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Biomedical subjects

Peter Roepstorff

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Roepstorff.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Dynamics of urokinase receptor interaction with Peptide antagonists studied by amide hydrogen exchange and mass spectrometry.

Using amide hydrogen exchange combined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, we have in this study determined the number of amide hydrogens on several peptides that become solvent-inaccessible as a result of their high-affinity interaction with the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). These experiments reveal that at least six out of eight amide hydrogens in a synthetic nine-mer peptide antagonist (AE105) become sequestered upon engagement in uPAR binding. Various uPAR mutants with decreased affinity for this peptide antagonist gave similar results, thereby indicating that deletion of the favorable interactions involving the side chains of these residues in uPAR does not affect the number of hydrogen bonds established by the main chain of the peptide ligand. The isolated growth factor-like domain (GFD) of the cognate serine protease ligand for uPAR showed 11 protected amide hydrogens in the receptor complex. Interestingly, a naturally occurring O-linked fucose on Thr(18) confers protection of two additional amide hydrogens in GFD when it forms a complex with uPAR. Dissociation of the uPAR-peptide complexes is accompanied by a correlated exchange of nearly all amide hydrogens on the peptide ligand. This yields bimodal isotope patterns from which dissociation rate constants can be determined. In addition, the distinct bimodal isotope distributions also allow investigation of the exchange kinetics of receptor-bound peptides providing information about the local structural motions at the interface. These exchange experiments therefore provide both structural and kinetic information on the interaction between uPAR and these small peptide antagonists, which in model systems show promise as inhibitors of intravasation of human cancer cells.

Amides↗

Characterization of gel-separated glycoproteins using two-step proteolytic digestion combined with sequential microcolumns and mass spectrometry.

Protein glycosylation can be vital for changing the function or physiochemical properties of a protein. Abnormal glycosylation can lead to protein malfunction, resulting in severe diseases. Therefore, it is important to develop techniques for characterization of such modifications in proteins at a sensitivity level comparable with state-of-the-art proteomics. Whereas techniques exist for characterization of high abundance glycoproteins, no single method is presently capable of providing information on both site occupancy and glycan structure on a single band excised from an electrophoretic gel. We present a new technique that allows characterization of low amounts of glycoproteins separated by gel electrophoresis. The method takes advantage of sequential specific and nonspecific enzymatic treatment followed by selective purification and characterization of the glycopeptides using graphite powder microcolumns in combination with mass spectrometry. The method is faster and more sensitive than previous approaches and is compatible with proteomic studies.

Acetonitriles↗

Molecular characterization of major cat allergen Fel d 1: expression of heterodimer by use of a baculovirus expression system.

Fel d 1 is a major cat allergen inducing allergic rhinitis and asthma in sensitized individuals. It has a more complex structure when compared with other allergens and therefore expression of recombinant Fel d 1 has been considered a challenge. The present study shows for the first time that a Baculovirus expression system is able to produce an intact rFel d 1 molecule that is glycosylated and structurally equivalent to the natural cat allergen, nFel d 1. Enzymatic digestion of rFel d 1 and further analysis by use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) resulted in a complete coverage of the amino acid sequence of rFel d 1. In addition, the three disulfide bridges at the positions alpha70-beta7, alpha44-beta48, and alpha3-beta73 were verified. The N-glycan structure of rFel d 1 was investigated by a combination of MALDI-TOF MS and monosaccharide analysis by high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAC). The N-glycosylation analyses of rFel d 1 refer to a pattern of glycoforms including core alpha1.3-fucosylation that is different from nFel d 1. Further characterization by use of human serum IgE, histamine release, and lymphocyte proliferation assays demonstrated that the immunological characteristics of rFel d 1 are similar to those of nFel d 1. Detailed characterization of both natural and recombinant allergens provides tools to explore immunological mechanisms associated with allergen sensitization and desensitization.

Allergens↗

The molecular basis for oat intolerance in patients with celiac disease.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease is a small intestinal inflammatory disorder characterized by malabsorption, nutrient deficiency, and a range of clinical manifestations. It is caused by an inappropriate immune response to dietary gluten and is treated with a gluten-free diet. Recent feeding studies have indicated oats to be safe for celiac disease patients, and oats are now often included in the celiac disease diet. This study aimed to investigate whether oat intolerance exists in celiac disease and to characterize the cells and processes underlying this intolerance. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We selected for study nine adults with celiac disease who had a history of oats exposure. Four of the patients had clinical symptoms on an oats-containing diet, and three of these four patients had intestinal inflammation typical of celiac disease at the time of oats exposure. We established oats-avenin-specific and -reactive intestinal T-cell lines from these three patients, as well as from two other patients who appeared to tolerate oats. The avenin-reactive T-cell lines recognized avenin peptides in the context of HLA-DQ2. These peptides have sequences rich in proline and glutamine residues closely resembling wheat gluten epitopes. Deamidation (glutamine-->glutamic acid conversion) by tissue transglutaminase was involved in the avenin epitope formation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that some celiac disease patients have avenin-reactive mucosal T-cells that can cause mucosal inflammation. Oat intolerance may be a reason for villous atrophy and inflammation in patients with celiac disease who are eating oats but otherwise are adhering to a strict gluten-free diet. Clinical follow-up of celiac disease patients eating oats is advisable.

Atrophy↗

Screening for enzyme inhibitors by surface plasmon resonance combined with mass spectrometry.

We have developed a novel strategy to identify enzyme inhibitors that interact directly with their enzyme targets. In the approach, an enzyme is immobilized on a sensor chip, and it is determined whether the immobilized enzyme is still active by incubation with model substrates and mass spectrometric analysis of the products. Putative inhibitors or mixtures containing putative inhibitors are then injected over the sensor chip for binding analysis with surface plasmon resonance. It is then tested whether the bound compounds inhibit the enzymatic activity by subsequent incubation with the model substrate and mass spectrometric analysis. If the bound compound inhibits the enzyme, the inhibitor is eluted from the enzyme and characterized by mass spectrometry. To test the strategy, it has been applied to the well-characterized interaction between trypsin and pure bovine pancreas trypsin inhibitor. Furthermore, fractions of plant extracts were screened for binding to and inhibition of carboxypeptidase B.

Aprotinin↗

Absolute quantitation of proteins by a combination of acid hydrolysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

Quantitation by mass spectrometry is increasingly used to monitor protein levels in biological samples. Most of the current methods are based on the relative comparison of protein quantities but are not suited for the determination of the absolute amount of a given protein. Here we describe a method for the absolute quantitation of proteins that is based on amino acid analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Proteins are completely hydrolyzed by acid hydrolysis and then mixed with standards of isotopically labeled amino acids. For the presented study, lysine, leucine, and two different types of labeled arginine were examined as standards. Quantitation of proteins is then achieved by measuring the ratios of labeled and unlabeled amino acids. The method has a sensitivity down to the low-femtomole range and can be applied to quantitate proteins separated by gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a mixture of two proteins can be quantitated using two labeled amino acids simultaneously.

Amino Acids↗

Acyl-CoA-binding protein, Acb1p, is required for normal vacuole function and ceramide synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In the present study, we show that depletion of acyl-CoA-binding protein, Acb1p, in yeast affects ceramide levels, protein trafficking, vacuole fusion and structure. Vacuoles in Acb1p-depleted cells are multi-lobed, contain significantly less of the SNAREs (soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptors) Nyv1p, Vam3p and Vti1p, and are unable to fuse in vitro. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed a dramatic reduction in the content of ceramides in whole-cell lipids and in vacuoles isolated from Acb1p-depleted cells. Maturation of yeast aminopeptidase I and carboxypeptidase Y is slightly delayed in Acb1p-depleted cells, whereas the maturation of alkaline phosphatase and Gas1p is unaffected. The fact that Gas1p maturation is unaffected by Acb1p depletion, despite the lowered ceramide content in these cells, indicates that ceramide synthesis in yeast could be compartmentalized. We suggest that the reduced ceramide synthesis in Acb1p-depleted cells leads to severely altered vacuole morphology, perturbed vacuole assembly and strong inhibition of homotypic vacuole fusion.

Carrier Proteins↗

Identification of protein-protein interfaces implicated in CD80-CD28 costimulatory signaling.

The B7 ligands CD80 and CD86 on APCs deliver either costimulatory or inhibitory signals to the T cell when interacting with their counter-receptors CD28 and CD152 (CTLA-4) on the T cell surface. Although crucial for lymphocyte regulation, the structural basis of these interactions is still not completely understood. Using multivalent presentation and conditions mimicking clustering, believed to be essential for signaling through these receptors, and by applying a combined differential mass spectrometry and structural mapping approach to these conditions, we were able to identify a putative contact area involving hydrophilic regions on both CD28 and CD80 as well as a putative CD28 oligomerization interface induced by B7 ligation. Analysis of the CD80-CD28 interaction site reveals a well-defined interface structurally distinct from that of CD80 and CD152 and thus provides valuable information for therapeutic intervention targeted at this pathway, suggesting a general approach for other receptors.

Animals↗

Differentiation of isomeric oligosaccharide structures by ESI tandem MS and GC-MS.

A mixture of arabinoxylan oligosaccharides from wheat seedling was permethylated and analyzed by electrospray ion trap MS and GC-MS. The presence of isomeric structures differing in degree of branching and position of the branched residue along the xylose backbone was demonstrated for oligosaccharides with four and five monosaccharide residues. No isomeric structures were found for oligosaccharides with three monosaccharide residues. Linkage analysis by GC-MS reveals that xylose residues were substituted with single arabinoxyl residues at C-3.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Improved detection of hydrophilic phosphopeptides using graphite powder microcolumns and mass spectrometry: evidence for in vivo doubly phosphorylated dynamin I and dynamin III.

A common strategy in proteomics to improve the number and quality of peptides detected by mass spectrometry (MS) is to desalt and concentrate proteolytic digests using reversed phase (RP) chromatography prior to analysis. However, this does not allow for detection of small or hydrophilic peptides, or peptides altered in hydrophilicity such as phosphopeptides. We used microcolumns to compare the ability of RP resin or graphite powder to retain phosphopeptides. A number of standard phosphopeptides and a biologically relevant phosphoprotein, dynamin I, were analyzed. MS revealed that some phosphopeptides did not bind the RP resin but were retained efficiently on the graphite. Those that did bind the RP resin often produced much stronger signals from the graphite powder. In particular, the method revealed a doubly phosphorylated peptide in a tryptic digest of dynamin I purified from rat brain nerve terminals. The detection of this peptide was greatly enhanced by graphite micropurification. Sequencing by tandem MS confirmed the presence of phosphate at both Ser-774 and Ser-778, while a singly phosphorylated peptide was predominantly phosphorylated only on Ser-774. The method further revealed a singly and doubly phosphorylated peptide in dynamin III, analogous to the dynamin I sequence. A pair of dynamin III phosphorylation sites were found at Ser-759 and Ser-763 by tandem MS. The results directly define the in vivo phosphorylation sites in dynamins I and III for the first time. The findings indicate a large improvement in the detection of small amounts of phosphopeptides by MS and the approach has major implications for both small- and large-scale projects in phosphoproteomics.

Animals↗

Molecular characterization of covalent complexes between tissue transglutaminase and gliadin peptides.

Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) modifies proteins and peptides by transamidation or deamidation of specific glutamine residues. TG2 also has a central role in the pathogenesis of celiac disease. The enzyme is both the target of disease-specific autoantibodies and generates deamidated gliadin peptides recognized by intestinal T cells from patients. Incubation of TG2 with gliadin peptides also results in the formation of covalent TG2-peptide complexes. Here we report the characterization of complexes between TG2 and two immunodominant gliadin peptides. Two types of covalent complexes were found; the peptides are either linked via a thioester bond to the active site cysteine of TG2 or via isopeptide bonds to particular lysine residues of the enzyme. We quantified the number of gliadin peptides bound to TG2 under different conditions. After 30 min of incubation of TG2 at 1 microm with an equimolar ratio of peptides to TG2, approximately equal amounts of peptides were bound by thioester and isopeptide linkage. At higher peptide to TG2 ratios, more than one peptide was linked to TG2, and isopeptide bond formation dominated. The lysine residues in TG2 that act as acyl acceptors were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization and nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry analysis of proteolytic digests of the TG2-peptide complexes. At a high molar excess of gliadin peptides to TG2 altogether six lysine residues of TG2 were found to participate in isopeptide bond formation. The results are relevant to the understanding of how antibodies to TG2 are formed in celiac disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

IntAct: an open source molecular interaction database.

IntAct provides an open source database and toolkit for the storage, presentation and analysis of protein interactions. The web interface provides both textual and graphical representations of protein interactions, and allows exploring interaction networks in the context of the GO annotations of the interacting proteins. A web service allows direct computational access to retrieve interaction networks in XML format. IntAct currently contains approximately 2200 binary and complex interactions imported from the literature and curated in collaboration with the Swiss-Prot team, making intensive use of controlled vocabularies to ensure data consistency. All IntAct software, data and controlled vocabularies are available at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/intact.

Animals↗

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis pattern (pH 6-11) and identification of water-soluble barley seed and malt proteins by mass spectrometry.

A protocol was established for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) of barley seed and malt proteins in the pH range of 6-11. Proteins extracted from flour in a low-salt buffer were focused after cup-loading onto IPG strips. Successful separation in the second dimension was achieved using gradient gels in a horizontal SDS-PAGE system. Silver staining of gels visualized around 380 (seed) and 500 (malt) spots. Thirty-seven different proteins from seeds were identified in 60 spots, among these 46 were visualized also in the malt 2-D pattern. Proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting and by tandem MS sequencing after in-gel digestion by trypsin. In addition, the N-terminal sequence of 10 different proteins from 11 spots was determined after electroblotting to a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. Five identified proteins (in 9 spots) are involved in glycolysis, 12 in defence against pathogens (21 spots), 4 in storage, folding, and synthesis of proteins, and in nitrogen metabolism (5 spots), 6 in carbohydrate metabolism (11 spots), and 4 in stress and detoxification (9 spots). Six proteins (7 spots) were not grouped in these categories, and 3 were not ascribed a function. The presented 2-D patterns and identifications will be used to describe proteome differences between cultivars and changes during malting.

Carbohydrates↗

Proteome analysis of barley seeds: Identification of major proteins from two-dimensional gels (pI 4-7).

Germination of monocotyledonous plants involves activation and de novo synthesis of enzymes that degrade cell walls and starch and mobilize stored endosperm reserves for embryo growth. Two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were applied to identify major water-soluble proteins in extracts of mature barley (Hordeum vulgare) seeds and to follow their fate during germination. About 1200 and 600 spots of pI 4-7 were detected on 2-D gels by silver staining and colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining, respectively. About 300 spots were selected for in-gel digestion followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry-peptide map fingerprint analysis. Database searches using measured peptide masses resulted in 198 identifications of 103 proteins in 177 spots. These include housekeeping enzymes, chaperones, defence proteins (including enzyme inhibitors), and proteins related to desiccation and oxidative stress. Sixty-four of the identifications were made using expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Numerous spots in the 2-D gel pattern changed during germination (micromalting) and an intensely stained area which contained large amounts of the serpin protein Z appeared centrally on the 2-D gel. Spots containing alpha-amylase also appeared. Identification of 22 spots after three days of germination represented 13 different database entries and 11 functions including hydrolytic enzymes, chaperones, housekeeping enzymes, and inhibitors.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗

UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase is upregulated in carriers of the porcine RN- mutation in the AMP-activated protein kinase.

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a key role in the regulation of energy metabolism in eukaryotic cells acting as a metabolic sensor. In its activated form AMPK inhibits ATP consuming pathways and stimulates ATP generating pathways. A dominant mutation, denoted RN(-), in the porcine PRKAG3 gene, encoding the regulatory gamma3 subunit of AMPK, results in hyperaccumulation of glycogen in glycolytic skeletal muscle cells. To study the effects of this mutation on protein expression patterns in skeletal muscle, comparative proteome analysis of muscle samples from 12 animals (6 rn (+)/rn (+) and 6 RN(-)/rn (+)) was performed. The major finding of the proteome analysis was that the key enzyme in the synthesis of glycogen, UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, was significantly up-regulated in RN(-) carriers. This observation was subsequently supported by studies of enzyme activity and Northern blot analysis. Furthermore, the expression patterns of enzymes related to glycolysis and the citric acid cycle were also affected. Our data suggests that hyperaccumulation of glycogen mediated by the RN(-) mutation is due to an increased synthesis of glycogen.

Animals↗

Postmortem proteome changes of porcine muscle related to tenderness.

Proteome analysis was used to investigate the relation between changes in postmortem proteome of porcine muscle and tenderness development. Muscle samples were taken at slaughter and 72 h postmortem, and the registered changes in the proteome were related to Warner-Bratzler shear force. One hundred and three protein spots were found to change significantly (P < 0.01) over time, and of these the 27 most pronounced changes were identified. Eleven out of the 27 changes were fragments of actin. Other identified myofibril proteins or fragments included myosin heavy chain, titin, myosin light chain I, myosin light II, CapZ, and cofilin. Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between three of the identified actin fragments and the myosin heavy chain fragment to shear force. Moreover, myosin light chain II and triose phosphate isomerase I were also found to correlate significantly to shear force. The results clearly demonstrate that postmortem degradation of actin and myosin heavy chain is related to meat tenderness.

Animals↗

Mapping temperature-induced conformational changes in the Escherichia coli heat shock transcription factor sigma 32 by amide hydrogen exchange.

Stress conditions such as heat shock alter the transcriptional profile in all organisms. In Escherichia coli the heat shock transcription factor, sigma 32, out-competes upon temperature up-shift the housekeeping sigma-factor, sigma 70, for binding to core RNA polymerase and initiates heat shock gene transcription. To investigate possible heat-induced conformational changes in sigma 32 we performed amide hydrogen (H/D) exchange experiments under optimal growth and heat shock conditions combined with mass spectrometry. We found a rapid exchange of around 220 of the 294 amide hydrogens at 37 degrees C, indicating that sigma 32 adopts a highly flexible structure. At 42 degrees C we observed a slow correlated exchange of 30 additional amide hydrogens and localized it to a helix-loop-helix motif within domain sigma 2 that is responsible for the recognition of the -10 region in heat shock promoters. The correlated exchange is shown to constitute a reversible unfolding with a half-life of about 30 min due to a temperature-dependent decrease in stabilization energy. We propose that this gradual decrease in stabilization energy of domain sigma 2 with increasing temperatures facilitates the unfolding of sigma 32 by the AAA+ protease FtsH thereby decreasing its half-life. Taken together our data show that the sigma 2 domain of sigma 32 can act as a thermosensor, which might be important for the heat shock regulation.

Amides↗