集成化蛋白质组定量分析平台的构建及应用

为提高蛋白质组定量分析的准确度、通量和自动化程度,构建了由微升级混合离子交换色谱、亲水型固定化酶反应器（hIMER）和纳升级反相色谱-电喷雾串级质谱（nanoRPLC-ESI-MS/MS）组成的集成化蛋白质定量分析平台。该平台实现了二甲基化标记蛋白质样品在线分离、酶解、肽段分离鉴定和定量分析。采用质量比为1：1的轻、重标记的蛋白质样品考察该平台的定量性能,发现蛋白质水平二甲基化标记效率为90%;蛋白质经hIMER在线酶解10 min产生的漏切及酶解产物在hIMER柱上的非特异性吸附对定量准确度的影响较小,所有定量到的重/轻标记的蛋白质质量比的平均值为1.01。最后将该平台应用于小鼠腹水型肝癌淋巴道高、低转移细胞系差异蛋白质的分析,发现了12种蛋白质在高转移细胞系中低表达,15种蛋白质在高转移细胞系中高表达。以上结果证明了该平台可以实现高准确度和高通量的蛋白质组定量分析。     

基于共价色谱分离的含半胱氨酸肽段富集策略

多维色谱分离、串联质谱分析技术已在蛋白质组研究中得到广泛应用。然而生物样品的蛋白质以及全酶切肽段具有高度的复杂性,这严重干扰了蛋白质高通量、规模化的分析。通过标签肽段富集进行样品预分离可以降低体系的复杂程度。本文建立了一种基于共价色谱技术选择性分离富集含半胱氨酸肽的方法,从而降低了样品体系的复杂程度。首先以牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的酶切肽段为模型,对富集条件进行了优化和考察,并在此基础上通过5种蛋白质酶切肽段混合物的富集对该方法进行了验证。结果证明此方法的重现性好,富集效率高,富集特异性好,能有效地富集鉴定含半胱氨酸肽段。所建立的方法在复杂体系的蛋白质组研究中具有广泛的应用前景,为复杂样品的蛋白质高通量、自动化、规模化鉴定和定量研究提供了实用技术。     

用非离子去污剂提高胶内酶切效率的初探

在蛋白质组学研究中,蛋白质混合物样品通常采用二维凝胶电泳分离,然后用生物质谱鉴定,其中蛋白质的胶内酶切是关键的一步,它对获得的数据的质量和鉴定结果有较大的影响。本研究旨在改进胶内酶切方法,拟在胶内酶切时加入非离子去污剂,来提高胶内酶切的效率。实验结果表明非离子去污剂的去折叠和增加蛋白质的溶解度的作用明显缩短了蛋白质的酶切时间,提高了酶切效率,增加了肽质量峰的数量和质量,提高了蛋白鉴定的可信度。     

依赖色谱保留时间的智能化选择反应监测质谱方法的建立及其初步应用

建立了依赖色谱保留时间的智能化选择反应监测质谱方法,并与非依赖色谱保留时间的智能化选择反应监测质谱分析方法对不同体系(牛血清白蛋白酶切物、6种标准蛋白质混合物酶切物、腾冲嗜热菌蛋白提取液酶切物)的分析结果进行了系统比较。结果表明,引入色谱保留时间后的智能化选择反应监测质谱方法能够显著提高肽段及蛋白质的鉴定量,并且在复杂体系（如腾冲嗜热菌蛋白提取液酶切物）中效果尤为明显,鉴定到的肽段及蛋白质的覆盖率可分别达到目标肽段和蛋白质数量的89.62%和92.41%,并且灵敏度高、重复性好,能够实现对质荷比相同但保留时间有差异的肽段的准确鉴定。该方法将在复杂生物样本目标蛋白质组高通量、高灵敏度的鉴定、验证和确认中发挥独特作用。     

反相高效液相色谱双梯度洗脱分离肽混合物及质谱分析

复杂肽段混合物的有效分离是高覆盖率地鉴定蛋白质混合物的前提。“鸟枪法”(Shotgun)蛋白质组学研究策略通常采用蛋白酶切、二维液相色谱-串联质谱分析肽段混合物从而鉴定蛋白质,其中高效率地分离肽段混合物是关键步骤之一。本文通过pH梯度结合有机溶剂梯度的反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)进行一维液相色谱分离,按等时间间隔收集馏分并将一个梯度的前段的一个馏分与后段一个馏分混合,然后进行纳升级液相色谱-质谱联用(nanoRPLC-MS/MS)分析。将该方法应用于酵母蛋白质的分离和鉴定,实验结果为: 与常规的强阳离子色谱-反相液相色谱-质谱分离鉴定方法相比,采用pH梯度结合有机相梯度的RP-HPLC-RPLC-MS分离鉴定方法多鉴定到567个酵母蛋白质(簇,含有3035个唯一肽段);其中鉴定到肽段的pI分布范围为3.42～12.01,相对分子质量范围为587.67～3499.79;蛋白质的pI分布范围为3.82～12.19,相对分子质量范围为3446.55～432905。该结果表明这种方法在复杂体系蛋白质组分离鉴定中具有明显的优势,在蛋白质组学研究中有较好的应用前景。     

肽段固相等电聚焦结合液相色谱-质谱联用技术分析鼠肝蛋白质

利用肽段固相胶条等电聚焦技术对大鼠鼠肝组织蛋白质酶解产物进行预分离,反相色谱分离所得预分离组分后,用LTQ-Orbitrap MS进行分析。共鉴定到2039个蛋白质,包括18个乙酰化蛋白,其中4个乙酰化蛋白未被报道过。对这些蛋白进行了生物信息学分析。结果表明,将肽段等电聚焦与LC-MS/MS结合起来,是一种有效的蛋白质组学分析技术,适合于大规模蛋白质鉴定分析。     

液相色谱-质谱联用方法用于严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒结构蛋白质的研究

通过高效液相反相色谱、毛细管反相色谱-串联质谱联用方法对SARS病毒攻击细胞的研究,鉴定出了N、S和M3种SARS结构蛋白质,并准确测定了N蛋白质的分子量。由分子量结果和生物信息学推断的N蛋白质的理论分子量比较,可以确定N蛋白质不存在常见的磷酸化修饰和糖基化修饰或含量很低。进一步的研究表明：N蛋白质可能存在降解现象,其降解机理尚需探索。另外,通过对样品直接酶切后进行两维毛细管分离和串联质谱鉴定与对样品先进行分离,然后再进行毛细管反相分离-串联质谱鉴定方法比较,表明两种方法在蛋白质组学研究中各具优缺点,可根据不同目的选择使用。     

小分子表面活性剂在胶内酶切增效中的应用

本研究成功地将一种有机小分子表面活性剂RapiGest SF(Waters)用于改进电泳分离的蛋白质的鉴定效率。通过基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF-MS)的肽质量指纹谱,考察了酶切时间、加入量、加样次序、点靶方法对方法灵敏度、蛋白质鉴定率的影响。RapiGest SF浓度为0.5%~1%,在酶切之前加入可获得更多的肽段峰和更高的鉴定率。本方法考染体系的总灵敏度为332fmol,银染体系为664fmol。比较了RapiGest SF与MALDI-TOF-MS和电喷雾质谱(ESI-MS)兼容性,未观察到明显的负影响。方法操作简便,重复性较好,适合鉴定电泳分离的低丰度蛋白质。     

基于精氨酸酶切的蛋白质C端肽段富集方法的优化及评估北大核心CSCD

基于聚合物的蛋白质C端反向富集策略是用于研究蛋白质C端最为广泛的策略之一。目前,基于胰蛋白酶(trypsin)切割精氨酸残基C端(ArgC型酶切)的蛋白C端组学方法对蛋白质C端的鉴定深度仍有待提高。为解决这一问题,该研究对此方法进行了优化和评估:建立了基于“V型”过滤装置的“一锅法”富集流程,避免了副反应的干扰,缩短了样本的制备时间;优化了蛋白水平乙酰化反应条件,最大限度地降低了丝氨酸、苏氨酸、酪氨酸残基上的副反应,提高了肽段鉴定的可信性;优化了基于固相萃取枪头膜片过滤柱(StageTip柱)的样品分离过程,使C端肽段的鉴定深度增加至原来的4倍。通过以上优化,按照肽段水平错误发现率(FDR)<0.01、离子分数(ion score)≥20,且C端带有乙醇胺修饰的数据筛选标准,从人HEK 293T细胞中共鉴定出696个蛋白质C端。若仅要求肽段水平FDR<0.01,鉴定数目进一步增加到933个,这是基于聚合物富集策略的蛋白质C端组学方法所得的最大数据集之一。探索了胰蛋白酶镜像酶(LysargiNase)切割精氨酸残基N端(ArgN型酶切)与不同肽段N端衍生化修饰组合对蛋白质C端鉴定数目和种类的影响,“LysargiNase酶切+肽段N端乙酰化”新策略在原有“胰蛋白酶酶切+肽段N端二甲基化”策略的基础上将鉴定蛋白质C端的种类提升了47%。综上,该研究通过对基于Arg型酶切的蛋白C端组学方法的优化,提升了C端肽段的鉴定深度,扩大了C端肽段鉴定的覆盖范围。该方法将有望成为系统性表征蛋白质C端的有力工具。     

赖氨酸C端内切酶/胰蛋白酶顺序酶切在蛋白质组学样本制备中的评估

采用胰蛋白酶(Trypsin)单独酶切与不同酶量的赖氨酸C端内切酶(Lys-C/trypsin)顺序酶切两种方法,对293T细胞全蛋白样本进行酶解消化,系统评估Lys-C/trypsin顺序酶切与Trypsin单一酶切在蛋白质组学样本制备中的差别.实验结果表明,Lys-C/trypsin顺序酶切不仅能显著提高肽段和蛋白质的鉴定数目,同时降低遗漏K酶切位点的数目及比例,而且得到的肽段长度有利于质谱鉴定,蛋白质覆盖率明显提升.通过对酶的用量进行优化对比,最终确定了Lys-C/trypsin顺序酶切时酶的合理用量.本研究结果对提高蛋白质组学样本的制备质量以及蛋白质的序列鉴定覆盖度具有指导意义.     

Direct ampholyte-free liquid-phase isoelectric peptide focusing: application to the human serum proteome

In this study, we utilized a multidimensional peptide separation strategy combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for the identification of proteins in human serum. After enzymatically digesting serum with trypsin, the peptides were fractionated using liquid-phase isoelectric focusing (IEF) in a novel ampholyte-free format. Twenty IEF fractions were collected and analyzed by reversed-phase microcapillary liquid chromatography (microLC)-MS/MS. Bioinformatic analysis of the raw MS/MS spectra resulted in the identification of 844 unique peptides, corresponding to 437 proteins. This study demonstrates the efficacy of ampholyte-free peptide autofocusing, which alleviates peptide losses in ampholyte removal strategies. The results show that the separation strategy is effective for high-throughput characterization of proteins from complex proteomic mixtures.     

Proteome analysis using isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradient gels followed by mass spectrometry

Over the past several years, a large effort has been focused on improvements of two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis-based proteomics technology, and on development of novel approaches for proteome analysis. Here, we describe the application of an alternative strategy for the analysis of complex proteomes. The strategy combines isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradient strips (in-gel IEF), mass spectrometry (MS), and bioinformatics. A protein mixture is separated by in-gel IEF, and the entire strip is cut into a set of gel sections. Proteins in each gel section are digested with trypsin, and the tryptic peptides are subjected to liquid chromatography-nanoelectrospray-quadrupole ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The LC-ESI-MS/MS data are used to identify the proteins through searches of a protein sequence database. Using this in-gel IEF-LC-MS/MS strategy, we have identified 127 proteins from a human pituitary. This study demonstrates the potential of the in-gel IEF-LC-MS/MS approach for analyses of complex mammalian proteomes.     

Microfabricated isoelectric focusing device for direct electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

A novel microfabricated device for isoelectric focusing (IEF) incorporating an optimized electrospray ionization (ESI) tip was constructed on polycarbonate plates using laser micromachining. The IEF microchip incorporated a separation channel (50 micro x 30 micro x 16 cm), three fluid connectors, and two buffer reservoirs. Electrical potentials used for IEF focusing and electrospray were applied through platinum electrodes placed in the buffer reservoirs, which were isolated from the separation channel by porous membranes. Direct ESI-mass spectrometry (MS) using electrosprays produced directly from a sharp emitter "tip" on the microchip was evaluated. The results indicated that this design can produce a stable electrospray and that performance was further improved and made more flexible with the assistance of a sheath gas and sheath liquid. Error analysis of the spectral data showed that the standard deviation in signal intensity for an analyte peak was less than approximately 5% over 3 h. The production of stable electrosprays directly from microchip IEF device represents a step towards easily fabricated microanalytical devices. Microchannel IEF separations of protein mixtures were demonstrated for uncoated polycarbonate microchips. Direct microchannel IEF-ESI-MS was demonstrated using the microfabricated chip with an ion-trap mass spectrometer for characterization of protein mixtures.     

A miniaturized multichamber solution isoelectric focusing device for separation of protein digests

A miniaturized multichamber device was constructed for solution isoelectric focusing (IEF) separation of complex peptide mixtures. The system, based on immobilized pH gels, consisted of 96 minichambers ( approximately 75 nuL each) arranged in eight rows. Neighboring chambers in a given row were separated by short glass tubes (4 mm inner diameter, 3 mm long), within which Immobiline gels of specific pH values were polymerized. During focusing, the device was sandwiched between two supporting blocks incorporating the reservoirs for anolyte and catholyte. In principle, multiple samples could be simultaneously fractionated, each separated into 12 fractions of various pI ranges. A variety of standard peptide mixtures and tryptic digests of proteins were separated by IEF using this device, and the fractions were characterized by mass spectrometry. For a codigested nine-protein mixture, both the total number of peptides identified and the average sequence coverage were similar to the results of ion-exchange chromatography (IEC), according to matrix assisted laser/desorption/ionization--time of flight (MALDI-TOF) data. The IEF separation provided concentrated and desalted fractions, suitable for an additional separation liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis (LC, CE) or mass spectrometry (MS) detection without additional sample cleanup. High loading capacity was achieved for the miniaturized multichamber IEF device. Importantly, a linear correlation was found between the experimentally determined and calculated pI values of peptides.     

MALDI-TOF-TOF鉴定IPG IEF分离的蛋白质

K562细胞是一株分化差、恶性程度高的人白血病细胞。研究表明,在一些分化诱导剂的作用下,细胞可以向红细胞系、粒细胞系和巨K562核细胞系方向分化成熟,并表现出相应血细胞类型的成熟标志。用一维固相pH梯度等电聚焦电泳(IPGIEF)分离K562细胞总蛋白质,其每一条带常包含多个蛋白质,难以用肽指纹谱技术来鉴定。有人探索过基于液相色谱的串联质谱技术来鉴定混合蛋白质,但灵敏度上存在一些问题。本文尝试采用基质辅助激光解吸附电离-串联飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF-TOF)分析一维电泳条带,鉴定了K562细胞中部分可能与白血病相关的蛋白质。     

Surface modified capillary electrophoresis combined with in solution isoelectric focusing and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS: A gel-free multidimensional electrophoresis approach for proteomic profiling—Exemplified on human follicular fluid

Development of miniaturized analytical tools continues to be of great interest to face the challenges in proteomic analysis of complex biological samples such as human body fluids. In the light of these challenges, special emphasis is put on the speed and simplicity of newly designed technological approaches as well as the need for cost efficiency and low sample consumption. In this study, we present an alternative multidimensional bottom-up approach for proteomic profiling for fast, efficient and sensitive protein analysis in complex biological matrices. The presented setup was based on sample pre-fractionation using microscale in solution isoelectric focusing (IEF) followed by tryptic digestion and subsequent capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled off-line to matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS/MS). For high performance CE-separation, PolyE-323 modified capillaries were applied to minimize analyte–wall interactions. The potential of the analytical setup was demonstrated on human follicular fluid (hFF) representing a typical complex human body fluid with clinical implication. The obtained results show significant identification of 73 unique proteins (identified at 95% significance level), including mostly acute phase proteins but also protein identities that are well known to be extensively involved in follicular development.     

Two-dimensional gel isoelectric focusing

Two-dimensional gel isoelectric focusing (2-D gel IEF) is presented as the combination of the same separation method used consecutively in two directions of the same gel. In this new method, after completion of IEF process in the first dimension the gel was cut into the separate strips, each containing selected analytes together with the appropriate part of the original broad pH gradient, and the strips were rotated by 90 degrees (with regard to the first IEF) and left to diffuse overnight. After diffusion the strips were subjected to the second IEF. During the second IEF, the corresponding narrow part of pH gradient in each strip was restored again, however, now along the strip. The progress of the separation process can be monitored visually by using colored low-molecular-weight isoelectric point (pI) markers loaded into the gel simultaneously with proteins. The unique properties of IEF, focusing and resolution power were enhanced by using the same technique twice. Two forms of beta-lactoglobulin (pI values 5.14 and 5.31, respectively) non-separated in the first IEF were successfully separated in the second dimension at relatively low voltage (330 V) with the resolution power comparable to the high-resolution gels requiring the high voltage during the run and long separation time. Glucose oxidase loaded as diluted solution into ten positions across the gel was finally focused into a single band during 2-D gel IEF. Since the first and second IEF are carried out on the same gel, no losses and contamination of analyte occur. The suggested method can be used for separation/fractionation of complex biological mixtures, similarly as other multidimensional separation techniques applied in proteomics, and can be followed by further processing, e.g., mass spectrometry analysis. The focusing properties of IEF could be useful especially in separation of mixtures, where components are at low concentration levels.     

Protein fractionation in a multicompartment device using Off-Gel isoelectric focusing

A new protein fractionation technique based on off-gel isoelectric focusing (IEF) is presented, where the proteins are separated according to their isoelectric point (pI) in a multiwell device with the advantage to be directly recovered in solution for further analysis. The protein fractions obtained with this technique have then been characterized with polymer nanoelectrospray for mass spectrometry (MS) analyses or with Bioanalyzer for mass identification. This methodology shows the possibility of developing alternatives to the classical two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. One species numerical simulation of the electric field distribution during off-gel separation is also presented in order to demonstrate the principle of the purification. Experiments with pI protein markers have been carried out in order to highlight the kinetics and the efficiency of the technique. Moreover, the resolution of the fractionation was shown to be 0.1 pH unit for the separation of beta-lactoglobulin A and B. In addition, the isoelectric fractionation of an Escherichia coli extract was performed in standard solubilization buffer to demonstrate the performances of the technique, notably for proteomics applications.     

Low-molecular-weight human serum proteome using ultrafiltration, isoelectric focusing, and mass spectrometry

Identification of the serum proteome is a daunting analytical task due to the complex nature of the sample which has an extremely large dynamic range of protein components. This report addresses this issue by using centrifugal ultrafiltration to enrich the low-molecular-weight (LMW) serum proteome while decreasing the amount of abundant high-molecular-weight proteins. Reduction of the complex nature of the sample was achieved by fractionation of the LMW serum proteins using solution-phase isoelectric focusing (IEF). Multiple enzyme digestions are performed and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Analysis of the tandem mass spectra resulted in the identification of 262 proteins belonging to LMW serum proteome. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of this methodology to isolate and identify LMW proteins with improved confidence in the MS data acquired. In addition, our methodology can be combined with other multidimensional chromatography techniques performed on the peptide level to increase the number of identified proteins.     

Coupling Electrochemistry with Probe Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A new coupling of electrochemistry with mass spectrometry (MS) using probe electrospray ionization (PESI) is presented. Due to the high salt tolerance of PESI, the detection of electrochemical reaction products in room‐temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) is realized for the first time. Furthermore, PESI‐MS allows the analysis of electrochemical reaction products on different or multiple electrode surfaces. In addition, peptides and proteins fractionated through isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the presence of an external electric field can also be directly analyzed by using PESI‐MS, suggesting a new and rapid characterization means for the IEF technique. This study reveals the versatility of EC/PESI‐MS, which could have an impact in electrochemistry and bioanalysis fields.