Picomole-level mapping of protein disulfides by mass spectrometry following partial reduction and alkylation

Anal Biochem. 2008 Jun 1;377(1):95-104. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2008.02.025. Epub 2008 Mar 4.

Abstract

We have deduced the disulfide bond linkage patterns, at very low protein levels (<0.5 nmol), in two cysteine-rich polypeptide domains using a new strategy involving partial reduction/alkylation of the protein, followed by peptide mapping and tanden mass spectrometry (MS/MS) sequencing on a nanoflow liquid chromatography-MS/MS system. The substrates for our work were the cysteine-rich ectodomain of human Fn14, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, and the IgV domain of murine TIM-1 (T-cell, Ig domain, and mucin domain-1). We have successfully determined the disulfide linkages for Fn14 and independently confirmed those of the IgV domain of TIM-1, whose crystal structure was published recently. The procedures that we describe here can be used to determine the disulfide structures for proteins with complex characteristics. They will also provide a means to obtain important information for structure-function studies and to ensure correct protein folding and batch-to-batch consistency in commercially produced recombinant proteins.

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Cricetinae
  • Disulfides / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nanotechnology
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Peptide Mapping / methods*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / chemistry
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / isolation & purification
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • TWEAK Receptor
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Proteins
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • TNFRSF12A protein, human
  • TWEAK Receptor
  • Tnfrsf12a protein, mouse