R. Marshall Pope

Characterization of a Heparan Sulfate Octasaccharide That Binds to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Glycoprotein D

Herpes simplex virus type 1 utilizes cell surface heparan sulfate as receptors to infect target cells. The unique heparan sulfate saccharide sequence offers the binding site for viral envelope proteins and plays critical roles in assisting viral infections. A specific 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate is known to facilitate the entry of herpes simplex virus 1 into cells. The 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate is generated by the heparan sulfate d-glucosaminyl-3-O-sulfotransferase isoform 3 (3-OST-3), and it provides binding sites for viral glycoprotein D (gD). Here, we report the purification and structural characterization of an oligosaccharide that binds to gD. The isolated gD-binding site is an octasaccharide, and has a binding affinity to gD around 18 μm, as determined by affinity coelectrophoresis. The octasaccharide was prepared and purified from a heparan sulfate oligosaccharide library that was modified by purified 3-OST-3 enzyme. The molecular mass of the isolated octasaccharide was determined using both nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The results from the sequence analysis suggest that the structure of the octasaccharide is a heptasulfated octasaccharide. The proposed structure of the octasaccharide is ΔUA-GlcNS-IdoUA2S-GlcNAc-UA2S-GlcNS-IdoUA2S-GlcNH23S6S. Given that the binding of 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate to gD can mediate viral entry, our results provide structural information about heparan sulfate-assisted viral entry.

Regulation of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase by MAP kinase.

The de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides is required for mammalian cells to proliferate. The rate-limiting step in this pathway is catalysed by carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS II), part of the multifunctional enzyme CAD. Here we describe the regulation of CAD by the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade. When phosphorylated by MAP kinase in vitro or activated by epidermal growth factor in vivo , CAD lost its feedback inhibition (which is dependent on uridine triphosphate) and became more sensitive to activation (which depends upon phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate). Both these allosteric regulatory changes favour biosynthesis of pyrimidines for growth. They were accompanied by increased epidermal growth factor-dependent phosphorylation of CAD in vivo and were prevented by inhibition of MAP kinase. Mutation of a consensus MAP kinase phosphorylation site abolished the changes in CAD allosteric regulation that were stimulated by growth factors. Finally, consistent with an effect of MAP kinase signalling on CPS II activity, epidermal growth factor increased cellular uridine triphosphate and this increase was reversed by inhibition of MAP kinase. Hence these studies may indicate a direct link between activation of the MAP kinase cascade and de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides.

Rapid and sensitive identification of epitope-containing peptides by direct matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry of peptides affinity-bound to antibody beads

A method has been developed for rapid and sensitive identification of epitope-containing peptides, based on direct MALDI-MS/MS analysis of epitope-containing peptides affinity bound to affinity beads. This technique provides sequence information of the epitope that allows unambiguous identification of the epitope either by database searching or de novo sequencing. With MALDI-MS, affinity beads with bound peptides can be placed directly on the MALDI target and analyzed. Coupling a MALDI source to an orthogonal injection quadrupole time-of-flight (QqTOF) mass spectrometer allows direct sequencing of the bound peptides. In contrast to ESI-MS/MS, elution of the affinity-bound peptides followed by additional concentration and purification steps is not required, thus reducing the potential for sample loss. Direct mass spectrometric sequencing of affinity-bound peptides eliminates the need for chemical or enzymatic sequencing. Other advantages of this direct MALDI-MS/MS analysis of epitope-containing peptides bound to the affinity beads include its sensitivity (femtomole levels) and speed. In addition, direct analysis of peptides on affinity beads does not adversely affect the high mass accuracy of a QqTOF, and database searching can be performed on the MS/MS spectra obtained. In proof-of-principle experiments, this method has been demonstrated on beads containing immobilized antibodies against phosphotyrosine, the c-myc epitope tag, as well as immobilized avidin. Furthermore, de novo sequencing of epitope-containing peptides is demonstrated. The first application of this method was with anti-FLAG-tag affinity beads, where direct MALDI MS/MS was used to determine an unexpected enzymatic cleavage site on a growth factor protein.

C–H bond activation versus ring cleavage in the gas phase ion-molecule reactions of Nb+ and Ta+ with toluene and picoline

Abstract The reactions of Nb + and Ta + with toluene and picoline and their deuterium-labelled analogues were studied in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Methyl substitution completely changes the reactivities relative to benzene and pyridine. Both metals react to dehydrogenate toluene exclusively. In contrast to benzene, no ring cleavage is observed in the Ta + /toluene reaction. A simple explanation for this difference in reactivities is proposed based on the relative energies of the Huckel orbitals of benzene and toluene. The ( b 1 ) symmetric antibonding orbital is higher in energy for toluene. Population of this orbital is necessary for formation of the metallanorbornadiene intermediate and does not occur at thermal energies. Reaction with ring labelled toluene- d 5 shows exclusive H 2 or D 2 elimination in reaction with Nb + and H 2 , HD, and D 2 elimination in reaction with Ta + . Reactions with the picolines show both dehydrogenation and ring cleavage. Isotope labelling studies show facile H/D scrambling occurs in the intermediate ion-molecule complexes with HCN and DCN both eliminated from the methyl- d 3 -2-picoline and 4-picoline. The metals react with picoline and pyridine by different mechanisms. The isotope labelling results suggest a metal-hydrido-azepinium structure for the intermediate complex.