Here we present a step-by-step protocol of the long-length electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LERLIC-MS/MS) method. This is a novel methodology that enables for the first time quantification and characterization of the glutamine and asparagine deamidation isoforms by shotgun proteomics.
Characterization of protein deamidation is imperative to decipher the role(s) and potentialities of this protein posttranslational modification (PTM) in human pathology and other biochemical contexts. In order to perform characterization of protein deamidation, we have recently developed a novel long-length electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LERLIC-MS/MS) method which can separate the glutamine (Gln) and asparagine (Asn) isoform products of deamidation from model compounds to highly complex biological samples. LERLIC-MS/MS is, therefore, the first shotgun proteomics strategy for the separation and quantification of Gln deamidation isoforms. We also demonstrate, as a novelty, that the sample processing protocol outlined here stabilizes the succinimide intermediate allowing its characterization by LERLIC-MS/MS. Application of LERLIC-MS/MS as shown in this video article can help to elucidate the currently unknown molecular arrays of protein deamidation. Additionally, LERLIC-MS/MS provides further understanding of the enzymatic reactions that encompass deamidation in distinct biological backgrounds.
Deamidation is a protein posttranslational modification (PTM) that introduces a negative charge to the protein backbone through modification of asparagine (Asn) and/or glutamine (Gln) residues1. This modification while affecting Asn residues generates the isomeric products isoaspartic acid (isoAsp) and n-aspartic acid (Asp) at a common 3:1 ratio2. Notwithstanding, this ratio can be altered by the intervention of the repairing enzyme L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT)3,4. Similarly, deamidation of Gln residues generates the isomeric gamma-glutamic acid (γ-Glu) and alpha-glutamic acid isoforms (α-Glu) at an expected 1:7 ratio3,5, but this ratio can be shifted by the action of the ubiquitous enzyme transglutaminase 2 and other transglutaminases, including transglutaminase 1, an enzyme recently identified as associated with extracellular vesicles in the brain6.
The origin of deamidation can be either spontaneous or enzymatic, the former is especially common on Gln residues in which transglutaminases and other enzymes mediate inter/intra-molecular crosslinking via transamidation (see 3 for further details on Gln transamidation and its implications in several chronic and fatal human diseases). Therefore, deamidation is a PTM that has a crucial repercussion on the structure and function of affected molecules4,7,8 and requires an in-depth chemical characterization3 in the light of its diverse biochemical consequences including its service as molecular clock of aging9.
Although deamidation of Asn residues has been relatively well-characterized by bottom-up shotgun proteomics1,10, deamidation of Gln residues still does not have a suitable characterization method beyond the challenging analysis of model compounds by electron-based radical fragmentation11. We have recently developed a novel one-dimension shotgun proteomics strategy (LERLIC-MS/MS)3 that enables separation of Gln and Asn deamidation isoforms from complex biological samples and model compounds in a single analysis. LERLIC-MS/MS is based on the separation of tryptic digested peptides using a long-length (50 cm) ion exchange column (LAX) working on electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography (ERLIC) mode and coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This new analytical strategy has been used to characterize and relatively quantitate the extent of each deamidated residue in human brain tissues3. Nevertheless, the protocol outlined here will provide video imaging of LERLIC-MS/MS aimed to study the peculiarities of protein deamidation in the biochemical context of interest.
ETHICS STATEMENT
All procedures of this protocol have been approved by the institutional review board of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and have been performed in accordance to the institutional guidelines.
1. Packing the Long-length Anion-exchange (LAX) Capillary Column
(Note: Although the LAX column can be in-home packed as we describe in this protocol, LAX columns are also commercially available, see Table of Materials and Reagents for further details).
2. Sample Preparation
This protocol outlines the application of LERLIC-MS/MS to analyze human brain tissues as model proteome. (Note: In case to use other tissues or proteomic samples, the sample preparation procedures should be adapted.)
3. One-dimension LERLIC-MS/MS Separation
4. Data Analysis
Deamidation of Gln and Asn residues is considered a degenerative protein modification (DPM) implicated in several chronic and fatal diseases14. It has been demonstrated that this PTM can predict the half-life and degradative states of antibodies and other molecules in the human body and similar biological backgrounds1,15. The significance of protein deamidation, in fact, goes beyond the biomedical context, hence this modification is present in diverse proteomes16,17 and some studies have demonstrated the potential of deamidation at the time to perform accurate dating of paintings and archeological remains18,19. Although significance and functionality of protein deamidation in diverse backgrounds have been affirmed for long time, there was until very recently a lack of technical advance on the way to achieve an in-depth characterization of this PTM3.
Application of LERLIC-MS/MS3, as depicted in Figure 1, provides for the first time and in a single run resolved separation of Gln and Asn deamidated isoforms from complex proteomes or model compounds even for those peptides showing two independent Asn and Gln deamidated proteoforms.
Figure 1: Diagram of LERLIC-MS/MS Workflow for the Separation and Quantification of Gln and Asp Deamidation Products from Complex Samples by Shotgun Proteomics. LERLIC-MS/MS involves protein extraction and enzymatic digestion prior to one-dimension separation of peptides by LC-MS/MS using the LAX capillary column. Analysis of XICs allow the identification of deamidation isomeric products eluted at different retention times based on their different acidity3,20,21. MS/MS allows discrimination between deamidated and non-deamidated peptides and confident identification of the deamidated residue. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Enzymatically modified intermediate Gln residues of transamidation displaying an inverted γ/α-glutamyl ratio (Figure 2) can be uncovered and characterized by LERLIC-MS/MS, which might have significant implications on the study of proteinopathy in neurodegenerative diseases3,22,23,24. Furthermore, as previously reported in Serra & Gallart-Palau 2016, several unknown PIMT substrate proteins presenting an inverted isoAsp/Asp ratio in deamidated Asn residues can also be identified in human tissues by LERLIC-MS/MS3.
Figure 2: Inspection of XICs and Identification of Double Retention Times at the MS/MS Level for the Deamidated Peptides Allow Characterization of Gln and Asn Deamidated Isomers and Identification of Products from Crucial Enzymatic Reactions that Take Place in Deamidation. a. Detail of the XIC showing the two peaks corresponding to the γ/α-glutamyl isomers of the peptide FQMPDQGMTSADDFFEQ#GTK from the brain protein DPYL2 dihydropyrimidinase related-protein 2. The inverted γ/α-glutamyl ratio detected in that peptide indicates the potential implication of the γ-glutamyl-containing specie in the transglutamination reaction as a transglutaminase γ-glutamyl intermediate. The deamidated residue was verified by MS/MS at both retention times, b. at 389.1 min corresponding to the α-glutamyl-containing peptide and c. at 401.4 min corresponding to the γ-glutamyl-containing peptide. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
As a novelty of this paper, we found that LERLIC-MS/MS allows characterization of the succinimide intermediate (Figure 3). The use of mild acidic pH during sample processing stabilizes the succinimide intermediate in modified Asn residues25. Therefore, LERLIC-MS/MS allows proteome-wide study of the succinimide intermediate, a labile and poorly understood modification with significant physiological and pathological implications26.
Figure 3: Identification of the Succinimide Intermediate in Asn Residues by LERLIC-MS/MS. a. Spectrum of the Asn deamidated peptide YASICQQN#GIVPIVEPEILPDGDHDLKR from the brain protein ALDO C Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase C. Deamidated residue is indicated as Deam-Asn. b. Spectrum of the peptide YASICQQN#GIVPIVEPEILPDGDHDLKR, which in this case shows a mass shift of -17 Da at the previously deamidated Asn residue (Scc-Asn) due to the ammonium loss that take place during the formation of the succinimide intermediate. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Component | Amount for 100 mL |
Isopropanol | 90 mL |
Water | 10 mL |
Table 1. Packing Buffer Composition (90% isopropanol).
Solution 1: 1 M of ammonium acetate. | |
Component | Amount for 50 mL |
Ammonium acetate | 3.86 g |
Water (make up to 50 mL) | ~ 50 mL |
Solution 2: 100 mM of ammonium acetate. | |
Component | Amount for 50 mL |
Solution 1 | 5 mL |
Water | 45 mL |
Solution 3: 10% Sodium deoxycholate. | |
Component | Amount for 1 mL |
Sodium deoxycholate | 0.1 g |
Water | 1 mL |
Solution 4: SDC homogenization buffer (100 mM ammonium acetate containing 1% Sodium deoxycholate). | |
Component | Amount for 10 mL |
Solution 2 | 9 mL |
Solution 3 | 1 mL |
Table 2. SDC Homogenization Buffer Composition (100 mM Ammonium Acetate Containing 1% Sodium Deoxycholate). Prepare the stock solution of 1 M of ammonium acetate (Solution 1) and dilute to get 100 mM of ammonium acetate (Solution 2). Additionally, prepare the stock solution of 10% sodium deoxycholate (Solution 3). Prepare the SDC homogenization buffer as described in Solution 4.
Solution 5: 1 M DTT | |
Component | Amount for 10 mL |
Dithiothreitol | 77 mg |
Solution 2 (See Table 2) | 0.5 mL |
Solution 6: Dilution buffer | |
Component | Amount for 10 mL |
Solution 5 | 0.1 mL |
Solution 2 (See Table 2) | 9.9 mL |
Table 3. Dilution Buffer Composition (100 mM Ammonium Acetate Containing 10 mM Dithiothreitol (DTT)). Prepare the stock solution of 1 M DTT (Solution 5) and subsequently prepare the dilution buffer as detailed in Solution 6.
Solution 7: 1 M IAA | |
Component | Amount for 10 mL |
IAA | 93 mg |
Solution 2 (See Table 2) | 0.5 mL |
Table 4. Alkylation Buffer Composition (100 mM Ammonium Acetate Containing 20 mM Iodoacetamide (IAA)). Prepare the stock solution of 1 M IAA (Solution 7).
Component | Amount for 50 mL |
Ammonium hydroxide | 0.25 mL |
Water | 24.75 mL |
Table 5. SDC Redissolving Buffer Composition (0.5% Ammonium Hydroxide).
Component | Amount for 100 mL |
Trifluoroacetic acid | 0.1 mL |
Water | 99.9 mL |
Table 6. Clean-up Buffer (0.1% Trifluoroacetic Acid).
Component | Amount for 100 mL |
Acetonitrile | 75 mL |
Formic acid | 0.1 mL |
Table 7. Elution Buffer (75% Acetonitrile, 0.1% Formic Acid).
Component | Amount for 1,000 mL |
Formic acid | 1 mL |
Water | 999 mL |
Table 8. Mobile Phase A Composition.
Component | Amount for 1,000 mL |
Formic acid | 1 mL |
Acetonitrile | 999 mL |
Table 9. Mobile Phase B Composition.
In this video-article we present a step-by-step protocol of LERLIC-MS/MS3, a method to perform in-depth characterization and to accurately determine the extent of protein deamidation and the enzymatic processes involved on this protein modification. LERLIC-MS/MS is based on the use of a long-length (50 cm) LAX under the principle of electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography (ERLIC)27. The use of a long-length column, as shown in our study3, maximizes the potential of ERLIC to separate peptides according to their isoelectric point27.
LERLIC-MS/MS represents a novel shotgun one-dimensional separation strategy, a workflow that saves time-on-hands during sample processing although it requires a 1,200 min gradient as indicated in3 to obtain optimal results on highly complex proteomes. A 60 min gradient in LERLIC-MS/MS can also achieve optimal separation of Gln deamidation isoforms on model compounds for the first time in shotgun proteomics3. Based on these two applications, we speculate that second dimension separation performed by LAX capillary could be coupled to a first dimension reverse-phase chromatography under a multidimensional chromatography approach for the analysis of samples of middle complexity, a workflow previously used by our group10.
Sample preparation for the analysis of protein deamidation is a crucial step that requires careful attention to prevent the occurrence of artefactual deamidation on Asn residues at a great extent1. Hao et al. found that tryptic digestion under mild acidic pH significantly prevents apparition of artefactual deamidation during sample preparation28. We have used in this study our SDC-assisted in solution tryptic digestion13, a method where sample processing is carried out at pH 6. On the other hand, stronger acidic conditions might challenge the digestion ability of trypsin when the pH is kept lower than 629. Addressing this issue, very recently Liu et al. have reported an optimal digestion strategy that allows successful digestion and prevention of the occurrence of artefactual deamidation on Asn residues by substituting trypsin by Glu-C at pH 4.530. Implementation of the digestion method reported by Liu et al.30 to analyze Asn deamidation by LERLIC-MS/MS could be a potential strategy that requires experimental verification.
The protocol outlined in this video-article has a great potential to further characterize and quantitate currently unknown isoform ratio arrays that define the involvement of protein deamidation in aging and human diseases. Furthermore, application of LERLIC-MS/MS in other biological backgrounds will help to determine the potentialities and risks of protein deamidation as a molecular clock modification.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This work was in part supported by grants from the Singapore Ministry of Education (Tier 2: Grant ARC9/15), National Medical Research Council of Singapore (NMRC-OF-IRG-0003-2016), and NTU-NHG Ageing Research Grant (Grant ARG/14017). We would like to express our gratitude and most sincere thanks to Dr. Andrew Alpert and PolyLC team for kindly provided us with the packing materials that made possible this study.
PolyCAT 3µm 100-Å (bulk material) | PolyLC Inc. | Special order | |
Long-length ion exchange capillary column 50 cm – 200 µm ID | PolyLC Inc. | Special order | |
PEEKsil Tubing 1/16" OD x 200 µm ID x 50 cm length | SGE Analytical Science under Trajan Scientific Australia | 620050 | |
Female-to-female fitting for 1/16" OD tubbing | Upchurch Scientific | UPCHF-125 | |
Female nut for microferule | Upchurch Scientific | UPCHP-416 | |
Microferule | Upchurch Scientific | UPCHF-132 | |
Pressure Bomb NanoBaume | Western Fluids Engineering | SP-400 | |
Shimadzu Prominence UFLC system | Shimadzu | Prominence UFLC | |
Bullet Blender | Next Advance | BBX24 | |
Safe-lock tubes | Eppendorf | T9661-1000EA | |
Stainless steel beads. 0.9 – 2.0 mm. 1 lb. Non-sterile. | Next Advance | SSB14B | |
Table-top centrifuge | Hettich Zentrifugen | Rotina 380 R | |
Standard Digital Heated Circulating Bath, 120VAC | PolyScience 8006 6L | 8006A11B | |
Sep-pack c18 desalting cartridge 50 mg | Waters | WAT020805 | |
Vacumm concentrator | Eppendorf | Concentrator Plus System | |
Dionex UltiMate 3000 UHPLC | Dionex | UltiMate 3000 UHPLC | |
Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer | Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | ORBITRAP ELITE | |
Michrom Thermo CaptiveSpray | Michrom-Bruker Inc. | TCSI-SS2 | |
Incubator INCUCELL | MMM Group | INCUCELL111 | |
Sequencing-grade modified trypsin | Promega | V5111 | |
Protease inhibitor cocktail tablets | Roche | 11836170001 (ROCHE) | |
Phosphate buffer solution 10X (diluted to 1x) | Sigma-Aldrich | P5493 | |
Ammonium acetate | Sigma-Aldrich | A1542 | |
Sodium deoxycholate | Sigma-Aldrich | D6750 | |
Dithiothreitol | Sigma-Aldrich | D0632 | |
Iodoacetamide | Sigma-Aldrich | i6125 | |
Formic acid | Sigma-Aldrich | F0507 (HONEYWELL) | |
Ammonium hydroxide | Sigma-Aldrich | 338818 (HONEYWELL) | |
Acetonitrile HPLC grade | Sigma-Aldrich | 675415 | |
Isopropanol HPLC grade | Sigma-Aldrich | 675431 | |
Water HPLC grade | Sigma-Aldrich | 14263 |