TDP-43-stratified single-cell proteomics of postmortem human spinal motor neurons reveals protein dynamics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A limitation of conventional bulk-tissue proteome studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the confounding of motor neuron (MN) signals by admixed non-MN proteins. Here, we leverage laser capture microdissection and nanoPOTS single-cell mass spectrometry-based proteomics to query changes in protein expression in single MNs from postmortem ALS and control tissues. In a follow-up analysis, we examine the impact of stratification of MNs based on cytoplasmic transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43)+ inclusion pathology on the profiles of 2,238 proteins. We report extensive overlap in differentially abundant proteins identified in ALS MNs with or without overt TDP-43 pathology, suggesting early and sustained dysregulation of cellular respiration, mRNA splicing, translation, and vesicular transport in ALS. Together, these data provide insights into proteome-level changes associated with TDP-43 proteinopathy and begin to demonstrate the utility of pathology-stratified trace sample proteomics for understanding single-cell protein dynamics in human neurologic diseases.

Integrative systems biology characterizes immune-mediated neurodevelopmental changes in murine Zika virus microcephaly.

Characterizing perturbation of molecular pathways in congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is critical for improved therapeutic approaches. Leveraging integrative systems biology, proteomics, and RNA-seq, we analyzed embryonic brain tissues from an immunocompetent, wild-type congenital ZIKV infection mouse model. ZIKV induced a robust immune response accompanied by the downregulation of critical neurodevelopmental gene programs. We identified a negative correlation between ZIKV polyprotein abundance and host cell cycle-inducing proteins. We further captured the downregulation of genes/proteins, many of which are known to be causative for human microcephaly, including Eomesodermin/T-box Brain Protein 2 (EOMES/TBR2) and Neuronal Differentiation 2 (NEUROD2). Disturbances of distinct molecular pathways in neural progenitors and post-mitotic neurons may contribute to complex brain phenotype of congenital ZIKV infection. Overall, this report on protein- and transcript-level dynamics enhances understanding of the ZIKV immunopathological landscape through characterization of fetal immune response in the developing brain.

TDP-43-stratified single-cell proteomic profiling of postmortem human spinal motor neurons reveals protein dynamics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Unbiased proteomics has been employed to interrogate central nervous system (CNS) tissues (brain, spinal cord) and fluid matrices (CSF, plasma) from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients; yet, a limitation of conventional bulk tissue studies is that motor neuron (MN) proteome signals may be confounded by admixed non-MN proteins. Recent advances in trace sample proteomics have enabled quantitative protein abundance datasets from single human MNs (Cong et al., 2020b). In this study, we leveraged laser capture microdissection (LCM) and nanoPOTS (Zhu et al., 2018c) single-cell mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics to query changes in protein expression in single MNs from postmortem ALS and control donor spinal cord tissues, leading to the identification of 2515 proteins across MNs samples (>900 per single MN) and quantitative comparison of 1870 proteins between disease groups. Furthermore, we studied the impact of enriching/stratifying MN proteome samples based on the presence and extent of immunoreactive, cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions, allowing identification of 3368 proteins across MNs samples and profiling of 2238 proteins across TDP-43 strata. We found extensive overlap in differential protein abundance profiles between MNs with or without obvious TDP-43 cytoplasmic inclusions that together point to early and sustained dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation, mRNA splicing and translation, and retromer-mediated vesicular transport in ALS. Our data are the first unbiased quantification of single MN protein abundance changes associated with TDP-43 proteinopathy and begin to demonstrate the utility of pathology-stratified trace sample proteomics for understanding single-cell protein abundance changes in human neurologic diseases.

Features of Peptide Fragmentation Spectra in Single-Cell Proteomics.

The goal of proteomics is to identify and quantify the complete set of proteins in a biological sample. Single-cell proteomics specializes in the identification and quantitation of proteins for individual cells, often used to elucidate cellular heterogeneity. The significant reduction in ions introduced into the mass spectrometer for single-cell samples could impact the features of MS2 fragmentation spectra. As all peptide identification software tools have been developed on spectra from bulk samples and the associated ion-rich spectra, the potential for spectral features to change is of great interest. We characterize the differences between single-cell spectra and bulk spectra by examining three fundamental spectral features that are likely to affect peptide identification performance. All features show significant changes in single-cell spectra, including the loss of annotated fragment ions, blurring signal and background peaks due to diminishing ion intensity, and distinct fragmentation pattern, compared to bulk spectra. As each of these features is a foundational part of peptide identification algorithms, it is critical to adjust algorithms to compensate for these losses.

Calculating Sample Size Requirements for Temporal Dynamics in Single-Cell Proteomics.

Single-cell measurements are uniquely capable of characterizing cell-to-cell heterogeneity and have been used to explore the large diversity of cell types and physiological functions present in tissues and other complex cell assemblies. An intriguing application of single-cell proteomics is the characterization of proteome dynamics during biological transitions, like cellular differentiation or disease progression. Time-course experiments, which regularly take measurements during state transitions, rely on the ability to detect dynamic trajectories in a data series. However, in a single-cell proteomics experiment, cell-to-cell heterogeneity complicates the confident identification of proteome dynamics as measurement variability may be higher than expected. Therefore, a critical question for these experiments is how many data points need to be acquired during the time course to enable robust statistical analysis. We present here an analysis of the most important variables that affect statistical confidence in the detection of proteome dynamics: fold change, measurement variability, and the number of cells measured during the time course. Importantly, we show that datasets with less than 16 measurements across the time domain suffer from low accuracy and also have a high false-positive rate. We also demonstrate how to balance competing demands in experimental design to achieve a desired result.

Tau PTM Profiles Identify Patient Heterogeneity and Stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

To elucidate the role of Tau isoforms and post-translational modification (PTM) stoichiometry in Alzheimer's disease (AD), we generated a high-resolution quantitative proteomics map of 95 PTMs on multiple isoforms of Tau isolated from postmortem human tissue from 49 AD and 42 control subjects. Although Tau PTM maps reveal heterogeneity across subjects, a subset of PTMs display high occupancy and frequency for AD, suggesting importance in disease. Unsupervised analyses indicate that PTMs occur in an ordered manner, leading to Tau aggregation. The processive addition and minimal set of PTMs associated with seeding activity was further defined by analysis of size-fractionated Tau. To summarize, features in the Tau protein critical for disease intervention at different stages of disease are identified, including enrichment of 0N and 4R isoforms, underrepresentation of the C terminus, an increase in negative charge in the proline-rich region (PRR), and a decrease in positive charge in the microtubule binding domain (MBD).

Ultrasensitive single-cell proteomics workflow identifies >1000 protein groups per mammalian cell.

We report on the combination of nanodroplet sample preparation, ultra-low-flow nanoLC, high-field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), and the latest-generation Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid mass spectrometer for greatly improved single-cell proteome profiling. FAIMS effectively filtered out singly charged ions for more effective MS analysis of multiply charged peptides, resulting in an average of 1056 protein groups identified from single HeLa cells without MS1-level feature matching. This is 2.3 times more identifications than without FAIMS and a far greater level of proteome coverage for single mammalian cells than has been previously reported for a label-free study. Differential analysis of single microdissected motor neurons and interneurons from human spinal tissue indicated a similar level of proteome coverage, and the two subpopulations of cells were readily differentiated based on single-cell label-free quantification.

Pfh1 Is an Accessory Replicative Helicase that Interacts with the Replisome to Facilitate Fork Progression and Preserve Genome Integrity.

Replicative DNA helicases expose the two strands of the double helix to the replication apparatus, but accessory helicases are often needed to help forks move past naturally occurring hard-to-replicate sites, such as tightly bound proteins, RNA/DNA hybrids, and DNA secondary structures. Although the Schizosaccharomyces pombe 5'-to-3' DNA helicase Pfh1 is known to promote fork progression, its genomic targets, dynamics, and mechanisms of action are largely unknown. Here we address these questions by integrating genome-wide identification of Pfh1 binding sites, comprehensive analysis of the effects of Pfh1 depletion on replication and DNA damage, and proteomic analysis of Pfh1 interaction partners by immunoaffinity purification mass spectrometry. Of the 621 high confidence Pfh1-binding sites in wild type cells, about 40% were sites of fork slowing (as marked by high DNA polymerase occupancy) and/or DNA damage (as marked by high levels of phosphorylated H2A). The replication and integrity of tRNA and 5S rRNA genes, highly transcribed RNA polymerase II genes, and nucleosome depleted regions were particularly Pfh1-dependent. The association of Pfh1 with genomic integrity at highly transcribed genes was S phase dependent, and thus unlikely to be an artifact of high transcription rates. Although Pfh1 affected replication and suppressed DNA damage at discrete sites throughout the genome, Pfh1 and the replicative DNA polymerase bound to similar extents to both Pfh1-dependent and independent sites, suggesting that Pfh1 is proximal to the replication machinery during S phase. Consistent with this interpretation, Pfh1 co-purified with many key replisome components, including the hexameric MCM helicase, replicative DNA polymerases, RPA, and the processivity clamp PCNA in an S phase dependent manner. Thus, we conclude that Pfh1 is an accessory DNA helicase that interacts with the replisome and promotes replication and suppresses DNA damage at hard-to-replicate sites. These data provide insight into mechanisms by which this evolutionarily conserved helicase helps preserve genome integrity.

Approaches for Studying the Subcellular Localization, Interactions, and Regulation of Histone Deacetylase 5 (HDAC5).

As a member of the class IIa family of histone deacetylases, the histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) is known to undergo nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling and to be a critical transcriptional regulator. Its misregulation has been linked to prominent human diseases, including cardiac diseases and tumorigenesis. In this chapter, we describe several experimental methods that have proven effective for studying the functions and regulatory features of HDAC5. We present methods for assessing the subcellular localization, protein interactions, posttranslational modifications (PTMs), and activity of HDAC5 from the standpoint of investigating either the endogenous protein or tagged protein forms in human cells. Specifically, given that at the heart of HDAC5 regulation lie its dynamic localization, interactions, and PTMs, we present methods for assessing HDAC5 localization in fixed and live cells, for isolating HDAC5-containing protein complexes to identify its interactions and modifications, and for determining how these PTMs map to predicted HDAC5 structural motifs. Lastly, we provide examples of approaches for studying HDAC5 functions with a focus on its regulation during cell-cycle progression. These methods can readily be adapted for the study of other HDACs or non-HDAC-proteins of interest. Individually, these techniques capture temporal and spatial snapshots of HDAC5 functions; yet together, these approaches provide powerful tools for investigating both the regulation and regulatory roles of HDAC5 in different cell contexts relevant to health and disease.

Determining the Composition and Stability of Protein Complexes Using an Integrated Label-Free and Stable Isotope Labeling Strategy.

In biological systems, proteins catalyze the fundamental reactions that underlie all cellular functions, including metabolic processes and cell survival and death pathways. These biochemical reactions are rarely accomplished alone. Rather, they involve a concerted effect from many proteins that may operate in a directed signaling pathway and/or may physically associate in a complex to achieve a specific enzymatic activity. Therefore, defining the composition and regulation of protein complexes is critical for understanding cellular functions. In this chapter, we describe an approach that uses quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) to assess the specificity and the relative stability of protein interactions. Isolation of protein complexes from mammalian cells is performed by rapid immunoaffinity purification, and followed by in-solution digestion and high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis. We employ complementary quantitative MS workflows to assess the specificity of protein interactions using label-free MS and statistical analysis, and the relative stability of the interactions using a metabolic labeling technique. For each candidate protein interaction, scores from the two workflows can be correlated to minimize nonspecific background and profile protein complex composition and relative stability.

The Proteomic Profile of Deleted in Breast Cancer 1 (DBC1) Interactions Points to a Multifaceted Regulation of Gene Expression.

Deleted in breast cancer 1 (DBC1) has emerged as an important regulator of multiple cellular processes, ranging from gene expression to cell cycle progression. DBC1 has been linked to tumorigenesis both as an inhibitor of histone deacetylases, HDAC3 and sirtuin 1, and as a transcriptional cofactor for nuclear hormone receptors. However, despite mounting interest in DBC1, relatively little is known about the range of its interacting partners and the scope of its functions. Here, we carried out a functional proteomics-based investigation of DBC1 interactions in two relevant cell types, T cells and kidney cells. Microscopy, molecular biology, biochemistry, and mass spectrometry studies allowed us to assess DBC1 mRNA and protein levels, localization, phosphorylation status, and protein interaction networks. The comparison of DBC1 interactions in these cell types revealed conserved regulatory roles for DBC1 in gene expression, chromatin organization and modification, and cell cycle progression. Interestingly, we observe previously unrecognized DBC1 interactions with proteins encoded by cancer-associated genes. Among these interactions are five components of the SWI/SNF complex, the most frequently mutated chromatin remodeling complex in human cancers. Additionally, we identified a DBC1 interaction with TBL1XR1, a component of the NCoR complex, which we validated by reciprocal isolation. Strikingly, we discovered that DBC1 associates with proteins that regulate the circadian cycle, including DDX5, DHX9, and SFPQ. We validated this interaction by colocalization and reciprocal isolation. Functional assessment of this association demonstrated that DBC1 protein levels are important for regulating CLOCK and BMAL1 protein oscillations in synchronized T cells. Our results suggest that DBC1 is integral to the maintenance of the circadian molecular clock. Furthermore, the identified interactions provide a valuable resource for the exploration of pathways involved in DBC1-associated tumorigenesis.

Proteomics of yeast telomerase identified Cdc48-Npl4-Ufd1 and Ufd4 as regulators of Est1 and telomere length.

Almost 400 genes affect yeast telomere length, including Est1, which is critical for recruitment and activation of telomerase. Here we use mass spectrometry to identify novel telomerase regulators by their co-purification with the telomerase holoenzyme. In addition to all known subunits, over 100 proteins are telomerase associated, including all three subunits of the essential Cdc48-Npl4-Ufd1 complex as well as three E3 ubiquitin ligases. The Cdc48 complex is evolutionarily conserved and targets ubiquitinated proteins for degradation. Est1 levels are ∼40-fold higher in cells with reduced Cdc48, yet, paradoxically, telomeres are shorter. Furthermore, Est1 is ubiquitinated and its cell cycle-regulated abundance is lost in Cdc48-deficient cells. Deletion of the telomerase-associated E3 ligase, Ufd4, in cdc48-3 cells further increases Est1 abundance but suppresses the telomere length phenotype of the single mutant. These data argue that, in concert with Ufd4, the Cdc48 complex regulates telomerase by controlling the level and activity of Est1.

Post-translational modifications regulate class IIa histone deacetylase (HDAC) function in health and disease.

Class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs4, -5, -7, and -9) modulate the physiology of the human cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems. The regulatory capacity of this family of enzymes stems from their ability to shuttle between nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments in response to signal-driven post-translational modification. Here, we review the current knowledge of modifications that control spatial and temporal histone deacetylase functions by regulating subcellular localization, transcriptional functions, and cell cycle-dependent activity, ultimately impacting on human disease. We discuss the contribution of these modifications to cardiac and vascular hypertrophy, myoblast differentiation, neuronal cell survival, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Probing phosphorylation-dependent protein interactions within functional domains of histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5).

Class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) are critical transcriptional regulators, shuttling between nuclear and cytoplasmic cellular compartments. Within the nucleus, these HDACs repress transcription as components of multiprotein complexes, such as the nuclear corepressor and beclin-6 corepressor (BCoR) complexes. Cytoplasmic relocalization relieves this transcriptional repressive function. Class IIa HDAC shuttling is controlled, in part, by phosphorylations flanking the nuclear localization signal (NLS). Furthermore, we have reported that phosphorylation within the NLS by the kinase Aurora B modulates the localization and function of the class IIa HDAC5 during mitosis. While we identified numerous additional HDAC5 phosphorylations, their regulatory functions remain unknown. Here, we studied phosphorylation sites within functional HDAC5 domains, including the deacetylation domain (DAC, Ser755), nuclear export signal (NES, Ser1108), and an acidic domain (AD, Ser611). We have generated phosphomutant cell lines to investigate how absence of phosphorylation at these sites impacts HDAC5 localization, enzymatic activity, and protein interactions. Combining molecular biology and quantitative MS, we have defined the interactions and HDAC5-containing complexes mediated by site-specific phosphorylation and quantified selected changes using parallel reaction monitoring. These results expand the current understanding of HDAC regulation, and the functions of this critical family of proteins within human cells.

The functional interactome landscape of the human histone deacetylase family.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a diverse family of essential transcriptional regulatory enzymes, that function through the spatial and temporal recruitment of protein complexes. As the composition and regulation of HDAC complexes are only partially characterized, we built the first global protein interaction network for all 11 human HDACs in T cells. Integrating fluorescence microscopy, immunoaffinity purifications, quantitative mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics, we identified over 200 unreported interactions for both well-characterized and lesser-studied HDACs, a subset of which were validated by orthogonal approaches. We establish HDAC11 as a member of the survival of motor neuron complex and pinpoint a functional role in mRNA splicing. We designed a complementary label-free and metabolic-labeling mass spectrometry-based proteomics strategy for profiling interaction stability among different HDAC classes, revealing that HDAC1 interactions within chromatin-remodeling complexes are largely stable, while transcription factors preferentially exist in rapid equilibrium. Overall, this study represents a valuable resource for investigating HDAC functions in health and disease, encompassing emerging themes of HDAC regulation in cell cycle and RNA processing and a deeper functional understanding of HDAC complex stability.

Histone deacetylases in herpesvirus replication and virus-stimulated host defense.

Emerging evidence highlights a critical role for protein acetylation during herpesvirus infection. As prominent modulators of protein acetylation, histone deacetylases (HDACs) are essential transcriptional and epigenetic regulators. Not surprisingly, viruses have evolved a wide array of mechanisms to subvert HDAC functions. Here, we review the mechanisms underlying HDAC regulation during herpesvirus infection. We next discuss the roles of acetylation in host defense against herpesvirus infection. Finally, we provide a perspective on the contribution of current mass spectrometry-based "omic" technologies to infectious disease research, offering a systems biology view of infection.

Aurora B-dependent regulation of class IIa histone deacetylases by mitotic nuclear localization signal phosphorylation.

Class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs 4/5/7/9) are transcriptional regulators with critical roles in cardiac disease and cancer. HDAC inhibitors are promising anticancer agents, and although they are known to disrupt mitotic progression, the underlying mechanisms of mitotic regulation by HDACs are not fully understood. Here we provide the first identification of histone deacetylases as substrates of Aurora B kinase (AurB). Our study identifies class IIa HDACs as a novel family of AurB targets and provides the first evidence that HDACs are temporally and spatially regulated by phosphorylation during the cell cycle. We define the precise site of AurB-mediated phosphorylation as a conserved serine within the nuclear localization signals of HDAC4, HDAC5, and HDAC9 at Ser265, Ser278, and Ser242, respectively. We establish that AurB interacts with these HDACs in vivo, and that this association increases upon disruption of 14-3-3 binding. We observe colocalization of endogenous, phosphorylated HDACs with AurB at the mitotic midzone in late anaphase and the midbody during cytokinesis, complemented by a reduction in HDAC interactions with components of the nuclear corepressor complex. We propose that AurB-dependent phosphorylation of HDACs induces sequestration within a phosphorylation gradient at the midzone, maintaining separation from re-forming nuclei and contributing to transcriptional control.

Nuclear import of histone deacetylase 5 by requisite nuclear localization signal phosphorylation.

Histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5), a class IIa deacetylase, is a prominent regulator of cellular and epigenetic processes that underlie the progression of human disease, ranging from cardiac hypertrophy to cancer. Although it is established that phosphorylation mediates 14-3-3 protein binding and provides the essential link between HDAC5 nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling and transcriptional repression, thus far only four phospho-acceptor sites have been functionally characterized. Here, using a combinatorial proteomics approach and phosphomutant screening, we present the first evidence that HDAC5 has at least 17 in vivo phosphorylation sites within functional domains, including Ser278 and Ser279 within the nuclear localization signal (NLS), Ser1108 within the nuclear export signal, and Ser755 in deacetylase domain. Global and targeted MS/MS analyses of NLS peptides demonstrated the presence of single (Ser278 and Ser279) and double (Ser278/Ser279) phosphorylations. The double S278/279A mutation showed reduced association with HDAC3, slightly decreased deacetylation activity, and significantly increased cytoplasmic localization compared with wild type HDAC5, whereas the S278A and S1108A phosphomutants were not altered. Live cell imaging revealed a deficiency in nuclear import of S278/279A HDAC5. Phosphomutant stable cell lines confirmed the cellular redistribution of NLS mutants and revealed a more pronounced cytoplasmic localization for the single S279A mutant. Proteomic analysis of immunoisolated S278/279A, S279A, and S259/498A mutants linked altered cellular localization to changes in protein interactions. S278/279A and S279A HDAC5 showed reduced association with the NCoR-HDAC3 nuclear corepressor complex as well as protein kinase D enzymes, which were potentiated in the S259/498A mutant. These results provide the first link between phosphorylation outside the known 14-3-3 sites and downstream changes in protein interactions. Together these studies identify Ser279 as a critical phosphorylation within the NLS involved in the nuclear import of HDAC5, providing a regulatory point in nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling that may be conserved in other class IIa HDACs-HDAC4 and HDAC9.