Acetyl-phosphate is a critical determinant of lysine acetylation in E. coli

Status of large-scale analysis of post-translational modifications by mass spectrometry

Cellular function can be controlled through the gene expression program, but often protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) provide a more precise and elegant mechanism. Key functional roles of specific modification events—for instance, during the cell cycle—have been known for decades, but only in the past 10 years has mass-spectrometry-(MS)-based proteomics begun to reveal the true extent of the PTM universe. In this overview for the special PTM issue of Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, we take stock of where MS-based proteomics stands in the large-scale analysis of protein modifications. For many PTMs, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, glycosylation, and acetylation, tens of thousands of sites can now be confidently identified and localized in the sequence of the protein. The quantification of PTM levels between different cellular states is likewise established, with label-free methods showing particular promise. It is also becoming possible to determine the absolute occupancy or stoichiometry of PTM sites on a large scale. Powerful software for the bioinformatic analysis of thousands of PTM sites has been developed. However, a complete inventory of sites has not been established for any PTM, and this situation will persist into the foreseeable future. Furthermore, although PTM coverage by MS-based methods is impressive, it still needs to be improved, especially in tissues and in clinically relevant systems. The central challenge for the field is to develop streamlined methods for determining biological functions for the myriad of modifications now known to exist.

Identification of lysine succinylation substrates and the succinylation regulatory enzyme CobB in Escherichia coli

Lysine succinylation is a newly identified protein post-translational modification pathway present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. However, succinylation substrates and regulatory enzyme(s) remain largely unknown, hindering the biological study of this modification. Here we report the identification of 2,580 bacterial lysine succinylation sites in 670 proteins and 2,803 lysine acetylation (Kac) sites in 782 proteins, representing the first lysine succinylation dataset and the largest Kac dataset in wild-type E. coli. We quantified dynamic changes of the lysine succinylation and Kac substrates in response to high glucose. Our data showed that high-glucose conditions led to more lysine-succinylated proteins and enhanced the abundance of succinyllysine peptides more significantly than Kac peptides, suggesting that glucose has a more profound effect on succinylation than on acetylation. We further identified CobB, a known Sir2-like bacterial lysine deacetylase, as the first prokaryotic desuccinylation enzyme. The identification of bacterial CobB as a bifunctional enzyme with lysine desuccinylation and deacetylation activities suggests that the eukaryotic Kac-regulatory enzymes may have enzymatic activities on various lysine acylations with very different structures. In addition, it is highly likely that lysine succinylation could have unique and more profound regulatory roles in cellular metabolism relative to lysine acetylation under some physiological conditions.

Further characterization of the target of a potential aptamer biomarker for pancreatic cancer: cyclophilin B and its posttranslational modifications

Posttranslational modifications on proteins can serve as useful biomarkers for disease. However, their discovery and detection in biological fluids is challenging. Aptamers are oligonucleotide ligands that demonstrate high affinity toward their target proteins and can discriminate closely related proteins with superb specificity. Previously, we generated a cyclophilin B aptamer (M9-5) that could discriminate sera from pancreatic cancer patients and healthy volunteers with high specificity and sensitivity. In our present work we further characterize the aptamer and the target protein, cyclophilin B, and demonstrate that the aptamer could discriminate between cyclophilin B expressed in human cells versus bacteria. Using mass-spectrometric analysis, we discovered post-translational modifications on cyclophilin B that might be responsible for the M9-5 selectivity. The ability to distinguish between forms of the same protein with differing post-translational modifications is an important advantage of aptamers as tools for identification and detection of biomarkers.

Lysine succinylation is a frequently occurring modification in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and extensively overlaps with acetylation

Recent studies have shown that lysines can be posttranslationally modified by various types of acylations. However, except for acetylation, very little is known about their scope and cellular distribution. We mapped thousands of succinylation sites in bacteria (E. coli), yeast (S. cerevisiae), human (HeLa) cells, and mouse liver tissue, demonstrating widespread succinylation in diverse organisms. A majority of succinylation sites in bacteria, yeast, and mouse liver were acetylated at the same position. Quantitative analysis of succinylation in yeast showed that succinylation was globally altered by growth conditions and mutations that affected succinyl-coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA) metabolism in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, indicating that succinylation levels are globally affected by succinyl-CoA concentration. We preferentially detected succinylation on abundant proteins, suggesting that succinylation occurs at a low level and that many succinylation sites remain unidentified. These data provide a systems-wide view of succinylation and its dynamic regulation and show its extensive overlap with acetylation.

Widespread and enzyme-independent Nε-acetylation and Nε-succinylation of proteins in the chemical conditions of the mitochondrial matrix

Alterations in mitochondrial protein acetylation are implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, mitochondrial disorders, and cancer. However, a viable mechanism responsible for the widespread acetylation in mitochondria remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the physiologic pH and acyl-CoA concentrations of the mitochondrial matrix are sufficient to cause dose- and time-dependent, but enzyme-independent acetylation and succinylation of mitochondrial and nonmitochondrial proteins in vitro. These data suggest that protein acylation in mitochondria may be a chemical event facilitated by the alkaline pH and high concentrations of reactive acyl-CoAs present in the mitochondrial matrix. Although these results do not exclude the possibility of enzyme-mediated protein acylation in mitochondria, they demonstrate that such a mechanism may not be required in its unique chemical environment. These findings may have implications for the evolutionary roles that the mitochondria-localized SIRT3 deacetylase and SIRT5 desuccinylase have in the maintenance of metabolic health.