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Proteomic analysis of an orthotopic neuroblastoma xenograft animal model.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumour of childhood and comprises up to 50% of malignancies among infants. There is a great need of designing novel therapeutic strategies and proteome analysis is one approach for defining markers useful for tumour diagnosis, as well as molecular targets for novel experimental therapies. We started by comparing healthy adrenal glands (which are the election organs developing primary neuroblastoma, NB, tumours) and adrenal glands carrying primary NB tumours, taken from nude mice. Standard maps of healthy and tumour samples were generated by analysis with the PDQuest software. The comparison between such maps showed up- and down-regulation of 84 polypeptide chains, out of a total of 700 spots detected by a fluorescent stain, Sypro Ruby. Spots that were differentially expressed between the two groups, were analysed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 14 of these spots were identified so far. Among these proteins, of particular interest are the down-regulated proteins adrenodoxin (21-folds), carbonic anhydrase III (eight-folds) and aldose reductase related protein I (eight-folds), as well as the up-regulated protein peptidyl-propyl cis-trans isomerase A (five-folds). Moreover new proteins, which were absent in control samples, were expressed in tumour samples, such as nucleophosmin (NPM) and stathmin (oncoprotein 18).

Animals↗

Divergent mechanisms of cis9, trans11-and trans10, cis12-conjugated linoleic acid affecting insulin resistance and inflammation in apolipoprotein E knockout mice: a proteomics approach.

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) affect atherogenesis, but mechanisms are not well understood. We explored how two isomers of CLA, cis9, trans11-CLA and trans10, cis12-CLA, affected lipid and glucose metabolism, as well as hepatic protein expression, in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. After 12 wk of intervention, plasma triglyceride, NEFA, and glucose concentrations were significantly higher in the trans10, cis12-CLA group, whereas plasma triglyceride, NEFA, glucose, and insulin concentrations were significantly lower in the cis9, trans11-CLA group, compared with control mice consuming linoleic acid. Proteomics identified significant up- or down-regulation of 113 liver cytosolic proteins by either CLA isomer. Principal component analysis revealed that the treatment effect of cis9, trans11-CLA was mainly explained by the up-regulation of different posttranslational forms of heat shock protein 70 kD. In contrast, the treatment effect of trans10, cis12-CLA was mainly explained by up-regulation of key enzymes in the gluconeogenic, beta-oxidation, and ketogenesic pathways. Correlation analysis again emphasized the divergent effects of both CLA isomers on different pathways, but also revealed a linkage between insulin resistance and increased levels of hepatic serotransferrin. Thus, our systems biology approach provided novel insights into the mechanisms by which individual CLA isomers differentially affect pathways related to atherogenesis, such as insulin resistance and inflammation.

Animal Feed↗

Proteomic analysis of amniotic fluid in pregnancies with Down syndrome.

Proteomic analysis is widely used for the detection of diagnostic markers. In the present study amniotic fluid supernatants (AFS) from pregnancies with Down syndrome (DS) fetuses and from chromosomally normal fetuses in the 17th week of gestation were analyzed by 2-DE. Gel comparison revealed significant differences in the two groups. Spots with different expression levels were excised and proteins were identified by MALDI-MS and nano-ESI-MS/MS. Splicing factor arginine/serine-rich 4 (SFRS4; Q08170) was present only in AFS from DS fetuses and completely absent in the control group. Quantitative differences were detected for alpha-1-microglobulin (AMBP; P02760), collagen alpha 1 (I) chain (CO1A1; P02452), collagen alpha 1 (III) chain (CO3A1; P02461), collagen alpha 1 (V) chain d (CO5A1; P20908), and basement membrane-specific heparin sulfate proteoglycan core protein (PGBM; P98160). These proteins were increased in cases with DS, whereas protein IBP-1 (P08833) was decreased by 40% compared with chromosomally normal fetuses. Four proteins, CO1A1, CO3A1, CO5A1, and PGBM, appeared as fragments. As differentially expressed proteins were present in all pregnancies with DS tested, they may represent useful potential markers for prenatal diagnosis. However, for protein biomarkers to be of any clinical utility, systematic analysis of the maternal serum should be conducted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Domain graph of Arabidopsis proteome by comparative analysis.

The domain graph of domains and domain combinations of Arabidopsis thaliana is established based on pfam 14.0 database and analyzed via comparison with 10 eukaryotic, 30 bacterial, and 16 archaeal proteomes. The comparative analysis of the domain graphs provides a useful platform for revealing global insights on the evolution of plant kingdom. More importantly, it is a powerful tool for searching not only the possible new function of both plant-specific and nonspecific domains via specific domain combinations in Arabidopsis thaliana but also the functional role of unknown domains. As an example, we present the functional link between ubiquitin and Myb_DNA-binding domains via Bromodomain as the plant specific evidence for the association between transcription and ubiquitin. We further show that PentatricoPeptide Repeats (PPR) proteins have plant-specific links with a wide variety of domains responsible for RNA binding/metabolism, modulation of protein-protein interactions, ubiquitin-conjugation, cell growth/maintenance, catalysis, and others. This further supports the recently proposed association of PPR proteins with specific RNA transcripts and defined effector proteins. Moreover, the domain graph built from tissue-specific genes is frequently associated with DNA binding domains, suggesting that the differentiation of tissue cell types is contributed mostly by tissue-specific transcriptional process. DOGMA (DOmain Graph via coMparitive analysis for Arabidopsis thaliana) is available on-line with a variety of search tools at http://theory.med.buffalo.edu/DOGMA. The database, which allows user-specified search for plant specific domains and their combinations, will be useful as an additional tool for annotation of the proteins that play specific roles in plants and other organisms.

Arabidopsis↗

Proteomics of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 biofilm reveals differentially expressed proteins, including AggA and RibB.

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is a Gram-negative, facultative aerobic bacterium, able to respire a variety of electron acceptors. Due to its capability to reduce solid ferric iron, S. oneidensis plays an important role in microbially induced corrosion of metal surfaces. Since this requires cellular adhesion to the metal surface, biofilm growth is an essential feature of this process. The goal of this work was to compare the global protein expression patterns of sessile and planktonic grown S. oneidensis cells by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Mass spectrometry was used as an identification tool of the differentially expressed proteins. An IPG strip of pH 3-10 as well as pH 4-7 was applied for iso-electrofocusing. Analysis of the 2-D patterns pointed out a total of 59 relevant spots. Among these proteins, we highlight the involvement of a protein annotated as an agglutination protein (AggA). AggA is a TolC-like protein which is presumably part of an ABC transporter. Another differentially expressed protein is RibB, an enzyme of the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway. Riboflavin is the precursor molecule of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and may be necessary for the altered respiratory properties of the biofilm cells versus planktonic cells. Some proteins that were identified indicate an anaerobic state of the biofilm. This anaerobic way of living affects the energy gaining pathways of the cell and is reflected by the presence of several proteins, including those of a heme-utilization system.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Study of proteomic changes associated with healthy and tumoral murine samples in neuroblastoma by principal component analysis and classification methods.

BACKGROUND: The adrenal gland is the election organ forming primary neuroblastoma (NB) tumours, the most common extracranial solid tumours of infancy and childhood. METHODS: Samples of adrenal gland belonging to healthy and diseased nude mouse were analysed by 2D gel-electrophoresis. The resulting 2D-PAGE maps were digitized by PDQuest and investigated by principal component analysis (PCA). RESULTS: The analysis of the loadings of the first principal component (PC) permitted the evaluation of the spots characterising each class of samples. Moreover, the soft-independent model of class analogy (SIMCA) method confirmed the separation of the samples in the two classes and allowed the identification of the modelling and discriminating spots. Very good correlation was found between the data obtained by analysis of 2D maps via the commercial software PDQuest and the present PCA analysis. In both cases, the comparison between such maps showed up- and down-regulation of 84 polypeptide chains, out of a total of 700 spots detected by a fluorescent stain, Sypro Ruby. Spots that were differentially expressed between the two groups were analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and 14 of these spots were identified so far.

Animals↗

A proteome study of secreted prostatic factors affecting osteoblastic activity: identification and characterisation of cyclophilin A.

Prostate cancer cells metastasise to bone causing a predominantly osteosclerotic response. It has previously been shown that PC3 cells secrete factors which stimulate the mitogenic activity of human bone marrow stromal (hBMS) cells. Some of these mitogens have been found to be proteins with a molecular weight between 20 and 30 kDa. Even though a number of investigations have been performed to identify the osteoblastic mitogenic factor or factors produced by prostate cancer cells, it is still unknown what causes the mitogenic activation of osteoblasts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterise the protein profile of conditioned medium (CM) from PC3 cells in the molecular weight range of 5-30 kDa using proteome analysis. A protein profile of the CM from PC3 cells was performed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). Thirty protein spots with molecular weights ranging from 5 to 30 kDa were analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). One of these spots was identified as cyclophilin A. We examined whether cyclophilin A alone or in combination with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) had any effects on the proliferation or differentiation of hBMS cells. Cyclophilin A at 1, 10, and 100 nM and cyclophilin A at 10 nM combined with 10 ng/ml IGF decreased the proliferation of hBMS cells up to 49+/-30, 38+/-29, 50+/-8 and 60+/-16%, respectively [mean (treated/control)+/-standard error of the means (SEM)] of control. IGF-I did not significantly affect these decreases. Cyclophilin A alone or in combination with IGF-I did not have any effect on differentiation (assessed by measuring the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP)). In conclusion, these results suggest cyclophilin A is not involved in the osteosclerotic effects seen when prostate cancer metastasises to bone.

Adult↗

Proteomics in experimental gerontology.

The first gerontological studies using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE) were frustrating since it was very difficult, when not impossible, to identify the proteins for which an age-related change in expression level was suspected. Reproducibility was also a main pitfall. Accumulated progress in 2DGE and especially the development of mass spectrometry of proteins and peptides gave accessibility to the routine identification of differentially expressed proteins. A new paradigm was born: proteomics. In addition to expression changes, post-translational modifications are included in proteomics, and will be more and more studied using mass spectrometry. After a review of the current developments of 2DGE and mass spectrometry, we shall discuss how the technologies currently available in proteomics could give fresh impetus to experimental gerontology, complementary to more recent approaches based on wide expression analysis tools such as DNA and protein arrays.

Aging↗

High pressure-sensitive gene expression in Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis.

Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis is a Gram-positive lactic acid bacterium used in food biotechnology. It is necessary to investigate many aspects of a model organism to elucidate mechanisms of stress response, to facilitate preparation, application and performance in food fermentation, to understand mechanisms of inactivation, and to identify novel tools for high pressure biotechnology. To investigate the mechanisms of the complex bacterial response to high pressure we have analyzed changes in the proteome and transcriptome by 2-D electrophoresis, and by microarrays and real time PCR, respectively. More than 16 proteins were found to be differentially expressed upon high pressure stress and were compared to those sensitive to other stresses. Except for one apparently high pressure-specific stress protein, no pressure-specific stress proteins were found, and the proteome response to pressure was found to differ from that induced by other stresses. Selected pressure-sensitive proteins were partially sequenced and their genes were identified by reverse genetics. In a transcriptome analysis of a redundancy cleared shot gun library, about 7% of the genes investigated were found to be affected. Most of them appeared to be up-regulated 2- to 4-fold and these results were confirmed by real time PCR. Gene induction was shown for some genes up-regulated at the proteome level (clpL/groEL/rbsK), while the response of others to high hydrostatic pressure at the transcriptome level seemed to differ from that observed at the proteome level. The up-regulation of selected genes supports the view that the cell tries to compensate for pressure-induced impairment of translation and membrane transport.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗

Identification of 14-3-3sigma as a contributor to drug resistance in human breast cancer cells using functional proteomic analysis.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle to successful cancer treatment. To understand the mechanism of MDR, many cancer cell lines have been established, and various mechanisms of resistance, such as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter-mediated drug efflux, have been discovered. Previously, a MDR cell line MCF7/AdVp3000 was selected from breast cancer cell line MCF7 against Adriamycin, and overexpression of ABCG2 was thought to cause MDR in this derivative cell line. However, ectopic overexpression of ABCG2 in MCF7 cells could not explain the extremely high drug resistance level of the selected MCF7/AdVp3000 cells. We hypothesized that MCF7/AdVp3000 cells must have other resistance mechanisms selected by Adriamycin. To test this hypothesis, we compared the global protein profiles between MCF7 and MCF7/AdVp3000 cells. Following two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis, 17 protein spots with differential levels between the two cell lines were identified. Although 14-3-3sigma, keratin 18, keratin 19, ATP synthase beta, protein disulfide isomerase, heat shock protein 27, cathepsin D, triose-phosphate isomerase, peroxiredoxin 6, and electron transfer flavoprotein were increased, nm23/H1, peroxiredoxin 2, nucleophosmin 1/B23, and inorganic pyrophosphatase were decreased in MCF7/AdVp3000 cells. The differential levels of these proteins were validated using Western blot. Furthermore, functional validation showed that the elevated 14-3-3sigma expression contributes considerably to the observed drug resistance in MCF7/AdVp3000 cells. We, thus, conclude that these proteins likely contribute to the resistance selected in the MCF7/AdVp3000 cells, and their altered expression in tumors may cause clinical resistance to chemotherapy.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

High dynamic range characterization of the trauma patient plasma proteome.

Although human plasma represents an attractive sample for disease biomarker discovery, the extreme complexity and large dynamic range in protein concentrations present significant challenges for characterization, candidate biomarker discovery, and validation. Herein we describe a strategy that combines immunoaffinity subtraction and subsequent chemical fractionation based on cysteinyl peptide and N-glycopeptide captures with two-dimensional LC-MS/MS to increase the dynamic range of analysis for plasma. Application of this "divide-and-conquer" strategy to trauma patient plasma significantly improved the overall dynamic range of detection and resulted in confident identification of 22,267 unique peptides from four different peptide populations (cysteinyl peptides, non-cysteinyl peptides, N-glycopeptides, and non-glycopeptides) that covered 3,654 different proteins with 1,494 proteins identified by multiple peptides. Numerous low abundance proteins were identified, exemplified by 78 "classic" cytokines and cytokine receptors and by 136 human cell differentiation molecules. Additionally a total of 2,910 different N-glycopeptides that correspond to 662 N-glycoproteins and 1,553 N-glycosylation sites were identified. A panel of the proteins identified in this study is known to be involved in inflammation and immune responses. This study established an extensive reference protein database for trauma patients that provides a foundation for future high throughput quantitative plasma proteomic studies designed to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie systemic inflammatory responses.

Blood Proteins↗

Proteomic analysis of tomato fruits from two ecotypes during ripening.

Ripening of climacteric fruits is a complex physiological phenomenon, which makes berries attractive/palatable and also determines their nutritional characteristics. We report here a comparative proteomic investigation on tomato fruits from a regional and commercial elite ecotype during maturation. Several hundreds of protein components were resolved on 2-DE gels (pH range 4-7) stained with colloidal Coomassie; almost 57% presented overlapping gel coordinates between the two compared varieties. Specific proteins were recognized in each ecotype as differentially expressed during ripening. Constant and variable components were excised, in-gel digested and analysed by MALDI-TOF-MS and microLC-ESI-IT-MS/MS approaches. Peptide MS and MS/MS data were searched against publicly available protein and EST databases, and 83 protein spots were unambiguously identified by MS. Gel matching procedures allowed further identification of proteins between ecotypes. In general, common variably expressed proteins in both ecotypes during maturation were associated to important physiological processes such as redox status control, defence, stress, carbon metabolism, energy production and cellular signalling. Protein components differentially expressed in each variety were also identified. The role of some of the identified proteins in the berries is discussed in relation to tomato fruit ripening. Accordingly, this investigation provides the first characterization of the tomato fruit proteome and description of its variation during maturation.

Gene Expression Profiling↗

Sequential proteome alterations during genesis and progression of colon cancer.

Changes in the proteome of colon mucosal cells accompany the transition from normal mucosa via adenoma and invasive cancer to metastatic disease. Samples from 15 patients with sporadic sigmoid cancers were analyzed. Proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Relative differences in expression levels between normal tissue, adenoma, carcinoma and metastasis were evaluated in both intra- and inter-patient comparisons. Up- and down-regulated proteins (> twofold) during development to cancer or metastasis were excised and submitted to peptide mass fingerprinting and MS/MS sequence analysis, facilitated by the use of a compact disc workstation. In total, 112 protein spots were found to be differentially regulated, of which 72 were determined as to protein identity, 46 being up-regulated toward the progression of cancer, and 26 down-regulated. Several of the identifications correlate with proteins of the cell cycle, cytoskeleton or metabolic pathways. The pattern changes now identified have the potential for design of marker panels for assistance in diagnostics and therapeutic strategies in colorectal cancer.

Adenoma↗

Proteome analysis of rat pancreas induced by pancreatectomy.

The previous study demonstrated that the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice can be cured by injecting the regenerating pancreatic extract (RPE) of the partially pancreatectomized Wistar-Kyoto rats. In this study, to characterize the complex pattern of protein expression in RPE, the proteins of altered expression level after the pancreatectomy were identified by 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. Of 76 significantly up- or down-regulated protein spots, 61 were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS. Moreover, the whole RPE was fractionated into 4 groups using an anion-exchange chromatography and each fraction's cell proliferating activity was measured by MTT assay. Compared to the normal pancreatic extract, fraction 3 and 4 of RPE showed the maximal cell proliferating activity. On 2-DE of 3 and 4 fractions, a total of 10 spots, which are differentially expressed after the pancreatectomy, were identified by MS/MS. Of these identified proteins, Reg III which might be functionally associated with well known regenerating factor (Reg I) was found. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the differential protein expression associated with pancreas regeneration could be sought by 2-DE and mass spectroscopy and suggested that the pre-fractionation method combined with in vitro cell proliferation assay is effectively used to pinpoint the active components for pancreas regeneration.

Animals↗

Global differential gene expression in response to growth temperature alteration in group A Streptococcus.

Pathogens are exposed to different temperatures during an infection cycle and must regulate gene expression accordingly. However, the extent to which virulent bacteria alter gene expression in response to temperatures encountered in the host is unknown. Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a human-specific pathogen that is responsible for illnesses ranging from superficial skin infections and pharyngitis to severe invasive infections such as necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. GAS survives and multiplies at different temperatures during human infection. DNA microarray analysis was used to investigate the influence of temperature on global gene expression in a serotype M1 strain grown to exponential phase at 29 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Approximately 9% of genes were differentially expressed by at least 1.5-fold at 29 degrees C relative to 37 degrees C, including genes encoding transporter proteins, proteins involved in iron homeostasis, transcriptional regulators, phage-associated proteins, and proteins with no known homologue. Relatively few known virulence genes were differentially expressed at this threshold. However, transcription of 28 genes encoding proteins with predicted secretion signal sequences was altered, indicating that growth temperature substantially influences the extracellular proteome. TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays confirmed the microarray data. We also discovered that transcription of genes encoding hemolysins, and proteins with inferred roles in iron regulation, transport, and homeostasis, was influenced by growth at 40 degrees C. Thus, GAS profoundly alters gene expression in response to temperature. The data delineate the spectrum of temperature-regulated gene expression in an important human pathogen and provide many unforeseen lines of pathogenesis investigation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Proteome of H-411E (liver) cells exposed to insulin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha: analysis of proteins involved in insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance may be modeled in H-411E liver cells in tissue culture with the use of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and insulin. This tissue-culture model nicely mimics IR in human type 2 diabetes mellitus. After incubation of liver cells in tissue culture with INS alone, TNF-alpha alone, and TNF-alpha plus insulin, as well as a control sample, liver-cell extracts were separated on 2D polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis on the basis of isoelectric point and molecular weight. We analyzed the gel images with the use of PD Quest software (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif) to identify differentially expressed protein spots (ie, up or down with insulin vs down or up with TNF-alpha plus insulin). In separate experiments, phosphorus-32 incorporation/autoradiography and phosphoprotein staining were used to characterize treatment-induced phosphorylations. Affected protein spots were identified with the use of peptide fingerprinting and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. The first series of experiments identified 6 differentially expressed proteins: eukaryotic translation initiation factor-3, subunit 2, regulator of G-protein signaling-5, superoxide dismutase, protein disulfide isomerase A6, proteasome subunit-alpha type 3, and regucalcin. In addition, we observed changes in the phosphorylation of protein disulfide isomerase A6. A second series of experiments identified 7 additional proteins with significantly altered differential expression: cell-division protein kinase-4, kinogen heavy chain, carbonic anhydrase-7, E 3 ubiquitin protein ligase, URE-B1; Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor-beta, Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor-beta2, and MAWDBP. It can be seen that differentially expressed proteins, affected by treatment with insulin or with TNF-alpha plus insulin, include regulators of translation, protein degradation, cellular Ca ++ , G-proteins, and free-radical production. Although one cannot detail the mechanism or mechanisms of TNF-alpha induced IR from this data alone, it is easy to relate all of these proteins to a role in insulin signal transduction and, hence, insulin resistance.

Animals↗

Automated comparative proteomics based on multiplex tandem mass spectrometry and stable isotope labeling.

Comparative proteomic approaches using isotopic labeling and MS have become increasingly popular. Conventionally quantification is based on MS or extracted ion chromatogram (XIC) signals of differentially labeled peptides. However, in these MS-based experiments, the accuracy and dynamic range of quantification are limited by the high noise levels of MS/XIC data. Here we report a quantitative strategy based on multiplex (derived from multiple precursor ions) MS/MS data. One set of proteins was metabolically labeled with [13C6]lysine and [15N4]arginine; the other set was unlabeled. For peptide analysis after tryptic digestion of the labeled proteins, a wide precursor window was used to include both the light and heavy versions of each peptide for fragmentation. The multiplex MS/MS data were used for both protein identification and quantification. The use of the wide precursor window increased sensitivity, and the y ion pairs in the multiplex MS/MS spectra from peptides containing labeled and unlabeled lysine or arginine offered more information for, and thus the potential for improving, protein identification. Protein ratios were obtained by comparing intensities of y ions derived from the light and heavy peptides. Our results indicated that this method offers several advantages over the conventional XIC-based approach, including increased sensitivity for protein identification and more accurate quantification with more than a 10-fold increase in dynamic range. In addition, the quantification calculation process was fast, fully automated, and independent of instrument and data type. This method was further validated by quantitative analysis of signaling proteins in the EphB2 pathway in NG108 cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differentially isotope-coded N-terminal protein sulphonation: combining protein identification and quantification.

Most proteomic labelling technologies intend to improve protein quantification and/or facilitate (de novo) peptide sequencing. We present here a novel stable-isotope labelling method to simultaneously identify and quantify protein components in complex mixtures by specifically derivatizing the N-terminus of proteins with 4-sulphophenyl isothiocyanate (SPITC). Our approach combines protein identification with quantification through differential isotope-coded labelling at the protein N-terminus prior to digestion. The isotope spacing of 6 Da (unlabelled vs. six-fold 13C-labelled tag) between derivatized peptide pairs enables the detection on different MS platforms (MALDI and ESI). Optimisation of the reaction conditions using SPITC was performed on three model proteins. Improved detection of the N-terminally derivatized peptide compared to the native analogue was observed in negative-ion MALDI-MS. Simpler fragmentation patterns compared to native peptides facilitated protein identification. The 13C-labelled SPITC resulted in convenient peptide pair spacing without isotopic overlap and hence facilitated relative quantification by MALDI-TOF/TOF and LC-ESI-MS/MS. The combination of facilitated identification and quantification achieved by differentially isotope-coded N-terminal protein tagging with light/heavy SPITC represents, to our knowledge, a new approach to quantitative proteomics.

Animals↗