have been reported in a range of species, including plants, microbes, and mammals. GPI-APs are probably involved in cell signaling, cell recognition, and cell remodeling processes, and they may potentially serve as cell surface antigens or vaccine targets in pathogenic microorganisms or transformed mammalian cells. Due to the structural complexity and physicochemical properties of GPI-APs, their identification and structural characterization is a demanding analytical task. Here, we report a simple, fast and sensitive method for isolation and structural analysis of GPI-anchors using a combination of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. This method allowed analysis of GPI peptides derived from low picomole levels of the porcine kidney membrane dipeptidase. Furthermore, it allowed unambiguous assignment of the omega site via amino acid sequencing of the modified peptides. GPI-anchor-specific diagnostic ions were observed by MALDI-MS/MS at m/z 162, 286, 422, and 447, corresponding to glucosamine, mannose ethanolamine phosphate, glucosamine inositol phosphate, and mannose ethanolamine phosphate glucosamine, respectively. Thus, the methodology described herein may enable sensitive and specific detection of GPI-anchored peptides in large-scale proteomic studies of plasma membrane proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Allosteric activation of coagulation factor VIIa visualized by hydrogen exchange.

Coagulation factor VIIa (FVIIa) is a serine protease that, after binding to tissue factor (TF), plays a pivotal role in the initiation of blood coagulation. We used hydrogen exchange monitored by mass spectrometry to visualize the details of FVIIa activation by comparing the exchange kinetics of distinct molecular states, namely zymogen FVII, endoproteolytically cleaved FVIIa, TF-bound zymogen FVII, TF-bound FVIIa, and FVIIa in complex with an active site inhibitor. The hydrogen exchange kinetics of zymogen FVII and FVIIa are identical indicating highly similar solution structures. However, upon tissue factor binding, FVIIa undergoes dramatic structural stabilization as indicated by decreased exchange rates localized throughout the protease domain and in distant parts of the light chain, spanning across 50A and revealing a concerted interplay between functional sites in FVIIa. The results provide novel insights into the cofactor-induced activation of this important protease and reveal the potential for allosteric regulation in the trypsin family of proteases.

Allosteric Site↗

Identification of ischemia-regulated phosphorylation sites in connexin43: A possible target for the antiarrhythmic peptide analogue rotigaptide (ZP123).

Previous studies suggest that dephosphorylation of connexin43 (Cx43) is related to uncoupling of gap junction communication, which plays an important role in the genesis of ischemia-induced ventricular tachycardia. We studied changes in Cx43 phosphorylation during global ischemia in the absence and presence of the antiarrhythmic peptide analogue rotigaptide (formerly known as ZP123). Phosphorylation analysis was performed on Cx43 purified from isolated perfused rat hearts using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Thirteen different serine phosphorylation sites were identified in Cx43 during non-ischemic conditions, three of which had not previously been described. Within the first 7 min of ischemia, Ser306 became fully dephosphorylated whereas Ser330 became phosphorylated. Between 15 and 30 min of ischemia, the critical time interval where gap junction uncoupling occurs, Ser297 and Ser368 also became fully dephosphorylated. During the same time period, all untreated hearts developed asystole. Treatment with rotigaptide significantly increased the time to ischemia-induced asystole and suppressed dephosphorylation of Ser297 and Ser368 at 30 min of ischemia. Our results suggest that phosphorylation of Ser297 and Ser368 may be involved in functional gating of Cx43 during ischemia and may be possible downstream targets for rotigaptide signaling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

On-bead chemical synthesis and display of phosphopeptides for affinity pull-down proteomics.

We describe a new method for phosphopeptide proteomics based on the solid-phase synthesis of phosphopeptides on beads suitable for affinity pull-down experiments. Peptide sequences containing the Bad Ser112 and Ser136 phosphorylation motifs were used as bait in affinity pull-down experiments to determine their ability to bind 14-3-3 proteins. Support-bound peptides were assembled directly on the solid support (PEGA) by standard solid-phase synthesis through a BAL-type handle. The peptides were varied in length and sequence. This synthetic strategy also allowed introduction of a soft electrophile (aldehyde) at the C terminus for potential activity-based proteomics. The synthetic support-bound Bad phosphopeptides were able to pull down 14-3-3zeta. Furthermore, Bad phosphopeptides bound endogenous 14-3-3 proteins, and all seven members of the 14-3-3 family were identified by mass spectrometry. In control experiments, none of the unphosphorylated Bad peptides bound transfected 14-3-3zeta or endogenous 14-3-3. We conclude that the combined synthesis and display of phosphopeptides on-bead is a fast and efficient method for affinity pull-down proteomics.

Molecular Structure↗

Modification-specific proteomics of plasma membrane proteins: identification and characterization of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins released upon phospholipase D treatment.

Plasma membrane proteins are displayed through diverse mechanisms, including anchoring in the extracellular leaflet via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) molecules. GPI-anchored membrane proteins (GPI-APs) are a functionally and structurally diverse protein family, and their importance is well-recognized as they are candidate cell surface biomarker molecules with potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications in molecular medicine. GPI-APs have also attracted interest in plant biotechnology because of their role in root development and cell remodeling. Using a shave-and-conquer concept, we demonstrate that phospholipase D (PLD) treatment of human and plant plasma membrane fractions leads to the release of GPI-anchored proteins that were identified and characterized by capillary liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. In contrast to phospholipase C, the PLD enzyme is not affected by structural heterogeneity of the GPI moiety, making PLD a generally useful reagent for proteomic investigations of GPI-anchored proteins in a variety of cells, tissues, and organisms. A total of 11 human GPI-APs and 35 Arabidopsis thaliana GPI-APs were identified, representing a significant addition to the number of experimentally detected GPI-APs in both species. Computational GPI-AP sequence analysis tools were investigated for the characterization of the identified GPI-APs, and these demonstrated that there is some discrepancy in their efficiency in classification of GPI-APs and the exact assignment of omega-sites. This study highlights the efficiency of an integrative proteomics approach that combines experimental and computational methods to provide the selectivity, specificity, and sensitivity required for characterization of post-translationally modified membrane proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Quantitative proteomics identifies Gemin5, a scaffolding protein involved in ribonucleoprotein assembly, as a novel partner for eukaryotic initiation factor 4E.

Protein complexes are dynamic entities; identification and quantitation of their components is critical in elucidating functional roles under specific cellular conditions. We report the first quantitative proteomic analysis of the human cap-binding protein complex. Components and proteins associated with the translation initiation eIF4F complex that may affect complex formation were identified and quantitated under distinct growth conditions. Site-specific phosphorylation of eIF4E and eIF4G and elevated levels of eIF4G:eIF4E complexes in phorbol ester treated HEK293 cells, and in serum-starved tumorigenic human mesenchymal stromal cells, attested to their activated translational states. The WD-repeat, scaffolding-protein Gemin5 was identified as a novel eIF4E binding partner, which interacted directly with eIF4E through a motif (YXXXXLPhi) present in a number of eIF4E-interacting partners. Elevated levels of Gemin5:eIF4E complexes were found in phorbol ester treated HEK293 cells. Gemin5 and eIF4E co-localized to cytoplasmic P-bodies in human osteosarcoma U2OS cells. Interaction between eIF4E and Gemin5 and their co-localization to the P-bodies, may serve to recruit capped mRNAs to these RNP complexes, for functions related to RNP assembly, remodeling and/or transition from active translation to mRNA degradation. Our results demonstrate that our quantitative proteomic strategy can be applied to the identification and quantitation of protein complex components in human cells grown under different conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interpreting the protein language using proteomics.

Post-translational modifications define the functional and structural plasticity of proteins in archaea, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Multi-site protein modification modulates protein activity and macromolecular interactions and is involved in a range of fundamental molecular processes. Combining state-of-the-art technologies in molecular cell biology, protein mass spectrometry and bioinformatics, it is now feasible to discover and study the structural and functional roles of distinct protein post-translational modifications.

Animals↗

Phosphorylation of JAK2 at serine 523: a negative regulator of JAK2 that is stimulated by growth hormone and epidermal growth factor.

The tyrosine kinase JAK2 is a key signaling protein for at least 20 receptors in the cytokine/hematopoietin receptor superfamily and is a component of signaling for multiple receptor tyrosine kinases and several G-protein-coupled receptors. In this study, phosphopeptide affinity enrichment and mass spectrometry identified serine 523 (Ser523) in JAK2 as a site of phosphorylation. A phosphoserine 523 antibody revealed that Ser523 is rapidly but transiently phosphorylated in response to growth hormone (GH). MEK1 inhibitor UO126 suppresses GH-dependent phosphorylation of Ser523, suggesting that extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and/or 2 or another kinase downstream of MEK1 phosphorylate Ser523 in response to GH. Other ERK activators, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and epidermal growth factor, also stimulate phosphorylation of Ser523. When Ser523 in JAK2 was mutated, JAK2 kinase activity as well as GH-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of JAK2 and Stat5 was enhanced, suggesting that phosphorylation of Ser523 inhibits JAK2 kinase activity. We hypothesize that phosphorylation of Ser523 in JAK2 by ERKs 1 and/or 2 or other as-yet-unidentified kinases acts in a negative feedback manner to dampen activation of JAK2 in response to GH and provides a mechanism by which prior exposure to environmental factors that regulate Ser523 phosphorylation might modulate the cell's response to GH.

3T3 Cells↗

Analysis of posttranslational modifications of proteins by tandem mass spectrometry.

Protein activity and turnover is tightly and dynamically regulated in living cells. Whereas the three-dimensional protein structure is predominantly determined by the amino acid sequence, posttranslational modification (PTM) of proteins modulates their molecular function and the spatial-temporal distribution in cells and tissues. Most PTMs can be detected by protein and peptide analysis by mass spectrometry (MS), either as a mass increment or a mass deficit relative to the nascent unmodified protein. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) provides a series of analytical features that are highly useful for the characterization of modified proteins via amino acid sequencing and specific detection of posttranslationally modified amino acid residues. Large-scale, quantitative analysis of proteins by MS/MS is beginning to reveal novel patterns and functions of PTMs in cellular signaling networks and biomolecular structures.

Mass Spectrometry↗

p130Cas mediates the transforming properties of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase.

Translocations of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene have been described in anaplastic large-cell lymphomas (ALCLs) and in stromal tumors. The most frequent translocation, t(2;5), generates the fusion protein nucleophosmin (NPM)-ALK with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Along with transformation, NPM-ALK induces morphologic changes in fibroblasts and lymphoid cells, suggesting a direct role of ALK in cell shaping. In this study, we used a mass-spectrometry-based proteomic approach to search for proteins involved in cytoskeleton remodeling and identified p130Cas (p130 Crk-associated substrate) as a novel interactor of NPM-ALK. In 293 cells and in fibroblasts as well as in human ALK-positive lymphoma cell lines, NPM-ALK was able to bind p130Cas and to induce its phosphorylation. Both of the effects were dependent on ALK kinase activity and on the adaptor protein growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2), since no binding or phosphorylation was found with the kinase-dead mutant NPM-ALK(K210R) or in the presence of a Grb2 dominant-negative protein. Phosphorylation of p130Cas by NPM-ALK was partially independent from Src (tyrosine kinase pp60c-src) kinase activity, as it was still detectable in Syf-/- cells. Finally, p130Cas-/- (also known as Bcar1-/-) fibroblasts expressing NPM-ALK showed impaired actin filament depolymerization and were no longer transformed compared with wild-type cells, indicating an essential role of p130Cas activation in ALK-mediated transformation.

Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase↗

Stable isotope labeling of Arabidopsis thaliana cells and quantitative proteomics by mass spectrometry.

Quantitative analysis of protein expression is an important tool for the examination of complex biological systems. Albeit its importance, quantitative proteomics is still a challenging task because of the high dynamic range of protein amounts in the cell and the variation in the physical properties of proteins. Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) has been successfully used in yeast and mammalian cells to measure relative protein abundance by mass spectrometry. Here we show for the first time that proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana cell cultures can be selectively isotope-labeled in vivo by growing cells in the presence of a single stable isotope-labeled amino acid. Among the tested amino acids ([2H3]-leucine, [13C6]arginine, and [2H4]lysine), [13C6]arginine proved to be the most suitable. Incorporation of [13C6]arginine into the proteome was homogeneous and reached efficiencies of about 80%. [13C6]Arginine-labeled A. thaliana suspension cells were used to study the regulation of glutathione S-transferase expression in response to abiotic stress caused by salicylic acid and to identify proteins that bind specifically to phosphorylated 14-3-3 binding motifs on synthesized bait peptides in affinity purification experiments. In conclusion, the combination of stable isotope labeling of plant cells and mass spectrometry is a powerful technology that can be applied to study complex biological processes that involve changes in protein expression such as cellular responses to various kinds of stress or activation of cell signaling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Systematic analysis of the epidermal growth factor receptor by mass spectrometry reveals stimulation-dependent multisite phosphorylation.

Multisite phosphorylation of proteins is a general mechanism for modulation of protein function and molecular interactions. Definition of phosphorylation sites and elucidation of the functional interplay between multiple phosphorylated residues in proteins are, however, a major analytical challenge in current molecular cell biology and proteomic research. In the present study, we used mass spectrometry to determine the major phosphorylated residues of the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor at various well defined cellular conditions. Activation of EGF receptor was achieved by several types of stimulation, i.e. by sodium pervanadate, EGF, and integrin-dependent adhesion. The contribution of cell-matrix adhesion was also determined by activating the EGF receptor by EGF in cells kept in suspension. We developed an analytical strategy that combined miniaturized sample preparation techniques and MALDI tandem mass spectrometry and determined a total of nine phosphorylation sites in the EGF receptor. We discovered one novel phosphorylation site (Ser967) and revealed constitutive phosphorylation of Thr669, Ser967, Ser1002, and Tyr1045 and stimulation-dependent differential phosphorylation of Tyr1068, Tyr1086, Ser1142, Tyr1148, and Tyr1173. The EGF receptor was purified from HeLa cells or ECV304 cells by immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE and then digested with trypsin. Phosphopeptides in the range of 0.8-3.7 kDa were recovered by combinations of IMAC, perfusion chromatography, and graphite powder chromatography and subsequently detected and sequenced by MALDI quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Two phosphorylation sites were detected in the peptide 1137GSHQISLDNPDYQQDFFPK1155; however, only Tyr1148 was phosphorylated upon EGF treatment; in contrast Ser1142 was only phosphorylated by integrin-dependent adhesion in the absence of EGF treatment, suggesting differential phosphorylation of this region by distinct stimuli. This MALDI MS/MS-based analytical approach demonstrates the feasibility of systematic analysis of signaling molecules by mass spectrometry and provides new insights into the dynamics of receptor signaling processes.

Cell Adhesion↗