An Improved Program for the Estimation of Protein Theoretical Relative Molecular Mass and Uncertainty.

Presented here is the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Mass Calculator, a software tool that provides both a relative molecular mass (Mr) value and an associated uncertainty value for a given protein sequence. The calculation of a protein Mr based on its amino acid residue sequence is performed by many software applications. Unfortunately, many of the results do not agree with each other. Reasons for this lack of consensus may include the use of rounded values, calculation errors, or alternative calculation methods, and it is often not possible to distinguish the source of the differences. Additionally, the result is provided without an estimate of precision. This would imply that the Mr is perfectly known when in fact it is not because the basis for the calculation, either the relative atomic masses or the standard atomic weights, are themselves provided as estimates. Until the release of the NIST Mass Calculator, there were no applications available to provide both an Mr value and an associated uncertainty value. Furthermore, the full disclosure of the computation methods and elemental values allows for independent verification of the results. The uncertainty is obtained via Monte Carlo simulation and is now a useful feature in light of the high resolution capability now available in the mass spectrometry of intact proteins.

Optimizing High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for the Identification of Low-Abundance Post-Translational Modifications of Intact Proteins.

Intact protein analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is now possible due to the improved capabilities of mass spectrometers yielding greater resolution, mass accuracy, and extended mass ranges. Concurrent measurement of post-translational modifications (PTMs) during LC-MS of intact proteins is advantageous while monitoring critical proteoform status, such as for clinical samples or during production of reference materials. However, difficulties exist for PTM identification when the protein is large or contains multiple modification sites. In this work, analyses of low-abundance proteoforms of proteins of clinical or therapeutic interest, including C-reactive protein, vitamin D-binding protein, transferrin, and immunoglobulin G (NISTmAb), were performed on an Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer. This work investigated the effect of various instrument parameters including source temperatures, in-source CID, microscan type and quantity, resolution, and automatic gain control on spectral quality. The signal-to-noise ratio was found to be a suitable spectral attribute which facilitated identification of low abundance PTMs. Source temperature and CID voltage were found to require specific optimization for each protein. This study identifies key instrumental parameters requiring optimization for improved detection of a variety of PTMs by LC-MS and establishes a methodological framework to ensure robust proteoform identifications, the first step in their ultimate quantification.

Separation of monosaccharides hydrolyzed from glycoproteins without the need for derivatization.

Chromatographic separation of monosaccharides hydrolyzed from glycoconjugates or complex, aggregate biomaterials, can be achieved by classic analytical methods without a need for derivatizing the monosaccharide subunits. A simple and sensitive method is presented for characterizing underivatized monosaccharides following hydrolysis from N- and O-linked glycoproteins using high-performance liquid chromatography separation with mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS). This method is adaptable for characterizing anything from purified glycoproteins to mixtures of glycoforms, for relative or absolute quantification applications, and even for the analysis of complex biomaterials. Use of an amide stationary phase with HILIC chromatography is demonstrated to retain the highly polar, underivatized monosaccharides and to resolve stereoisomers and potentially interfering contaminants. This work illustrates an original approach for characterization of N- and O-linked glycoprotein standards, mixtures, and for complex biological materials such as a total yeast extract.

Expression and characterization of 15N-labeled human C-reactive protein in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris for use in isotope-dilution mass spectrometry.

Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum are correlated with inflammation and disease in humans. A higher level quantitative method, such as isotope-dilution mass spectrometry (ID-MS) is needed to compare and standardize the many commercial CRP assays. We compare the expression and purification of (15)N-CRP from Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris and show that the protein isolated from P. pastoris has native pentameric structure along with high isotopic enrichment as shown by software developed specifically for this purpose. When this preparation was mixed in various ratios with unlabeled CRP and tryptic peptides of the mixtures were analyzed by LC-MS/MS, the ratios of heavy and light peaks were tightly correlated with input amounts of each protein. In this report we confirm the suitability of (15)N-rCRP as an internal standard in ID-MS. Standardization of CRP assays should help validate the relationship between CRP and human health.

Characterization of perchlorate in a new frozen human urine standard reference material.

Perchlorate, an inorganic anion, has recently been recognized as an environmental contaminant by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Urine is the preferred matrix for assessment of human exposure to perchlorate. Although the measurement technique for perchlorate in urine was developed in 2005, the calibration and quality assurance aspects of the metrology infrastructure for perchlorate are still lacking in that there is no certified reference material (CRM) traceable to the International System of Units. To meet the quality assurance needs in biomonitoring measurements of perchlorate and the related anions that affect thyroid health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed Standard Reference Material (SRM) 3668 Mercury, Perchlorate, and Iodide in Frozen Human Urine. SRM 3668 consists of perchlorate, nitrate, thiocyanate, iodine, and mercury in urine at two levels that represent the 50th and 95th percentiles, respectively, of the concentrations (with some adjustments) in the US population. It is the first CRM being certified for perchlorate. Measurements leading to the certification of perchlorate were made collaboratively at NIST and CDC using three methods based on liquid or ion chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Potential sources of bias were analyzed, and results were compared for the three methods. Perchlorate in SRM 3668 Level I urine was certified to be 2.70 ± 0.21 µg L(-1), and for SRM 3668 Level II urine, the certified value is 13.47 ± 0.96 µg L(-1).

Reference measurement procedure development for C-reactive protein in human serum.

This paper describes the development of a reference measurement procedure to quantify human C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum using affinity techniques prior to tryptic digestion and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the certification of reference materials in clinically relevant ranges. The absence of a suitable internal standard for the CRP measurement, necessary to eliminate potential measurement bias in both the affinity purification and trypsin digestion steps, was addressed using the method of standard addition. The standard addition quantification approach was combined with affinity purification, using an anti-CRP monoclonal antibody conjugated to polystyrene beads, trypsin digestion of the purified protein, and LC-MS/MS analysis of CRP tryptic peptides. The effectiveness of intact protein affinity purification was evaluated through the measurement of CRP in several serum-based CRP control materials, yielding levels that were comparable to their expected mean concentration values. Quantitative results were confirmed with an external calibration approach. This study demonstrates the feasibility of affinity purification with LC-MS/MS for the reference measurement procedure development of low abundance serum protein analytes.

Method for the Determination of ¹5N Incorporation Percentage in Labeled Peptides and Proteins.

Use of labeled (15)N proteins and peptides as internal standards in isotope-dilution mass spectrometry for the quantification of proteins has been increasing and is now accepted as a gold standard for this analysis. As a necessary reagent in this process, stable heavy isotope-labeled internal standards must be rigorously characterized in a number of ways including identity, concentration, purity, and structure. Additionally, the degree of the incorporation of the heavy isotope is a critical feature to consider. For proteins that are (15)N labeled, the percentage of incorporation is a valid measurement used to assess the fitness-to-purpose of the material. This measurement should be objective, repeatable, and based on empirical analysis. One means of assigning this value is to compare a mass spectrum of the isotopic profile of a peptide against a series of theoretical profiles containing different enrichment rates. This comparison can be made using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r) to find the best match between the empirical and theoretical profiles. Theoretical profiles can be generated using probability multinomial analysis but are computationally intensive and require the use of computers for practical use. The method described in this chapter describes the development and use of a computer program to calculate the percentage of (15)N enrichment of a labeled internal standard. Additionally, methods will be described for the empirical determination of an isotopic profile using a variety of mass spectrometry techniques.

Multiple forms of selenoprotein P in a candidate human plasma standard reference material.

Selenoprotein P (SePP) is a unique selenium-containing protein responsible for the transport and distribution of the essential trace element selenium (Se) through the human body with the concentration of SePP in human blood representing the most useful marker of Se nutritional status. Although SePP has been extensively studied, the structure of SePP in human plasma remains unresolved. Two potential isoforms of SePP have been identified by Western blot analyses distinguished principally by differences in migration (51 kDa and 61 kDa). The biological relevance of the smaller isoform has been called into question by several studies reporting only one major SePP form (69 kDa) suggesting that the shorter 51 kDa is an artifact of protease activity during the SePP purification process. A deficiency of these Western blot analyses is that no information can be gleaned regarding the Se content of the potential isoforms. This study reports a characterization of SePP isoforms in a human plasma Standard Reference Material representative of a healthy US population. Following immunoprecipitation, three SePP isoforms were unequivocally identified at 45 kDa, 49 kDa and 57 kDa (termed as SePP45, SePP49 and SePP57) by LC-MS/MS analyses from a spectral searching approach. Selenium (Se) was detected by gel electrophoresis LA-ICP-MS in SePP49 and SePP57 which was confirmed by the identification of three selenopeptides covering the SePP sequence from residues 312-346 by LC-MS/MS analyses utilizing a sequence searching approach. Conversely, neither Se nor peptides covering SePP sequence from residues 306-346 was identified in SePP45 which suggests that SePP45 is a truncated isoform transcriptionally terminated at the 2nd in-frame UGA codon thereby terminating the protein with the Ser residue at position 299. An additional band at 23 kDa was found to contain Se but no peptides of SePP. Instead, glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) was unequivocally identified within the band presumably being co-immunoprecipitated with the SePP providing preliminary evidence that SePP and GPx3 interaction may take place in vivo.

Preliminary evaluation of a microwave-assisted metal-labeling strategy for quantification of peptides via RPLC-ICP-MS and the method of standard additions.

NIST has performed preliminary research on applying a calibration methodology based on the method of standard additions to the quantification of peptides via reverse-phase liquid chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (RPLC-ICP-MS). A microwave-assisted lanthanide labeling procedure was developed and applied to derivatize peptides using the macrocyclic bifunctional chemical chelator DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid), which significantly improved the lanthanide labeling yield and reduced reaction times compared to benchtop labeling procedures. Biomolecular MS technologies of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-MS and electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS/MS were used in concert with ICP-MS to confirm the results of microwave labeling, sample cleanup and standard additions experiments for several test peptides. The calibration scheme is outlined in detail and contextualized against complementary high accuracy calibration strategies currently employed for ICP-MS detection of biomolecules. Standard additions experiments using native, non-isotopic peptide calibrants confirm the simplicity of the scheme and the potential of applying a blending (recombined sample and spike) procedure, facilitating calibration via co-elution of lanthanide labeled peptides. Ways to improve and fully leverage the analytical methodology are highlighted.

Sequence dependence and differential expression of Ggamma5 subunit isoforms of the heterotrimeric G proteins variably processed after prenylation in mammalian cells.

Between 1 and 2% of proteins coded for in the human genome, including all G protein gamma subunits, are predicted to be prenylated. Subsequently, prenylated proteins are proteolytically cleaved at the C terminus and carboxymethylated. These reactions are generally obligatory events required for functional expression of prenylated proteins. The biological role of prenyl substrates has made these reactions significant targets for anticancer drug development. Understanding the enzymology of this pathway will be key to success for this strategy. When Ggamma1, -2, -4, -10, -11, -12, and -13 were expressed in HEK293 cells they were completely processed according to the current understanding of the prenylation reaction. In contrast, Ggamma5 was processed to two forms; a minor one, fully processed as predicted, and a major one that was prenylated without further processing. When the Ca(1)a(2)X motif of Ggamma5, CSFL, was exchanged for that of Ggamma2, CAIL, Ggamma5 was completely processed. Conversely, Ggamma2-SFL was incompletely processed. Differential processing of Ggamma5 was found due to the presence of an aromatic amino acid in its Ca(1)a(2)X motif. Retrieving endogenous Ggamma subunits from HEK293 or Neuro-2a cells with FLAG-Gbeta constructs identified multiple Ggamma subunits by mass spectrometry in either cell, but in both cases the most prominent one was Ggamma5 expressed without C-terminal processing after prenylation. This work indicates that post-prenylation reactions can generate multiple products determined by the C-terminal Ca(1)a(2)X motif. Within the human genome 10% of predicted prenylated proteins have aromatic amino acids in their Ca(1)a(2)X sequence and would likely generate the prenylation pattern described here.

Cardiac myocyte adenosine A2a receptor activation fails to alter cAMP or contractility: role of receptor localization.

Adenosine A2a receptors are found in coronary vascular tissue although, their presence in myocardium is subject to investigation. Although there have been numerous studies on adenosine A2a receptor agonist effects on contractility and cAMP levels in ventricular myocytes, these have yielded conflicting results. Negative pharmacological studies have even led to the conclusion that A2a receptors are not present in cardiac myocytes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether A2a receptors are expressed in rat ventricular myocytes and what physiological effects are mediated via activation of these receptors. Western blot analysis with a polyclonal antibody raised against a peptide sequence specific to the carboxy terminus of the A2a receptor revealed the presence of a band at approximately 45 kDa. However, the immunoreactivity was located in the nonmembrane fraction of the cell lysate. The membrane fraction only exhibited an immunoreactive band > or = 50 kDa. Treatment of isolated myocytes with the adenosine A2a agonist 2-[4-[(2-carboxyethyl)-phenyl]ethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS-21680) exerted no effects on cAMP levels or myocyte twitch amplitude. These results indicate that although rat ventricular myocytes appear to express adenosine A2a receptors, stimulation with an A2a agonist exerts no functional effects, possibly because of the subcellular localization of the A2a receptor.