Mass spectrometric study of peptides secreted by the skin glands of the brown frog Rana arvalis from the Moscow region

A high‐performance liquid chromatography nano‐electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (HPLC/nanoESI‐FTMS) approach involving recording of collision‐activated dissociation (CAD) and electron‐capture dissociation (ECD) spectra of an intact sample and two its modifications after performic oxidation and reduction followed by carboxamidomethylation helps to establish peptide profiles in the crude secretion of frog species at mid‐throughput level, including de novo sequencing. The proposed derivatization procedures allow increasing of the general sequence coverage in the backbone, providing complementary information and, what is more important, reveal the amino acid sequence in the cystine ring (‘rana box’). Thus purely mass spectrometric efficient sequencing becomes possible for longer than usual proteolytic peptides. Seventeen peptides belonging to four known families were identified in the secretion of the European brown frog Rana arvalis inhabiting the Moscow region in Russia. Ranatuerins, considered previously a unique feature of the North American species, as well as a new melittin‐related peptide, are worth special mention. The developed approach was previously successfully used for the identification of peptides in the skin secretion of the Caucasian green frog Rana ridibunda. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass spectral study of the skin peptide of brown frog <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rana temporaria</Emphasis> from Zvenigorod population

Skin secretions of amphibian are an interesting source of biologically active peptides. The present study provides the profile of the skin secretions of the brown frog Rana temporaria from Zvenigorod population (Russia). Sequencing of the skin secretion components has been carried out on an ion cyclotron resonance instrument with electrospray ionization and two methods of fragmentation activation, collisional activation and electron capture. For sequencing of the peptides containing intermolecular C-terminal disulfide cycle two methods of disulfide bond opening have been used: reduction with subsequent alkylation of the free thiol groups and oxidation with performic acid with the formation of sulfo-acid groups. The peptide profile of Rana temporaria studied by a complex mass spectral method has been compared with the data for the frogs of other European populations of this species. For the first time we have revealed ornithokinin-antagonist of the ornithokinin receptor-in skin secretions of amphibians.     

Products of Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of alpha-synuclein fragments containing M1-D2 and H50 residues in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) of proteins is mainly a site-specific process in which one or a few amino acids at metal-binding sites on the protein are preferentially oxidized. The oxidation of proteins by MCO can lead to oxidation of amino acid residue side chains, cleavage of the peptide bonds and formation of covalent protein-protein cross-linked derivatives. In an attempt to elucidate the products of the copper(II)-catalyzed oxidation of the 29-56, M29-D30-56 and Ac-M29-D30-56 fragments of alpha-synuclein, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) methods and Cu(II)/hydrogen peroxide as a model oxidizing system were employed. The peptide solution (0.50 mM) was incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 h with metal : peptide : hydrogen peroxide 1 : 1 : 4 molar ratio in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Oxidation targets for all studied peptides are the histidine residues coordinated to the metal ions. For the M29-D30-56 and Ac-M29-D30-56 peptides the oxidation of the methionine residue to methionine sulfoxide and sulfone is observed. The cleavage of the peptide bond M29-D30 for the M29-D30-56 peptide was detected as metal binding residues. The fragmentations of the M29-D30-56 peptide near the Lys residues were observed supporting the participation of this (Lys) residue in the coordination of the copper(II) ions.     

Synthesis of reversible cyclic peptides

A novel approach for the synthesis of cyclic peptides that can exist in either linear or cyclized conformations is described. Synthesis of the peptides was achieved via a modified solid phase methodology. The reversible linear/cyclized (i.e., open/closed) states are controlled via the reduction/oxidation of a disulfide bond incorporated into the backbone of the peptide chain.     

Synthesis of an olefin-containing cyclic peptide using the solid-phase Horner-Emmons reaction

Linear and cyclic olefin peptides containing the substrate sequence for human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) were efficiently synthesized on a solid support using the Horner-Emmons reaction. The precursor peptide aldehyde was prepared by oxidation of the corresponding peptide alcohol with Dess-Martin periodinane. The oxidation reaction proceeded quantitatively on a cross-linked ethoxylate acrylate resin (CLEAR) support instead of a polystyrene-based support. Cyclization on the solid support was achieved via an amide bond formation mediated by EDC/HOAt to yield a single major product. The linear olefin peptide was cleaved by HTLV-1 protease at the scissile site, whereas the cyclic olefin peptide functions as a competitive inhibitor rather than a substrate.     

Desorption/ionization efficiency of peptides containing disulfide bonds in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

In order to elucidate the role of desorption/ionization efficiency of peptides in MALDI-MS, we focused on peptides with disulfide bonds, which form a rigid tertiary structure. We synthesized seven sets of peptides with one disulfide bond (oxytocin, somatostatin, [Arg(8)]-vasopressin, [Arg(8)]-vasotocin, cortistatin, melanin-concentrating hormone, urotensin II-related peptide) and five sets of peptides with two disulfide bonds (tertiapin, α-conotoxin GI, α-conotoxin ImI, α-conotoxin MI and α-conotoxin SI). Each peptide set consisted of three peptides: the oxidized form (S-S type), the reduced form (SH type), and an internal standard peptide in which all cysteine residues were substituted with alanine residues. In the case of urotensin II-related peptide, tertiapin, α-conotoxin ImI and α-conotoxin MI, the reduced form showed higher desorption/ionization efficiency than the oxidized form. In contrast, the other peptides revealed higher desorption/ionization efficiency in the oxidized form relative to the reduced form. These results imply that a rigid structure of peptides formed by disulfide bonds does not correlate with desorption/ionization efficiency in MALDI-MS.     

Effects of disulfide linkages on gas-phase reactions of small multiply charged peptide ions

Multiply protonated ions of disulfide-intact and -reduced peptides were generated by electrospray ionization and studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The effects of disulfide bonds on gas-phase deprotonation reactions and hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange were investigated. Insight into conformations was gained from molecular dynamics calculations. For ions from three small peptides containing 9–14 amino acid residues, H/D exchange is more sensitive to changes in conformation than deprotonation. However, with both gas-phase reactions the more diffuse forms of the peptides (as determined by molecular modeling) react more readily. The effects of disulfide cleavage on the conformations and on the reactions were found to depend upon the sequence of the peptide. For [M + 3H]³⁺ of TGF-α (34–43), reduction of the disulfide linkage leads to a greatly extended structure and a dramatic increase in the rate and extent of H/D exchange. In contrast, [M + 2H]²⁺ of Arg⁸ -vasopressin becomes slightly more compact upon cleavage of the disulfide bond; these reduced ions are slower to react. For [M + 3H]³⁺ of somatostatin-14, reduction of the disulfide bond has little effect on conformation or gas-phase reactivity. Overall, these results indicate that there is no general rule on how cleavage of a disulfide bond will effect a peptide ion’s gas-phase reactivity.     

The relative charge ratio between C and N atoms in amide bond acts as a key factor to determine peptide fragment efficiency in different charge states

The influence of charge state on the peptide dissociation behavior in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is worthy of discussion. Comparative studies of singly- and doubly-protonated peptide molecules are performed to explore the effect and mechanism of charge state on peptide fragmentation. In view of the charge-directed cleavage of protonated peptides described in the mobile proton model, radiolytic oxidation was applied to change the charge distribution of peptides but retain the sequence. Experimental studies of collision energy-dependent fragmentation efficiencies coupled with quantum chemical calculations indicated that the cleavage of ARRA and its side-chain oxidation products with oxygen atoms added followed a trend that doubly-protonated peptides fragment more easily than singly-protonated forms, while the oxidation product with the guanidine group deleted showed the opposite trend. By analyzing the charge distribution around the amide bonds, we found that the relative charge ratios between C and N atoms (Q_C/Q_N) in the amide bonds provided a reasonable explanation for peptide fragmentation efficiencies. An increase of the Q_C/Q_N value of the amide bond means that a peptide fragments more easily, and vice versa. The results described in this paper provide an experimental and calculation strategy for predicting peptide fragmentation efficiency.     

Specific cleavage at peptide backbone Cα-C and CO-N bonds during matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization in-source decay mass spectrometry with 5-nitrosalicylic acid as the matrix

The use of 5-nitrosalicylic acid (5-NSA) as a matrix for in-source decay (ISD) of peptides during matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is described herein. Mechanistically, the decay process is initiated by a hydrogen abstraction from a peptide backbone amide nitrogen by 5-NSA. Hydrogen abstraction results in formation of an oxidized peptide containing a radical amide nitrogen. Subsequently, the C(α)-C bond N-terminal to the peptide bond is cleaved to form an a·/x fragment pair. The C(α)-C bonds C-terminal to Gly residues were less susceptible to cleavage than were those of other residues. C(α)-C bonds N-terminal to Pro and Sar residues were not cleaved by the aforementioned mechanism; instead, after hydrogen abstraction from a Pro or Sar C(α)-H bond, the peptide bond N-terminal to the Pro was cleaved yielding b- and y-series ions. We also show that fragments produced by MALDI 5-NSA-induced ISD were formed independently of the ionization process.     

Electrospray low energy CID and MALDI PSD fragmentations of protonated sulfinamide cross-linked peptides

Murine S100A8 (A8) is a major cytoplasmic neutrophil protein and is converted to novel oxidation products containing Cys-epsilon amino-Lys sulfinamide cross-links and Met-sulfoxide by the neutrophil oxidant HOCl. Seven products were separated using RP-HPLC, with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) masses after deconvolution of 10,354, 10,388, +/- 1, and 20,707, +/- 3 Da, and all were resistant to reduction by dithiothreitol. The major products with masses of 10,354 Da contained Cys41-Lys34/35 intramolecular cross-links. Additional isomeric products with identical masses (10,354 Da) were isolated and peptide mapping and ESI/MS indicated that Cys41 forms covalent sulfinamide cross-links with either Lys6, Lys76, Lys83, or Lys87 present in A8. Electrospray low energy collisionally induced (CID) spectra of multiply-charged AspN digest peptides with sulfinamide cross-links contained characteristic fragmentations that corresponded to simple cleavage of the nitrogen-sulfur bond with charge retention on either of the fragment ions, allowing conformation of cross-linked peptides. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) post source decay spectra of [M + H] + ions of the same sulfinamide-containing cross-linked peptides fragment similarly, but additional facile fragmentation reactions corresponding to formation of a protonated peptide containing de-hydroalanine were attributed to cleavage of the carbon-sulfur bond. In addition, lose of methanesulfenic acid from Met-sulfoxide was observed. A sulfinamide-containing adduct was isolated after incubation of the A8/HOCl reaction mixture with Lys or alpha N-acetyl Lys with masses of 10,500 or 10,542 Da. ESI/MS/MS and MALDI/post decay source (PSD) analysis of A8(32)-(57)-sulfinamide showed the same characteristic fragmentations as those in the sulfinamide cross-linked peptides, confirming the Cys41-Lys sulfinamide cross-link and suggesting that peptide-peptide sulfinamides may all fragment similarly, allowing ready identification of these cross-links in proteins from more complex biological materials.     

Rapid sequencing of a peptide containing a single disulfide bond using high-energy collision-induced dissociation

A peptide containing a single disulfide bond was sequenced using high-energy collision-induced dissociation (HE-CID) in conjunction with a high mass resolution time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer equipped with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization source. This mass spectrometer, which has spiral ion trajectory, allowed both high mass resolution and high precursor ion selectivity. It is difficult to obtain sufficient product ions from peptides containing disulfide bonds using HE-CID due to the single collision in the gas phase. To compensate for insufficient dissociation, the disulfide bond was cleaved via an in-source reduction process using 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, a reducing matrix. After applying the reduction in the ionization, subsequent sequencing using HE-CID provided the detailed structural information of the peptide containing the single disulfide bond.     

Insights into the mechanism of O₂ formation and release from the Mn₄O₄L₆ "cubane" cluster

To probe photoinduced water oxidation catalyzed by the Mn?O?L? cubane clusters, we have computationally studied the mechanism and controlling factors of the O? formation from the [Mn?O?L?] catalyst, 6. It was demonstrated that dissociation of an L = H?PO?? ligand from 6 facilitates the direct O-O bond formation that proceeds with a 28.3 (33.4) kcal/mol rate-determining energy barrier at the transition state TS1. This step (the O-O single bond formation) of the reaction is a two-electron oxidation/reduction process, during which two oxo ligands are transformed into to μ2:η2-O?2? unit, and two ("distal") Mn centers are reduced from the 4+ to the 3+ oxidation state. Next two-electron oxidation/reduction occurs by "dancing" of the resulted O?2? fragment between the Mn1 and Mn2/Mn(2')-centers, keeping its strong coordination to the Mn(1')-center. As a result of this four-electron oxidation/reduction process Mn centers of the Mn?-core of I transform from {Mn1(III)-Mn(1')(III)-Mn2(IV)-Mn(2')(IV)} to {Mn1(II)-Mn(1')(II)-Mn2(III)-Mn(2')(III)} in IV. In other words, upon O? formation in cationic complex [Mn?O?L?](+), I, all four Mn-centers are reduced by one electron each. The overall reaction I → TS1 → II → III → TS2 → IV → TS3 → V → VI + O? is found to be exothermic by 15.4 (10.5) kcal/mol. We analyze the lowest spin states and geometries of all reactants, intermediates, transition states, and products of the targeted reaction.     

Investigation of some biologically relevant redox reactions using electrochemical mass spectrometry interfaced by desorption electrospray ionization

Recently we have shown that, as a versatile ionization technique, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) can serve as a useful interface to combine electrochemistry (EC) with mass spectrometry (MS). In this study, the EC/DESI-MS method has been further applied to investigate some aqueous phase redox reactions of biological significance, including the reduction of peptide disulfide bonds and nitroaromatics as well as the oxidation of phenothiazines. It was found that knotted/enclosed disulfide bonds in the peptides apamin and endothelin could be electrochemically cleaved. Subsequent tandem MS analysis of the resulting reduced peptide ions using collision-induced dissociation (CID) and electron-capture dissociation (ECD) gave rise to extensive fragment ions, providing a fast protocol for sequencing peptides with complicated disulfide bond linkages. Flunitrazepam and clonazepam, a class of nitroaromatic drugs, are known to undergo reduction into amines which was proposed to involve nitroso and N-hydroxyl intermediates. Now in this study, these corresponding intermediate ions were successfully intercepted and their structures were confirmed by CID. This provides mass spectrometric evidence for the mechanism of the nitro to amine conversion process during nitroreduction, an important redox reaction involved in carcinogenesis. In addition, the well-known oxidation reaction of chlorpromazine was also examined. The putative transient one-electron transfer product, the chlorpromazine radical cation (m/z 318), was captured by MS, for the first time, and its structure was also verified by CID. In addition to these observations, some features of the DESI-interfaced electrochemical mass spectrometry were discussed, such as simple instrumentation and the lack of background signal. These results further demonstrate the feasibility of EC/DESI-MS for the study of the biology-relevant redox chemistry and would find applications in proteomics and drug development research.     

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry sequencing of novel skin peptides from Ranid frogs containing disulfide bridges

Tandem mass spectrometry sequencing, as well as Edman sequencing of peptides belonging to the Rana genus, represents a difficult task due to the presence of a disulfide bridge at the C-terminus and their rather high molecular masses (over 2000 Da). The present study throws light upon the sequence of three rather long peptides (more than 20 amino acid residues each) isolated from the skin secretion of Russian frogs, Rana ridibunda and Rana arvalis. This novel aspect involves the fact that the sequences (including two sequences established de novo) were determined exclusively by means of mass spectrometry. A combination of electron capture dissociation (ECD) and collision-induced dissociaiton (CID) data accompanied by exact mass measurements (LTQ Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer) facilitated reaching the goal. To overcome the difficulty dealing with disulphide bridges ("Rana box"), reduction of the S-S bond with dithiotreitol followed by derivatization of Cys residues with iodoacetamide was used. The sequence was determined using combined spectral data on y and b series of fragment ions. A multiple mass spectrometry (MS(3)) experiment was also used to elucidate the sequence inside the "Rana box" after cysteine derivatization. Exact mass measurements were used to differentiate between Lys and Gln residues, while characteristic losses of 29 and 43 Da (d and w fragment ions) in CID and ECD experiments allowed us to distinguish between Ile and Leu isomeric acids.     

The Influence of Molecular Dipole Moment on the Redox-Induced Reorganization of α-Helical Peptide Self-Assembled Monolayers: An Electrochemical SPR Investigation

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of ferrocene-labeled α-helical peptides were prepared on gold surfaces and studied using electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (EC-SPR). The leucine-rich peptides were synthesized with a cysteine sulfhydryl group either at the C- or N-terminus, enabling their immobilization onto gold surfaces with control of the direction of the molecular dipole moment. Two electroactive SAMs were studied, one in which all of the peptide dipole moments are oriented in the same direction (SAM1), and the other in which the peptide dipole moment of one peptide is aligned in the opposite direction to that of its surrounding peptide molecules (SAM2). Cyclic voltammetry combined with SPR measurements revealed that SAM reorientations concomitant with the oxidation of the ferrocene label were more significant in SAM2 than in SAM1. The substantially greater change in the peptide film thickness in the case of SAM2 is attributed to the electrostatic repulsion between the electrogenerated ferrocinium moiety and the positively charged gold surface. The greater permeability of SAM1 to electrolyte anions, on the other hand, appears to effectively neutralize this electrostatic repulsion. The film thickness change in SAM2 was estimated to be 0.25 ± 0.05 nm using numerical simulation. The timescale of the redox-induced SPR changes was established by chronoamperometry and time-resolved SPR measurements, followed by fitting of the SPR response to a stretched exponential function. The time constants measured for the anodic process were 16 and 6 ms for SAM1 and SAM2 respectively, indicating that the SAM thickness changes are notably fast.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-post source decay fragmentation of cystine- containing amphibian peptides with novel cysteine tags

Long disulphide-containing peptides brevinins 1E and 2Ec from the skin secretion of the frog Rana ridibunda were reduced and alkylated with ten novel and three known derivatizing agents. Nine of novel reagents are maleimide derivatives. The peptides were also reduced with DTT directly onto the MALDI target without alkylation. Modified samples were subjected to MALDI-PSD study. Procedures, fragmentation patterns, fragment ion signal abundances and sequence coverage for two peptides modified with thirteen tags (or on-plate reduced) are described. The fast on-plate procedure for reduction/alkylation was applied to Rana ridibunda crude secretion, providing intensive signals of derivatized peptides. The corresponding ions may be used for the MS/MS sequencing procedure.     

氯化血红素催化氧化巯基形成二硫键

对氯化血红素催化氧化巯基形成二硫键的反应进行了研究,发现N,N-二异丙基乙胺(DIEA)的加入可以提高氯化血红素的催化活性,并降低其在氧化过程中的自聚现象.在室温及少量DIEA存在下,将氯化血红素和巯基乙酸甲酯按摩尔比1∶4混合于p H=8.0的水溶液中,敞口搅拌反应20 min,可以催化空气氧化90%的巯基乙酸甲酯形成相应的分子间二硫键产物.该催化氧化体系还可应用于多肽合成中,在相同条件下,只需2 h即可完成还原型催产素和利那洛肽的氧化环合,生成高产率的催产素和利那洛肽环肽.与传统的氧化方法相比,氯化血红素催化氧化的方法具有高效、环保的优点,为多肽合成中二硫键的形成提供了一种新方法.     

Fragmentation of protonated ions of peptides containing cysteine,cysteine sulfinic acid,and cysteine sulfonic acid

The oxidation of the sulfhydryl group in cysteine to sulfenic acid, sulfinic acid, and sulfonic acid in proteins is important in a number of enzymatic processes. In this study we examined the fragmentation of four peptides containing cysteine, cysteine sulfinic acid (Cys-SO(2)H), and cysteine sulfonic acid (Cys-SO(3)H) in an ion-trap mass spectrometer. Our results show that the presence of a Cys-SO(2)H in a peptide leads to preferential cleavage of the amide bond at the C-terminal side of the oxidized cysteine residue. The results are important for the determination of the site of the cysteine oxidation and might be useful for the sequencing of cysteine-containing peptides.     

Electrochemical oxidation and cleavage of peptides analyzed with on-line mass spectrometric detection

An on-line electrochemistry/electrospray mass spectrometry system (EC/MS) is described that allows fast analysis of the oxidation products of peptides. A range of peptides was oxidized in an electrochemical cell by application of a potential ramp from 0 to 1.5 V during passage of the sample. Electrochemical oxidation of peptides was found to occur readily when tyrosine was present. Tyrosine was found to be oxidized between 0.5 and 1.0 V to various oxidation products, including peptide fragments formed by hydrolysis at the C-terminal side of tyrosine. The results confirm earlier knowledge on the mechanisms and reaction products of chemical and electrochemical peptide oxidation. Methionine residues are also readily oxidized, but do not induce peptide cleavage. At potentials higher than about 1.1 V, additional oxidation products were observed in some peptides, including loss of 28 Da from the C-terminus and dimerization. The tyrosine-specific cleavage reaction suggests a possible use of the EC/MS system as an on-line protein digestion and peptide mapping system. In addition, the system can be used to distinguish phosphorylated from unphosphorylated tyrosine residues. Four forms of the ZAP-70 peptide ALGADDSYYTAR with both, either or neither tyrosine phosphorylated were subjected to a 0-1.5 V potential ramp. Oxidation of, and cleavage adjacent to, tyrosine was observed exclusively at unphosphorylated tyrosine residues.     

Investigation of skin secretory peptidome of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rana lessonae</Emphasis> frog by mass spectrometry

Amphibian skin secretion represents a cerain scientific interest as a source of biologically active natural peptides. In the present research skin peptidome of wide-spread European frog Rana lessonae (Camerano, 1882) was studied for the first time ever. Peptide sequencing was accomplished with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer in collision-induced and electron capture dissociation modes. A portion of amphibian peptides contains intramolecular C-terminal disulfide cycle which obstructs mass spectrometric sequencing. Two methods were utilized to overcome this difficulty: reduction with dithiotreithol followed by thiol group alkylation and oxidation into sulfonic acid groups with performic acid. Integrated approach employed in the present study allowed the identification of 49 peptides (of 6 to 37 amino acid residues), including 19 novel species.