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R S Annan

Publications and source records attributed to R S Annan.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Use of synthetic peptide libraries and phosphopeptide-selective mass spectrometry to probe protein kinase substrate specificity.

To search for peptides which serve as substrates for protein kinases, an approach based on peptide libraries has been developed. These peptide libraries are chemically synthesized by a modified "divide-couple-recombine" strategy. After reaction with the kinase of interest, the most highly phosphorylated substrate (selected from the library) is identified using on-line liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESMS). Negative ion LC-ESMS with stepped collision energy is used to identify phosphorylated peptides in the enzyme reactions. As predicted, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase is shown to preferentially phosphorylate Kemptide (Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Gly) in a library consisting of 19 variants of Kemptide substituted at position 2. Additional experiments have been carried out on the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase v-Abl using a peptide library based on the v-Src autophosphorylation site (Arg-Arg-Leu-Ile-Glu-Asp-Ala-Glu-Tyr-Ala-Ala-Arg-Gly). These results indicate that Ile is the optimal residue at the position N-terminal to tyrosine. Individual peptides containing the Glu-Asp-Ala-Ile-Tyr motif have Vmax/Km values 6-fold higher than the peptide based on the autophosphorylation site itself, confirming the results of the library experiments. This motif has been identified in several tyrosine kinases at a position in the sequence not previously reported to serve as a phosphorylation or autophosphorylation site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of a truncated form of arrestin isolated from bovine rod outer segments.

The inactivation of photolyzed rhodopsin requires phosphorylation of the receptor and binding of a 48-kDa regulatory protein, arrestin. By binding to phosphorylated photolyzed rhodopsin, arrestin inhibits G protein (Gt) activation and blocks premature dephosphorylation, thereby preventing the reentry of photolyzed rhodopsin into the phototransduction pathway. In this study, we isolated a 44-kDa form of arrestin, called p44, from fresh bovine rod outer segments and characterized its structure and function. A partial primary structure of p44 was established by a combination of mass spectrometry and automated Edman degradation of proteolytic peptides. The amino acid sequence was found to be identical with arrestin, except that the C-terminal 35 residues (positions 370-404) are replaced by a single alanine. p44 appeared to be generated by alternative mRNA splicing, because intron 15 interrupts within the nucleotide codon for 369Ser in the arrestin gene. Functionally, p44 binds avidly to photolyzed or phosphorylated and photolyzed rhodopsin. As a consequence of its relatively high affinity for bleached rhodopsin, p44 blocks Gt activation. The binding characteristics of p44 set it apart from tryptic forms of arrestin (truncated at the N- and C-termini), which require phosphorylation of rhodopsin for tight binding. We propose that p44 is a novel splice variant of arrestin that could be involved in the regulation of Gt activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The correct molecular weight of myoglobin, a common calibrant for mass spectrometry.

Myoglobins from horse heart muscle, horse skeletal muscle and sperm whale are widely used as calibration standards or test compounds for various mass spectrometric methodologies. In all such cases reported in the literature, a molecular weight value is used (16,950.5 and 17,199, respectively) which is based on the assumption that amino acid 122 in this 153 amino-acid-long protein is asparagine, overlooking a published suggestion that it is aspartic acid instead. Since the mass assignment accuracy for matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry is reported to be +/- 0.01% and for electrospray ionization +/- 0.0025%, and error of one mass unit in approximately 17,000 would be significant. The mass-to-charge ratio of ions of the tryptic peptide encompassing amino acid 122 derived from commercially available horse heart and horse skeletal myoglobins, the apomyoglobin of the latter, and the tryptic and chymotryptic peptide of sperm whale myoglobin proved that in both proteins amino acid 122 is indeed aspartic acid, rather than asparagine. This finding was further confirmed by the collision-induced dissociation spectra of the [M + H]+ ions of the tryptic peptides from the horse myoglobins and the chymotriptic peptide from sperm whale myoglobin. Thus, the correct molecular weight of horse myoglobin is 16,951.49 and that of the sperm whale protein is 17,199.91.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Matrix-assisted laser desorption using a fast-atom bombardment ion source and a magnetic mass spectrometer.

A conventional fast-atom bombardment (FAB) ion source was used to achieve matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALD) in a high-mass, double-focusing, magnetic mass spectrometer. The pulsed ion signals generated by irradiation of a mixture of sample and matrix (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) with either a XeF excimer laser (353 nm) or a nitrogen laser (337 nm) were recorded with a focal-plane detector. A resolution (full-width at half maximum) of 4500 was achieved at m/z 1347.7 (the peptide substance P), 2500 for CsI cluster ions at m/z 10,005.7, and 1250 for the isotope cluster of the small protein cytochrome c (horse) [M+H]+ = m/z 12,360 (average). Sensitivity is demonstrated with 11 fmol of substance P. A survey scan is taken to locate the m/z of the sample molecular ion. The segment that contains the sample can then be integrated for a longer time to produce a better signal-to-noise ratio. In addition to higher sensitivity and lower matrix interference, the advantage of MALD over FAB is the former's lower susceptibility to the presence of salts, and competition between hydrophobic and hydrophilic components of a mixture. This feature is demonstrated by the complete MALD spectrum of a crude partial tryptic digest of sperm-whale apomyoglobin, containing 24 peptides, representing the entire sequence of this protein.

Animals↗

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization with a magnetic mass spectrometer.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization has been carried out with a high mass double-focusing magnetic mass spectrometer. The pulsed ion signal, generated by irradiation of the sample (substance P, ubiquitin, and cytochrome c) embedded in 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid with a XeF excimer laser (353 nm, 12 ns pulse, 10-160 Hz), was recorded with an integrating array detector. Good resolution of 2600 (full width at half maximum) and high sensitivity (a few pmol) were obtained. The loss of small neutral fragments was observed, supporting the notion that the peak broadening observed in the time-of-flight mass spectrometers commonly used for this ionization mode is due to such metastable decomposition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection and structural characterization of amino polyaromatic hydrocarbon-deoxynucleoside adducts using fast atom bombardment and tandem mass spectrometry.

Fast atom bombardment (FAB) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) are shown to be useful methods for the detection and structural characterization of nanogram amounts of amino polyaromatic hydrocarbon-nucleoside DNA adducts. The positive ion spectra of four aromatic amine guanosine adducts were studied in detail. The FAB spectra of these adducts exhibit an [MH]+ ion and a more abundant aglycon fragment ion, [AH2]+, which results from the loss of the deoxyribose sugar. The sensitivity of the adducts to FAB was enhanced by preparing trimethylsilyl (TMS) ether derivatives. High-quality full-scan spectra could be obtained on less than 70 ng of the derivatized adducts without signal averaging. With a B/E-linked scan of the [MH]+ ion for the TMS2 species, these same adducts could be detected by examination of their metastable ion spectra at levels as low as 4-5 ng (S/N greater than 10). Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the [MH]+ ion yields the aglycon fragment and an ion, S1, which results from cleavage through the sugar. The CID spectrum of the aglycon [AH2]+ ion is much more useful, providing structural information relating to the base, the polyaromatic hydrocarbon, and, possibly, the site of covalent attachment. Differentiation of isomeric aminophenanthrene-guanine adducts was demonstrated on the basis of the CID spectra of their respective [AH2]+ ions. The use of TMS derivatives also improves the sensitivity of these methods.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Selection of electrophoric derivatives of 1-aminopyrene and 2-aminofluorene for determination by gas chromatography with electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry.

Several electrophoric derivatives of 1-aminopyrene and 2-aminofluorene were prepared. Reagents such as heptafluorobutyryl chloride, pentafluorobenzoyl chloride, pentafluorobenzyl bromide and pentafluorobenzaldehyde, alone and in certain combinations, were employed. The ease of formation, yield, stability and fragmentation by gas chromatography with electron-capture negative-ion (ECNI) mass spectrometry of the derivatives were compared. This allowed the most promising ones to be selected for future work on the sensitive detection of aminopolyaromatics by this detection technique. Pentafluorobenzylidene (first choice) and N-pentafluorobenzyl-N-heptafluorobutyryl (second choice) derivatives emerged as the best ones. The origins of losses of HF and 2HF from some of the derivatives were elucidated in the ECNI mass spectra by studies of deuterium-labeled analogues.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗

Detailed study of oxidative esterification and elimination reactions undergone by a steroidal 17 alpha-benzoyloxy-20-oxo-21-aldehyde.

The reaction of 17 alpha-benzoyloxy-11 beta-hydroxy-3,20-dioxo-1, 4-pregnadien-21-al as the hemiacetal (1) with methanol:acetic acid:potassium cyanide:manganese dioxide followed by acetylation and preparative HPLC of the reaction mixture afforded 11 crystalline products. These products can be conveniently divided into three categories representing side-chain cleavage and oxidative esterification with or without elimination of the benzoyloxy group. Of special interest was the stereospecific formation of the C-17 cyanohydrin acetate 4a and the cis delta 17(20) enol acetate methyl ester 5. On the other hand, nonstereospecific addition of HCN to the side chain gave the C-20 epimeric cyanohydrin acetates 7a and 7b. The use of activated versus nonactivated MnO2 plays a major role in determining the quantitative distribution of the products. It was also discovered that even in the absence of MnO2, the reaction goes to completion. A proposed mechanism which explains the formation of all products is presented.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Trace detection of modified DNA bases via moving-belt liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using electrophoric derivatization and negative chemical ionization.

Electrophoric derivatives of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethyluracil nucleobases are determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled via a moving-belt interface. Standards as well as samples derived from DNA are analysed. As little as 9.9 pg (signal-to-noise ratio 5) and 180 fg (signal-to-noise ratio 10) of the respective nucleobases are detected in the electron-capture negative chemical ionization mode, and linear responses are observed over a moderate dynamic range. In a comparison study, liquid chromatography-electron-capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry is found to have a sensitivity comparable to gas chromatography-electron-capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry for 5-hydroxymethyluracil. A detection limit of 60 fg (signal-to-noise ratio 5) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is only three-fold better than the amount detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using the same mass spectrometer.

5-Methylcytosine↗

Preparation and mass spectral characterization of pentafluorobenzyl derivatives of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl-nucleobase DNA adducts.

Pentafluorobenzyl (PFBz) derivatives of the following nucleobases were prepared: cytosine, 5-methylcytosine, O2-methylcytosine, O2-ethylthymine, O4-ethylthymine, 5-hydroxymethyluracil, N6-methyladenine, O6-methylguanine, O6-hydroxyethylguanine and O6-hydroxyethylpurine. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance was diagnostic for O- versus N-attachment of the PFBz moiety: the resonance of the methylene carbon appeared in the range 29.15-42.13 ppm for NCH2C6F5, and 58.45-69.01 for OCH2C6F5. Considerable structural information was provided by mass spectrometry with ionization by electron impact. All of the derivatives were detected with high sensitivity and specificity by gas chromatography with detection by electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry, reflecting not only their chemical and physical stability, but also their strong tendency to form a structurally diagnostic anion, [M - PFBz]-, in high yield under these ionization conditions. PFBz derivatives are therefore attractive forms of alkyl-substituted nucleobases for analysis by mass spectrometry.

DNA↗