Xiaowen Yan

Absolute Quantification of Intact Proteins via 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-trisacetic acid-10-Maleimidoethylacetamide-Europium Labeling and HPLC Coupled with Species-Unspecific Isotope Dilution ICPMS

Quantitative proteomics requires novel analytical methodology to fill the gap related to absolute protein abundance in different physiological conditions. In this paper, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study for absolute protein quantification. 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-trisacetic acid-10-maleimidoethylacetamide (MMA-DOTA) loaded with Eu was used to label lysozyme, insulin, and ribonuclease A, and they were subsequently quantified using HPLC coupled with (153)Eu species-unspecific isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Labeling procedures were optimized using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) based on the labeling efficiency and specificity of the three intact proteins, which suggested that 10-fold or higher MMA-DOTA to cysteine sulphydryl rates at pH from 6.8 to 7.6 and 47 degrees C for 40 min were optimal conditions for the conjugation of the reduced-form proteins and that a 5-fold excess of Eu with respect to the DOTA present in the MMA-DOTA-conjugated proteins and pH 5.8 are optimal for Eu labeling. Subsequently, these three MMA-DOTA-Eu-labeled proteins were digested with trypsin, and the tryptic peptides were quantified via HPLC coupled with (153)Eu species-unspecific isotope dilution ICPMS. The results for the protein studied indicated that not only could 100% digestion efficiency not be achieved but also the resulting peptides needed a chromatographic separation at higher resolution. On the other hand, the labeled intact proteins were quantified without tryptic digestion. The average recovery was found to be 97.9% in six independent experiments, and the precision was evaluated to be 5.8% at the 10 pmol L(-1) level. The detection limits (3sigma) were determined to be 0.819, 1.638, and 0.819 fmol for lysozyme, the A chain of insulin, and ribonuclease A, respectively, using ICPMS with a normal concentric pneumatic nebulizer. These results demonstrated that high-quality absolute protein quantification could be achieved through labeling the intact proteins but not the tryptic peptides, implying that intact proteins may be more feasible and practical targets than tryptic peptides for ICPMS-based absolute protein quantification.

Lanthanide-Coded Protease-Specific Peptide-Nanoparticle Probes for a Label-Free Multiplex Protease Assay Using Element Mass Spectrometry: A Proof-of-Concept Study

National Natural Science Foundation of China[21035006, 20775062]; Basic Research 973 Project[2009CB421605]

Dynamic Labeling Strategy with 204Hg-Isotopic Methylmercurithiosalicylate for Absolute Peptide and Protein Quantification

The methylmercury ion (CH(3)Hg(+)) demonstrated a high efficiency for directly labeling peptide/protein based on its specific and strong interaction with the sulfhydryl(s) in the peptide/protein and because of its smallest size among monofunctional organic mercurials studied, including methylmercury, ethylmercury, 4-(hydroxymercuric)benzoic acid, and 2,7-dibromo-4-hydroxymercurifluoresceine disodium. A simple 1:1 stoichiometry between CH(3)Hg(+) and sulfhydryl, confirmed with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) studies, made it easy to calibrate the stoichiometry of Hg in the peptide/protein. In order to avoid the direct use of the harmful CH(3)Hg(+), in this study a CH(3)Hg(+)-equivalent tag, methylmercurithiosalicylate (CH(3)Hg-THI), and its (204)Hg-enriched homologue (CH(3)(204)Hg-THI) were synthesized, and then CH(3)Hg(+) and/or CH(3)(204)Hg(+) released from CH(3)Hg-THI and/or CH(3)(204)Hg-THI in solution were utilized to demonstrate the dynamic labeling of glutathione (GSH) and two model proteins, beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) and ovalbumin (OVA), for the first time. Furthermore, the CH(3)(204)Hg-THI isotopical labeled GSH, BLG, and OVA standards (CH(3)(204)Hg-GSH, CH(3)(204)Hg-BLG, and CH(3)(204)Hg-OVA) were used to demonstrate the feasibility of absolute peptide/protein quantification using label-specific isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). On the basis of the accurate and sensitive determination of Hg using ICPMS, the detection limits of GSH, BLG, and OVA could reach 45.4, 45.4, and 15.1 pmol L(-1), respectively, suggesting the possibility for low-abundance peptide/protein quantification alongside the surefire quantification of moderate and highly abundant peptide/protein.

Europium-Labeled Activity-Based Probe through Click Chemistry: Absolute Serine Protease Quantification Using 153Eu Isotope Dilution ICP/MS

Click and analyze: the titled probe was synthesized by conjugating a sulfonyl fluoride and azido unit using click chemistry to give SF-Eu, which can react specifically with serine (Ser) in the active site of serine protease (SP). Combination of the method with (153)Eu-isotope dilution ICP/MS enables absolute protein quantification of active SPs in biological samples using only one (153)Eu(NO(3))(3) isotopic standard.

Integrin-Targeted Trifunctional Probe for Cancer Cells: A 'Seeing and Counting' Approach

We report the design and synthesis of a trifunctional probe for seeing and counting cancer cells using both fluorescence imaging (FI) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) for the first time. It consisted of a guiding cyclic RGD peptide unit to catch cancer cells via targeting the α(v)β(3) integrin overexpressed on their surface, a 5-amino-fluorescein moiety for FI using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as well as a 2-aminoethyl-monoamide-DOTA group for loading stable europium ion and subsequent ICPMS quantification of the cancer cells without the use of radioactive isotopes. In addition to FI, the LOD (3σ) of the α(v)β(3) integrin was down to 69.2-309.4 amol per cell depending on the type of the α(v)β(3)-positive cancer cells when using ICPMS and those of the cancer cell number reached 17-75. This probe developed enables us not only to see but also to count the α(v)β(3)-positive cancer cells ultrasensitively, paving a new way for early diagnosis of cancer.

Detection and quantification of proteins and cells by use of elemental mass spectrometry: progress and challenges

AbstractMuch progress has been made in identification of the proteins in proteomes, and quantification of these proteins has attracted much interest. In addition to popular tandem mass spectrometric methods based on soft ionization, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), a typical example of mass spectrometry based on hard ionization, usually used for analysis of elements, has unique advantages in absolute quantification of proteins by determination of an element with a definite stoichiometry in a protein or attached to the protein. In this Trends article, we briefly describe state-of-the-art ICPMS-based methods for quantification of proteins, emphasizing protein-labeling and element-tagging strategies developed on the basis of chemically selective reactions and/or biospecific interactions. Recent progress from protein to cell quantification by use of ICPMS is also discussed, and the possibilities and challenges of ICPMS-based protein quantification for universal, selective, or targeted quantification of proteins and cells in a biological sample are also discussed critically. We believe ICPMS-based protein quantification will become ever more important in targeted quantitative proteomics and bioanalysis in the near future. Online Abstract FigureICPMS-based protein and cell quantification

A dual-labelling strategy for integrated ICPMS and LIF for the determination of peptides

In this proof-of-concept study, a novel dual-labelling strategy for conjugating –SH and –NH2 of a peptide was developed, in which an element tag (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-trisacetic acid-10-maleimidoethylacetamide loaded with europium) and a fluorescent tag (fluorescein isothiocycanate) were employed. Its feasibility was demonstrated using HPLC-UV/ESI-MS for evaluating labelling-efficiency and HPLC-ICPMS with 153Eu isotope dilution as well as CE-LIF for the determination of peptides.

Click chemistry mediated Eu-tagging: Activity-based specific quantification and simultaneous activity evaluation of CYP3A4 using 153Eu species-unspecific isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is one of the most important isoforms in the human cytochrome P450 superfamily. It was used as an example in this proof-of-concept study in order to demonstrate an activity-based labeling and then click chemistry (CC) mediated element-tagging strategy for simultaneously specific quantification and activity measurement of an enzyme using species-unspecific isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SUID ICPMS). A dual functional hexynylated 17α-ethynylestradiol activity-based probe was synthesized for specifically labeling CYP3A4 and then CC-mediated Eu-tagging with an azido-DOTA-Eu complex for CYP3A4 quantification and activity measurement in human liver microsome and serum samples using (153)Eu SUID ICPMS. The LOD (3σ) of CYP3A4 reached 20.3 fmol when monitoring (151/153)Eu ICPMS signals, in addition to the merits of specificity and simultaneous activity measurement achieved. We believe that this activity-based CC-mediated element-tagging strategy will liberate more potential advantages of ICPMS in bioanalysis.

Photocatalytical reduction of disulphide bonds in peptides on Ag-loaded nano-TiO2 for subsequent derivatization and determination

We reported an alternative strategy to reduce disulphide bonds in peptides with Ag-nanoparticle loaded nano-TiO(2) (Ag/TiO(2)) under UV irradiation. The feasibility of this strategy was adequately demonstrated using the model peptides oxidized glutathione, vasopressin and insulin, which contain various disulphide bonds, as well as by its application to the determination of Cd-induced phytochelatins in Phaeodactylum tricornutum.