Alexander Scherl

Precursor Acquisition Independent From Ion Count: How to Dive Deeper into the Proteomics Ocean

Data-dependent precursor ion selection is widely used in shotgun proteomics to profile the protein components of complex samples. Although very popular, this bottom-up method presents major drawbacks in terms of detectable dynamic range. Here, we demonstrate the superior performance of a data-independent method we term precursor acquisition independent from ion count (PAcIFIC). Our results show that almost the entire, predicted, soluble bacterial proteome can be thoroughly analyzed by PAcIFIC without the need for any sample fractionation other than the C18-based liquid chromatograph used to introduce the peptide mixture into the mass spectrometer. Importantly, we also show that PAcIFIC provides unique performance for analysis of human plasma in terms of the number of proteins identified (746 at FDR < or = 0.5%) and achieved dynamic range (8 orders of magnitude at FDR < or = 0.5%), without any fractionation other than immuno-depletion of the seven most abundant proteins.

Exploring glycopeptide-resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: a combined proteomics and transcriptomics approach for the identification of resistance-related markers

BackgroundTo unravel molecular targets involved in glycopeptide resistance, three isogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus with different susceptibility levels to vancomycin or teicoplanin were subjected to whole-genome microarray-based transcription and quantitative proteomic profiling. Quantitative proteomics performed on membrane extracts showed exquisite inter-experimental reproducibility permitting the identification and relative quantification of >30% of the predicted S. aureus proteome.ResultsIn the absence of antibiotic selection pressure, comparison of stable resistant and susceptible strains revealed 94 differentially expressed genes and 178 proteins. As expected, only partial correlation was obtained between transcriptomic and proteomic results during stationary-phase. Application of massively parallel methods identified one third of the complete proteome, a majority of which was only predicted based on genome sequencing, but never identified to date. Several over-expressed genes represent previously reported targets, while series of genes and proteins possibly involved in the glycopeptide resistance mechanism were discovered here, including regulators, global regulator attenuator, hyper-mutability factor or hypothetical proteins. Gene expression of these markers was confirmed in a collection of genetically unrelated strains showing altered susceptibility to glycopeptides.ConclusionOur proteome and transcriptome analyses have been performed during stationary-phase of growth on isogenic strains showing susceptibility or intermediate level of resistance against glycopeptides. Altered susceptibility had emerged spontaneously after infection with a sensitive parental strain, thus not selected in vitro. This combined analysis allows the identification of hundreds of proteins considered, so far as hypothetical protein. In addition, this study provides not only a global picture of transcription and expression adaptations during a complex antibiotic resistance mechanism but also unravels potential drug targets or markers that are constitutively expressed by resistant strains regardless of their genetic background, amenable to be used as diagnostic targets.

Daptomycin resistance mechanisms in clinically derived Staphylococcus aureus strains assessed by a combined transcriptomics and proteomics approach

OBJECTIVES The development of daptomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is associated with clinical treatment failures. The mechanism(s) of such resistance have not been clearly defined. METHODS We studied an isogenic daptomycin-susceptible (DAP(S)) and daptomycin-resistant (DAP(R)) S. aureus strain pair (616; 701) from a patient with relapsing endocarditis during daptomycin treatment, using comparative transcriptomic and proteomic techniques. RESULTS Minor differences in the genome content were found between strains by DNA hybridization. Transcriptomic analyses identified a number of genes differentially expressed in important functional categories: cell division; metabolism of bacterial envelopes; and global regulation. Of note, the DAP(R) isolate exhibited reduced expression of the major cell wall autolysis gene coincident with the up-regulation of genes involved in cell wall teichoic acid production. Using quantitative (q)RT-PCR on the gene cadre putatively involved in cationic peptide resistance, we formulated a putative regulatory network compatible with microarray data sets, mainly implicating bacterial envelopes. Of interest, qRT-PCR of this same gene cadre from two distinct isogenic DAP(S)/DAP(R) clinical strain pairs revealed evidence of other strain-dependent networks operative in the DAP(R) phenotype. Comparative proteomics of 616 versus 701 revealed a differential abundance of proteins in various functional categories, including cell wall-associated targets and biofilm formation proteins. Phenotypically, strains 616 and 701 showed major differences in their ability to develop bacterial biofilms in the presence of the antibacterial lipid, oleic acid. CONCLUSIONS Compatible with previous in vitro observations, in vivo-acquired DAP(R) in S. aureus is a complex, multistep phenomenon involving: (i) strain-dependent phenotypes; (ii) transcriptome adaptation; and (iii) modification of the lipid and protein contents of cellular envelopes.

EasyProt - An easy-to-use graphical platform for proteomics data analysis

High throughput protein identification and quantification analysis based on mass spectrometry are fundamental steps in most proteomics projects. Here, we present EasyProt (available at http://easyprot.unige.ch), a new platform for mass spectrometry data processing, protein identification, quantification and unexpected post-translational modification characterization. EasyProt provides a fully integrated graphical experience to perform a large part of the proteomic data analysis workflow. Our goal was to develop a software platform that would fulfill the needs of scientists in the field, while emphasizing ease-of-use for non-bioinformatician users. Protein identification is based on OLAV scoring schemes and protein quantification is implemented for both, isobaric labeling and label-free methods. Additional features are available, such as peak list processing, isotopic correction, spectra filtering, charge-state deconvolution and spectra merging. To illustrate the EasyProt platform, we present two identification and quantification workflows based on isobaric tagging and label-free methods.

Translation of pre-spliced RNAs in the nuclear compartment generates peptides for the MHC class I pathway.

Significance The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen presentation pathway allows the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self. Despite extensive research on the processing of antigenic peptides, little is still known about their origin. We recently proposed that a unique class of peptides, termed pioneer translation products (PTPs), is produced during the pioneer rounds of mRNA translation and provides the major source of antigenic peptide substrates for direct presentation to the MHC class I pathway. Here we show that a major portion of the substrates for the MHC class I pathway is synthesized during the early steps of mRNA maturation via a noncanonical translation mechanism within the nucleus and before introns are spliced out. The scanning of maturing mRNAs by ribosomes plays a key role in the mRNA quality control process. When ribosomes first engage with the newly synthesized mRNA, and if peptides are produced, is unclear, however. Here we show that ribosomal scanning of prespliced mRNAs occurs in the nuclear compartment, and that this event produces peptide substrates for the MHC class I pathway. Inserting antigenic peptide sequences in introns that are spliced out before the mRNAs exit the nuclear compartment results in an equal amount of antigenic peptide products as when the peptides are encoded from the main open reading frame (ORF). Taken together with the detection of intron-encoded nascent peptides and RPS6/RPL7-carrying complexes in the perinucleolar compartment, these results show that peptides are produced by a translation event occurring before mRNA splicing. This suggests that ribosomes occupy and scan mRNAs early in the mRNA maturation process, and suggests a physiological role for nuclear mRNA translation, and also helps explain how the immune system tolerates peptides derived from tissue-specific mRNA splice variants.

Glycation Isotopic Labeling with 13C-Reducing Sugars for Quantitative Analysis of Glycated Proteins in Human Plasma

Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins is a post-translational modification produced by a reaction between reducing sugars and amino groups located in lysine and arginine residues or in the N-terminal position. This modification plays a relevant role in medicine and food industry. In the clinical field, this undesired role is directly linked to blood glucose concentration and therefore to pathological conditions derived from hyperglycemia (>11 mm glucose) such as diabetes mellitus or renal failure. An approach for qualitative and quantitative analysis of glycated proteins is here proposed to achieve the three information levels for their complete characterization. These are: 1) identification of glycated proteins, 2) elucidation of sugar attachment sites, and 3) quantitative analysis to compare glycemic states. Qualitative analysis was carried out by tandem mass spectrometry after endoproteinase Glu-C digestion and boronate affinity chromatography for isolation of glycated peptides. For this purpose, two MS operational modes were used: higher energy collisional dissociation-MS2 and CID-MS3 by neutral loss scan monitoring of two selective neutral losses (162.05 and 84.04 Da for the glucose cleavage and an intermediate rearrangement of the glucose moiety). On the other hand, quantitative analysis was based on labeling of proteins with [13C6]glucose incubation to evaluate the native glycated proteins labeled with [12C6]glucose. As glycation is chemoselective, it is exclusively occurring in potential targets for in vivo modifications. This approach, named glycation isotopic labeling, enabled differentiation of glycated peptides labeled with both isotopic forms resulting from enzymatic digestion by mass spectrometry (6-Da mass shift/glycation site). The strategy was then applied to a reference plasma sample, revealing the detection of 50 glycated proteins and 161 sugar attachment positions with identification of preferential glycation sites for each protein. A predictive approach was also tested to detect potential glycation sites under high glucose concentration.

Quantitative Clinical Chemistry Proteomics (qCCP) using mass spectrometry: general characteristics and application.

Abstract Proteomics studies typically aim to exhaustively detect peptides/proteins in a given biological sample. Over the past decade, the number of publications using proteomics methodologies has exploded. This was made possible due to the availability of high-quality genomic data and many technological advances in the fields of microfluidics and mass spectrometry. Proteomics in biomedical research was initially used in ‘functional’ studies for the identification of proteins involved in pathophysiological processes, complexes and networks. Improved sensitivity of instrumentation facilitated the analysis of even more complex sample types, including human biological fluids. It is at that point the field of clinical proteomics was born, and its fundamental aim was the discovery and (ideally) validation of biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, or therapeutic monitoring of disease. Eventually, it was recognized that the technologies used in clinical proteomics studies [particularly liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)] could represent an alternative to classical immunochemical assays. Prior to deploying MS in the measurement of peptides/proteins in the clinical laboratory, it seems likely that traditional proteomics workflows and data management systems will need to adapt to the clinical environment and meet in vitro diagnostic (IVD) regulatory constraints. This defines a new field, as reviewed in this article, that we have termed quantitative Clinical Chemistry Proteomics (qCCP).

Proteomic approaches to study Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human and veterinary pathogen that causes a wide variety of infections ranging from benign skin infections to life threatening diseases. Recently, important changes in the epidemiology have been reported demonstrating that S. aureus, and particularly its methicillin-resistant variant, is now recognized as a ubiquitous pathogen responsible for both, hospital- and community-acquired infections. In these settings, the bacterium is responsible for various acute or chronic diseases and shows particular ability to adapt its metabolism to major environmental changes. Despite the fact that S. aureus infections are common worldwide, the factors triggering the different steps of infection (colonization, expression of virulence factors, invasion of host tissues, and persistence in hostile environments) are not fully characterized. Over the last decade highly parallel methods of analysis led to the release of whole genome sequences of numerous pathogenic bacteria. These efforts coupled to the parallel improvements of proteomic procedures permitted to study S. aureus transcriptome or proteome at the organism level. This now provides a sound basis for a comprehensive understanding of bacterial metabolism, adaptability to environment and pathogenicity mechanisms. This review summarizes the impact of proteomic on our comprehension of S. aureus virulence and pathogenesis.

Isobaric Tagging-Based Selection and Quantitation of Cerebrospinal Fluid Tryptic Peptides with Reporter Calibration Curves

In the past few years, mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as an efficient tool for the multiplexed peptide and protein concentration determination by isotope dilution. Despite the growing use of isobaric tagging to perform relative quantitation for the discovery of potential biomarkers in biological fluids, no real application has so far been presented for their absolute quantitation. Isobaric tandem mass tags (TMTs) were used herein for the selection and quantitation of tryptic peptides derived from brain damage related proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Proteotypic tryptic peptide analogues were synthesized, prepared in four reference amounts, differentially labeled with four isobaric TMTs with reporter-ions at m/z = 128.1, 129.1, 130.1, and 131.1, and mixed with CSF sample previously labeled with TMT 126.1. Off-gel electrophoresis (OGE) was used as first-dimension separation of the pooled sample. The resulting fractions were analyzed with reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), using tandem time-of-flight (TOF/TOF) and hybrid linear ion trap-orbitrap (LTQ-OT) instruments. Under collision-induced dissociation (CID) or higher-energy C-trap dissociation (HCD), the release of the reporter fragments from the TMT-labeled peptide standards provided an internal calibration curve to assess the concentration of these peptides in the CSF. This tool also allowed identifying selectively these peptides in CSF as only the targeted peptides showed specific fragmentation pattern in the TMT reporter-ion zone of the tandem mass spectra. Assays for the concentration measurements of peptides from PARK7, GSTP1, NDKA, and S100B proteins in CSF were further characterized using this novel, efficient, and straightforward approach.

IgM are associated to Spα (CD5 antigen‐like)

In 1993, we reported the presence of an IgM‐associated peptide (Mr 44 kDa; pI 5.45) in all immunoglobulin M (IgM) fractions purified from plasma/serum by various methods. This peptide was absent in Ig fractions of non‐IgM isotypes. The N‐terminal sequence was determined as being APPSGVRLVGGLH. To gain insight into the nature of this peptide, we further analyzed, using modern proteomic tools, the IgM‐associated peptide isolated from cryoglobulins. Mass spectrometry revealed three peptides of different masses: 2203.13 (ELGCGAASGTPSGILYEPPAEK), 1564.83 (KPIWLSQMSCSGR), and 1544.77 (EATLQDCPSGPWGK). Theses sequences together with the already known N‐terminal sequence allowed us to identity the IgM‐associated peptide as Spα (O43866 in TrEMBL database; CD5 antigen‐like). Spα is a member of the scavenger receptor cysteine‐rich superfamily of proteins. This family includes the T‐and B‐cell antigens CD5 and CD6, and several of its members influence immune cell fate. Our finding may have important implications in the understanding of the homeostasis of IgM antibodies.