Mass spectrometry-driven phosphoproteomics: patterning the systems biology mosaic

How Can Proteomics Help to Elucidate the Pathophysiological Crosstalk in Muscular Dystrophy and Associated Multi-System Dysfunction?

This perspective article is concerned with the question of how proteomics, which is a core technique of systems biology that is deeply embedded in the multi-omics field of modern bioresearch, can help us better understand the molecular pathogenesis of complex diseases. As an illustrative example of a monogenetic disorder that primarily affects the neuromuscular system but is characterized by a plethora of multi-system pathophysiological alterations, the muscle-wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy was examined. Recent achievements in the field of dystrophinopathy research are described with special reference to the proteome-wide complexity of neuromuscular changes and body-wide alterations/adaptations. Based on a description of the current applications of top-down versus bottom-up proteomic approaches and their technical challenges, future systems biological approaches are outlined. The envisaged holistic and integromic bioanalysis would encompass the integration of diverse omics-type studies including inter- and intra-proteomics as the core disciplines for systematic protein evaluations, with sophisticated biomolecular analyses, including physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry and histochemistry. Integrated proteomic findings promise to be instrumental in improving our detailed knowledge of pathogenic mechanisms and multi-system dysfunction, widening the available biomarker signature of dystrophinopathy for improved diagnostic/prognostic procedures, and advancing the identification of novel therapeutic targets to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Phosphoproteomic Approaches for Identifying Phosphatase and Kinase Substrates

Protein phosphorylation is a ubiquitous post-translational modification controlled by the opposing activities of protein kinases and phosphatases, which regulate diverse biological processes in all kingdoms of life. One of the key challenges to a complete understanding of phosphoregulatory networks is the unambiguous identification of kinase and phosphatase substrates. Liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and associated phosphoproteomic tools enable global surveys of phosphoproteome changes in response to signaling events or perturbation of phosphoregulatory network components. Despite the power of LC-MS/MS, it is still challenging to directly link kinases and phosphatases to specific substrate phosphorylation sites in many experiments. Here, we survey common LC-MS/MS-based phosphoproteomic workflows for identifying protein kinase and phosphatase substrates, noting key advantages and limitations of each. We conclude by discussing the value of inducible degradation technologies coupled with phosphoproteomics as a new approach that overcomes some limitations of current methods for substrate identification of kinases, phosphatases, and other regulatory enzymes.

Defining atherosclerotic plaque biology by mass spectrometry-based omics approaches

Atherosclerosis is the principal cause of vascular diseases and one of the leading causes of worldwide death. Even though several insights into its natural course, risk factors and interventions have been identified, it is still an ongoing global pandemic. Since the structure and biochemical composition of the plaques show high heterogeneity, a comprehensive understanding of the intraplaque composition, its microenvironment, and the mechanisms of the progression and instability across different vascular beds at their progression stages is crucial for better risk stratification and treatment modalities. Even though several cell-based studies, animal studies, and extensive multicentric population studies have been conducted concerning cardiovascular diseases for assessing the risk factors and plaque biology, the studies on human clinical samples are very limited. New novel approaches utilize samples from percutaneous coronary interventions, which could possibly gain more access to clinical samples at different stages of the diseases without complex invasive resections. As an emerging technological platform in disease discovery research, mass spectrometry-based omics technologies offer capabilities for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms linked to several vascular diseases. Here, we discuss the cellular and molecular processes of atherosclerosis, different mass spectrometry-based omics approaches, and the studies mostly done on clinical samples of atheroma plaque using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics approaches.

Evaluation of the Potential Risk of Analyzing Phosphopeptides with Easy-nLC 1200-Coupled Mass Spectrometers

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a major tool for the large-scale qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of protein phosphorylation in cells or tissues. The performance of LC is pivotal for the success of phosphoproteomics in both sensitivity and reproducibility. Here, we report that the widely used Easy-nLC 1200 has poor performance in analyzing phosphopeptides, particularly in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility, whereas its predecessor, Easy-nLC 1000, has a much better performance. Therefore, we suggest that Easy-nLC 1200 is not appropriate for LC-MS-based proteomics analysis for samples with a limited amount, particularly phosphopeptides from plants.

Leveraging Systems Immunology to Optimize Diagnosis and Treatment of Inborn Errors of Immunity

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are monogenic disorders that can cause diverse symptoms, including recurrent infections, autoimmunity and malignancy. While many factors have contributed, the increased availability of next-generation sequencing has been central in the remarkable increase in identification of novel monogenic IEI over the past years. Throughout this phase of disease discovery, it has also become evident that a given gene variant does not always yield a consistent phenotype, while variants in seemingly disparate genes can lead to similar clinical presentations. Thus, it is increasingly clear that the clinical phenotype of an IEI patient is not defined by genetics alone, but is also impacted by a myriad of factors. Accordingly, we need methods to amplify our current diagnostic algorithms to better understand mechanisms underlying the variability in our patients and to optimize treatment. In this review, we will explore how systems immunology can contribute to optimizing both diagnosis and treatment of IEI patients by focusing on identifying and quantifying key dysregulated pathways. To improve mechanistic understanding in IEI we must deeply evaluate our rare IEI patients using multimodal strategies, allowing both the quantification of altered immune cell subsets and their functional evaluation. By studying representative controls and patients, we can identify causative pathways underlying immune cell dysfunction and move towards functional diagnosis. Attaining this deeper understanding of IEI will require a stepwise strategy. First, we need to broadly apply these methods to IEI patients to identify patterns of dysfunction. Next, using multimodal data analysis, we can identify key dysregulated pathways. Then, we must develop a core group of simple, effective functional tests that target those pathways to increase efficiency of initial diagnostic investigations, provide evidence for therapeutic selection and contribute to the mechanistic evaluation of genetic results. This core group of simple, effective functional tests, targeting key pathways, can then be equitably provided to our rare patients. Systems biology is thus poised to reframe IEI diagnosis and therapy, fostering research today that will provide streamlined diagnosis and treatment choices for our rare and complex patients in the future, as well as providing a better understanding of basic immunology.

Pathological implication of protein post-translational modifications in cancer

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) profoundly influence protein functions and play crucial roles in essentially all cell biological processes. The diverse realm of PTMs and their crosstalk is linked to many critical signaling events involved in neoplastic transformation, carcinogenesis and metastasis. The pathological roles of various PTMs are implicated in all aspects of cancer hallmark functions, cancer metabolism and regulation of tumor microenvironment. Study of PTMs has become an important area in cancer research to understand cancer biology and discover novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. With a limited scope, this review attempts to discuss some PTMs of high frequency with recognized importance in cancer biology, including phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation, palmitoylation and ubiquitination, as well as their implications in clinical applications. These protein modifications are among the most abundant PTMs and profoundly implicated in carcinogenesis.

Multi-laboratory experiment PME11 for the standardization of phosphoproteome analysis

Global analysis of protein phosphorylation by mass spectrometry proteomic techniques has emerged in the last decades as a powerful tool in biological and biomedical research. However, there are several factors that make the global study of the phosphoproteome more challenging than measuring non-modified proteins. The low stoichiometry of the phosphorylated species and the need to retrieve residue specific information require particular attention on sample preparation, data acquisition and processing to ensure reproducibility, qualitative and quantitative robustness and ample phosphoproteome coverage in phosphoproteomic workflows. Aiming to investigate the effect of different variables in the performance of proteome wide phosphoprotein analysis protocols, ProteoRed-ISCIII and EuPA launched the Proteomics Multicentric Experiment 11 (PME11). A reference sample consisting of a yeast protein extract spiked in with different amounts of a phosphomix standard (Sigma/Merck) was distributed to 31 laboratories around the globe. Thirty-six datasets from 23 laboratories were analyzed. Our results indicate the suitability of the PME11 reference sample to benchmark and optimize phosphoproteomics strategies, weighing the influence of different factors, as well as to rank intra and inter laboratory performance.

Extensive regulation of enzyme activity by phosphorylation in Escherichia coli

Protein serine/threonine/tyrosine (S/T/Y) phosphorylation is an essential and frequent post-translational modification in eukaryotes, but historically has been considered less prevalent in bacteria because fewer proteins were found to be phosphorylated and most proteins were modified to a lower degree. Recent proteomics studies greatly expanded the phosphoproteome of Escherichia coli to more than 2000 phosphorylation sites (phosphosites), yet mechanisms of action were proposed for only six phosphosites and fitness effects were described for 38 phosphosites upon perturbation. By systematically characterizing functional relevance of S/T/Y phosphorylation in E. coli metabolism, we found 44 of the 52 mutated phosphosites to be functional based on growth phenotypes and intracellular metabolome profiles. By effectively doubling the number of known functional phosphosites, we provide evidence that protein phosphorylation is a major regulation process in bacterial metabolism. Combining in vitro and in vivo experiments, we demonstrate how single phosphosites modulate enzymatic activity and regulate metabolic fluxes in glycolysis, methylglyoxal bypass, acetate metabolism and the split between pentose phosphate and Entner-Doudoroff pathways through mechanisms that include shielding the substrate binding site, limiting structural dynamics, and disrupting interactions relevant for activity in vivo.

A proteome signature for acute incisional pain in dorsal root ganglia of mice

ABSTRACT

After surgery, acute pain is still managed insufficiently and may lead to short-term and long-term complications including chronic postsurgical pain and an increased prescription of opioids. Thus, identifying new targets specifically implicated in postoperative pain is of utmost importance to develop effective and nonaddictive analgesics. Here, we used an integrated and multimethod workflow to reveal unprecedented insights into proteome dynamics in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of mice after plantar incision (INC). Based on a detailed characterization of INC-associated pain-related behavior profiles, including a novel paradigm for nonevoked pain, we performed quantitative mass-spectrometry-based proteomics in DRG 1 day after INC. Our data revealed a hitherto unknown INC-regulated protein signature in DRG with changes in distinct proteins and cellular signaling pathways. In particular, we show the differential regulation of 44 protein candidates, many of which are annotated with pathways related to immune and inflammatory responses such as MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinases signaling. Subsequent orthogonal assays comprised multiplex Western blotting, bioinformatic protein network analysis, and immunolabeling in independent mouse cohorts to validate (1) the INC-induced regulation of immune/inflammatory pathways and (2) the high priority candidate Annexin A1. Taken together, our results propose novel potential targets in the context of incision and, therefore, represent a highly valuable resource for further mechanistic and translational studies of postoperative pain.

The Acute Stress Response in the Multiomic Era

Studying the stress response is a major pillar of neuroscience research not only because stress is a daily reality but also because the exquisitely fine-tuned bodily changes triggered by stress are a neuroendocrinological marvel. While the genome-wide changes induced by chronic stress have been extensively studied, we know surprisingly little about the complex molecular cascades triggered by acute stressors, the building blocks of chronic stress. The acute stress (or fight-or-flight) response mobilizes organismal energy resources to meet situational demands. However, successful stress coping also requires the efficient termination of the stress response. Maladaptive coping-particularly in response to severe or repeated stressors-can lead to allostatic (over)load, causing wear and tear on tissues, exhaustion, and disease. We propose that deep molecular profiling of the changes triggered by acute stressors could provide molecular correlates for allostatic load and predict healthy or maladaptive stress responses. We present a theoretical framework to interpret multiomic data in light of energy homeostasis and activity-dependent gene regulation, and we review the signaling cascades and molecular changes rapidly induced by acute stress in different cell types in the brain. In addition, we review and reanalyze recent data from multiomic screens conducted mainly in the rodent hippocampus and amygdala after acute psychophysical stressors. We identify challenges surrounding experimental design and data analysis, and we highlight promising new research directions to better understand the stress response on a multiomic level.

Conservation of metabolic regulation by phosphorylation and non-covalent small-molecule interactions

Here, we review extant observations of protein phosphorylation and small-molecule interactions in metabolism and ask which of their specific regulatory functions are conserved in Escherichia coli and Homo sapiens. While the number of phosphosites is dramatically higher in humans, the number of metabolite-protein interactions remains largely constant. Moreover, we found the regulatory logic of metabolite-protein interactions, and in many cases also the effector molecules, to be conserved. Post-translational regulation through phosphorylation does not appear to replace this regulation in human but rather seems to add additional opportunities for fine-tuning and more complex responses. The abundance of metabolite-protein interactions in metabolism, their conserved cross-species abundance, and the apparent conservation of regulatory logic across enormous phylogenetic distance demonstrate their relevance for maintaining cellular homeostasis in these ancient biological processes.

Combining Mass Spectrometry-Based Phosphoproteomics with a Network-Based Approach to Reveal FLT3-Dependent Mechanisms of Chemoresistance

FLT3 mutations are the most frequently identified genetic alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and are associated with poor clinical outcome, relapse and chemotherapeutic resistance. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying FLT3-dependent pathogenesis and drug resistance is a crucial goal of biomedical research. Given the complexity and intricacy of protein signaling networks, deciphering the molecular basis of FLT3-driven drug resistance requires a systems approach. Here we discuss how the recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS)-based (phospho) proteomics and multiparametric analysis accompanied by emerging computational approaches offer a platform to obtain and systematically analyze cell-specific signaling networks and to identify new potential therapeutic targets.

The rise of single-cell proteomics

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics comprehensively defines proteome expression patterns in thousands of cells majorly contributing to our current understanding of many biological processes. More recently, single-cell transcriptome and genome studies, however, have demonstrated overwhelming heterogeneity of tissues and cellular subpopulations. These studies have indicated different cellular functionality and identity, which are mainly driven by proteins and their posttranscriptional modifications. The rapidly emerging field of single-cell proteomics aims at complementing transcriptome and genome data by generating comparative protein expression profiles from individual cells. Recent developments demonstrated tremendous improvements in sample preparation workflows and MS instrumentation, quantifying over 1000 proteins from a single cell. Efficient and reproducible sample processing in conjunction with sensitive MS acquisition strategies will allow to further increase the proteome coverage of tissues with single-cell resolution. The required throughput and data reliability of such studies are still subject to further developments. Therefore, we herein discuss recent progress on specialized workflows and instrumentation next to advancements outside the field, which we expect to contribute to the development of comprehensive single-cell proteomics.

PamgeneAnalyzeR: open and reproducible pipeline for kinase profiling

 

Protein phosphorylation––catalyzed by protein kinases–is the most common post-translational modification. It increases the functional diversity of the proteome and influences various aspects of normal physiology and can be altered in disease states. High throughput profiling of kinases is becoming an essential experimental approach to investigate their activity and this can be achieved using technologies such as PamChip^® arrays provided by PamGene for kinase activity measurement. Here, we present ‘pamgeneAnalyzeR’, an R package developed as an alternative to the manual steps necessary to extract the data from PamChip^® peptide microarrays images in a reproducible and robust manner. The extracted data can be directly used for downstream analysis.

Availability and implementation

PamgeneAnalyzeR is implemented in R and can be obtained from https://github.com/amelbek/pamgeneAnalyzeR.

Phosphoproteomics reveals novel modes of function and inter-relationships among PIKKs in response to genotoxic stress

The DNA damage response (DDR) is a complex signaling network that relies on cascades of protein phosphorylation, which are initiated by three protein kinases of the family of PI3-kinase-related protein kinases (PIKKs): ATM, ATR, and DNA-PK. ATM is missing or inactivated in the genome instability syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). The relative shares of these PIKKs in the response to genotoxic stress and the functional relationships among them are central questions in the genome stability field. We conducted a comprehensive phosphoproteomic analysis in human wild-type and A-T cells treated with the double-strand break-inducing chemical, neocarzinostatin, and validated the results with the targeted proteomic technique, selected reaction monitoring. We also matched our results with 34 published screens for DDR factors, creating a valuable resource for identifying strong candidates for novel DDR players. We uncovered fine-tuned dynamics between the PIKKs following genotoxic stress, such as DNA-PK-dependent attenuation of ATM. In A-T cells, partial compensation for ATM absence was provided by ATR and DNA-PK, with distinct roles and kinetics. The results highlight intricate relationships between these PIKKs in the DDR.

Phosphoproteome and Proteome Sample Preparation from Mouse Tissues for Circadian Analysis

Recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative proteomics now allow the identification and quantification of deep proteomes and post-translational modifications (PTMs) in relatively short times. Therefore, in the last few years, this technology has proven successful in the circadian field to characterize temporal oscillations of the proteome and more recently PTMs in cellular systems and in tissues. In this chapter, we describe a robust and simple protocol, based on the EasyPhos workflow, to enable preparation of large number of proteomes and phosphoproteomes from mouse tissues for MS-based quantitative analysis. We additionally discuss computational methods to analyze proteome and phosphoproteome time series to determine circadian oscillations.

Insights from the First Phosphopeptide Challenge of the MS Resource Pillar of the HUPO Human Proteome Project

Mass spectrometry has greatly improved the analysis of phosphorylation events in complex biological systems and on a large scale. Despite considerable progress, the correct identification of phosphorylated sites, their quantification, and their interpretation regarding physiological relevance remain challenging. The MS Resource Pillar of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) Human Proteome Project (HPP) initiated the Phosphopeptide Challenge as a resource to help the community evaluate methods, learn procedures and data analysis routines, and establish their own workflows by comparing results obtained from a standard set of 94 phosphopeptides (serine, threonine, tyrosine) and their nonphosphorylated counterparts mixed at different ratios in a neat sample and a yeast background. Participants analyzed both samples with their method(s) of choice to report the identification and site localization of these peptides, determine their relative abundances, and enrich for the phosphorylated peptides in the yeast background. We discuss the results from 22 laboratories that used a range of different methods, instruments, and analysis software. We reanalyzed submitted data with a single software pipeline and highlight the successes and challenges in correct phosphosite localization. All of the data from this collaborative endeavor are shared as a resource to encourage the development of even better methods and tools for diverse phosphoproteomic applications. All submitted data and search results were uploaded to MassIVE (https://massive.ucsd.edu/) as data set MSV000085932 with ProteomeXchange identifier PXD020801.

Kinetic Trans-omic Analysis Reveals Key Regulatory Mechanisms for Insulin-Regulated Glucose Metabolism in Adipocytes

Insulin regulates glucose metabolism through thousands of regulatory mechanisms; however, which regulatory mechanisms are keys to control glucose metabolism remains unknown. Here, we performed kinetic trans-omic analysis by integrating isotope-tracing glucose flux and phosphoproteomic data from insulin-stimulated adipocytes and built a kinetic mathematical model to identify key allosteric regulatory and phosphorylation events for enzymes. We identified nine reactions regulated by allosteric effectors and one by enzyme phosphorylation and determined the regulatory mechanisms for three of these reactions. Insulin stimulated glycolysis by promoting Glut4 activity by enhancing phosphorylation of AS160 at S595, stimulated fatty acid synthesis by promoting Acly activity through allosteric activation by glucose 6-phosphate or fructose 6-phosphate, and stimulated glutamate synthesis by alleviating allosteric inhibition of Gls by glutamate. Most of glycolytic reactions were regulated by amounts of substrates and products. Thus, phosphorylation or allosteric modulator-based regulation of only a few key enzymes was sufficient to change insulin-induced metabolism.

The proteome and its dynamics: A missing piece for integrative multi-omics in schizophrenia

The complex and heterogeneous pathophysiology of schizophrenia can be deconstructed by integration of large-scale datasets encompassing genes through behavioral phenotypes. Genome-wide datasets are now available for genetic, epigenetic and transcriptomic variations in schizophrenia, which are then analyzed by newly devised systems biology algorithms. A missing piece, however, is the inclusion of information on the proteome and its dynamics in schizophrenia. Proteomics has lagged behind omics of the genome, transcriptome and epigenome since analytic platforms were relatively less robust for proteins. There has been remarkable progress, however, in the instrumentation of liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) (LCMS), experimental paradigms and bioinformatics of the proteome. Here, we present a summary of methodological innovations of recent years in MS based proteomics and the power of new generation proteomics, review proteomics studies that have been conducted in schizophrenia to date, and propose how such data can be analyzed and integrated with other omics results. The function of a protein is determined by multiple molecular properties, i.e., subcellular localization, posttranslational modification (PTMs) and protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Incorporation of these properties poses additional challenges in proteomics and their integration with other omics; yet is a critical next step to close the loop of multi-omics integration. In sum, the recent advent of high-throughput proteome characterization technologies and novel mathematical approaches enable us to incorporate functional properties of the proteome to offer a comprehensive multi-omics based understanding of schizophrenia pathophysiology.

Comparison of Statistical Tests and Power Analysis for Phosphoproteomics Data

Advances in protein tagging and mass spectrometry have enabled generation of large quantitative proteome and phosphoproteome data sets, for identifying differentially expressed targets in case-control studies. The power study of statistical tests is critical for designing strategies for effective target identification and control of experimental cost. Here, we develop a simulation framework to generate realistic phospho-peptide data with known changes between cases and controls. Using this framework, we quantify the performance of traditional t-tests, Bayesian tests, and the ranking-by-fold-change test. Bayesian tests, which share variance information among peptides, outperform the traditional t-tests. Although ranking-by-fold-change has similar power as the Bayesian tests, its type I error rate cannot be properly controlled without proper permutation analysis; therefore, simply relying on the ranking likely brings false positives. Two-sample Bayesian tests considering dependencies between intensity and variance are superior for data sets with complex variance. While increasing the sample size enhances the statistical tests' performance, balanced controls and cases are recommended over a one-side weighted group. Further, higher peptide standard deviations require higher fold changes to achieve the same statistical power. Together, these results highlight the importance of model-informed experimental design and principled statistical analyses when working with large-scale proteomics and phosphoproteomics data.

Evidence for a role of protein phosphorylation in the maintenance of the cnidarian-algal symbiosis

The endosymbiotic relationship between cnidarians and photosynthetic dinoflagellate algae provides the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. This essential interaction is globally threatened by anthropogenic disturbance. As such, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning the cnidarian–algal association. Here we investigated phosphorylation‐mediated protein signalling as a mechanism of regulation of the cnidarian–algal interaction, and we report on the generation of the first phosphoproteome for the coral model system Aiptasia. Mass spectrometry‐based phosphoproteomics using data‐independent acquisition allowed consistent quantification of over 3,000 phosphopeptides totalling more than 1,600 phosphoproteins across aposymbiotic (symbiont‐free) and symbiotic anemones. Comparison of the symbiotic states showed distinct phosphoproteomic profiles attributable to the differential phosphorylation of 539 proteins that cover a broad range of functions, from receptors to structural and signal transduction proteins. A subsequent pathway enrichment analysis identified the processes of “protein digestion and absorption,” “carbohydrate metabolism,” and “protein folding, sorting and degradation,” and highlighted differential phosphorylation of the “phospholipase D signalling pathway” and “protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum.” Targeted phosphorylation of the phospholipase D signalling pathway suggests control of glutamate vesicle trafficking across symbiotic compartments, and phosphorylation of the endoplasmic reticulum machinery suggests recycling of symbiosome‐associated proteins. Our study shows for the first time that changes in the phosphorylation status of proteins between aposymbiotic and symbiotic Aiptasia anemones may play a role in the regulation of the cnidarian–algal symbiosis. This is the first phosphoproteomic study of a cnidarian–algal symbiotic association as well as the first application of quantification by data‐independent acquisition in the coral field.

Phospho-protein Analysis in Adherent Cells Using Flow Cytometry

Protein phosphorylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications, which acts as a reversible on or off switch for the activity of a large number of proteins. Analyzing the phosphorylation status of different proteins can reveal the alterations in the state of the cells in response to cellular damage, cancer and pharmaceutical drugs. Techniques such as mass spectrometry, radiolabeling, 2D-gel electrophoresis and western blotting are used to quantify protein phosphorylation. These assays can quantify phosphorylation in the bulk population of cells, however, flow cytometry can couple cell surface marker expression data with phosphorylation data to understand differential signaling in a sub-population within a heterogeneous population of cells. Our protocol describes the use of flow-cytometry for rapid and single cell-based quantification of intracellular phospho-protein with the help of anti-phospho protein specific antibody.

Design and characterization of mutant and wildtype huntingtin proteins produced from a toolkit of scalable eukaryotic expression systems

The gene mutated in individuals with Huntington's disease (HD) encodes the 348-kDa huntingtin (HTT) protein. Pathogenic HD CAG-expansion mutations create a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract at the N terminus of HTT that expands above a critical threshold of ∼35 glutamine residues. The effect of these HD mutations on HTT is not well understood, in part because it is difficult to carry out biochemical, biophysical, and structural studies of this large protein. To facilitate such studies, here we have generated expression constructs for the scalable production of HTT in multiple eukaryotic expression systems. Our set of HTT expression clones comprised both N- and C-terminally FLAG-tagged HTT constructs with polyQ lengths representative of the general population, HD patients, and juvenile HD patients, as well as the more extreme polyQ expansions used in some HD tissue and animal models. Our expression system yielded milligram quantities of pure recombinant HTT protein, including many of the previously mapped post-translational modifications. We characterized both apo and HTT-HTT-associated protein 40 (HAP40) complex samples produced with this HD resource, demonstrating that this toolkit can be used to generate physiologically meaningful HTT complexes. We further demonstrate that these resources can produce sufficient material for protein-intensive experiments, such as small-angle X-ray scattering, providing biochemical insight into full-length HTT protein structure. The work outlined and the tools generated here lay a foundation for further biochemical and structural work on the HTT protein and for studying its functional interactions with other biomolecules.

High-throughput and high-sensitivity phosphoproteomics with the EasyPhos platform

Mass spectrometry has transformed the field of cell signaling by enabling global studies of dynamic protein phosphorylation ('phosphoproteomics'). Recent developments are enabling increasingly sophisticated phosphoproteomics studies, but practical challenges remain. The EasyPhos workflow addresses these and is sufficiently streamlined to enable the analysis of hundreds of phosphoproteomes at a depth of >10,000 quantified phosphorylation sites. Here we present a detailed and updated workflow that further ensures high performance in sample-limited conditions while also reducing sample preparation time. By eliminating protein precipitation steps and performing the entire protocol, including digestion, in a single 96-well plate, we now greatly minimize opportunities for sample loss and variability. This results in very high reproducibility and a small sample size requirement (≤200 μg of protein starting material). After cell culture or tissue collection, the protocol takes 1 d, whereas mass spectrometry measurements require ~1 h per sample. Applied to glioblastoma cells acutely treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF), EasyPhos quantified 20,132 distinct phosphopeptides from 200 μg of protein in less than 1 d of measurement time, revealing thousands of EGF-regulated phosphorylation events.

Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Signaling Pathways in Lymphomas

Cell fate decisions are controlled by complex signal transduction processes that transmit information via posttranslational protein modifications such as phosphorylation. In lymphoma, as in other cancer types, these signaling networks are often dysregulated and thus contribute to malignant transformation and tumor maintenance. For example, B-cell antigen receptor signals are rewired in certain lymphoma types, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, to promote cell growth and survival of the malignant cell clones. Hence, global elucidation of such intricate signaling networks is important for an improved understanding of the biology of these tumors and the identification of target proteins for therapeutic purposes.We describe here a mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomic approach for characterization of intracellular signaling events and their dynamics. This integrated phosphoproteomic technology combines phosphopeptide enrichment and fractionation with liquid-chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry for the site-specific mapping and quantification of thousands of phosphorylation events in a given cell type. Such global signaling analyses provide valuable insights into oncogenic signaling networks and can inform drug development efforts.

Post-translational and transcriptional dynamics - regulating extracellular vesicle biology

Introduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted into their extracellular environment, contain a specific repertoire of cellular cargo, and represent a novel vehicle for cell-cell communication. Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are emerging as major effectors of EV biology and function, and in turn, regulate cellular signaling. Areas covered: Discovery and investigation of PTMs such as methylation, glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, and many others has established fundamental roles for PTMs within EVs and associated EV function. The application of enrichment strategies for modifications, high-resolution quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics, and improved technological approaches have provided key insights into identification and characterization of EV-based PTMs. Recently, an overwhelming appreciation for the diversity of modifications, including post-transcriptional modifications, dynamic roles of these modifications, and their emerging interplay, including protein-protein, protein-lipid, protein-RNA, and variable RNA modifications, is emerging. At a cellular level, such interplay is essential for gene expression/genome organization, protein function and localization, RNA metabolism, cell division, and cell signaling. Expert commentary: The understanding of these modifications and interactions will provide strategies toward how distinct cargo is localized, sorted, and delivered through EVs to mediate intercellular function, with further understanding of such modifications and intermolecular interactions will provide advances in EV-based therapeutic strategies.

Chromatographic separation strategies for precision mass spectrometry to study protein-protein interactions and protein phosphorylation

Investigating protein-protein interactions and protein phosphorylation can be of great significance when studying biological processes and human diseases at the molecular level. However, sample complexity, presence of low abundance proteins, and dynamic nature of the proteins often impede in achieving sufficient analytical depth in proteomics research. In this regard, chromatographic separation methodologies have played a vital role in the identification and quantification of proteins in complex sample mixtures. The combination of peptide and protein fractionation techniques with advanced high-performance mass spectrometry has allowed the researchers to successfully study the protein-protein interactions and protein phosphorylation. Several new fractionation strategies for large scale analysis of proteins and peptides have been developed to study protein-protein interactions and protein phosphorylation. These emerging chromatography methodologies have enabled the identification of several hundred protein complexes and even thousands of phosphorylation sites in a single study. In this review, we focus on current workflow strategies and chromatographic tools, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, and examining their associated challenges and future potential.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of the Human Nucleolus

Recent years have witnessed spectacular progress in the field of mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative proteomics, including advances in instrumentation, chromatography, sample preparation methods, and experimental design for multidimensional analyses. It is now possible not only to identify most of the protein components of a cell proteome in a single experiment, but also to describe additional proteome dimensions, such as protein turnover rates, posttranslational modifications, and subcellular localization. Furthermore, by comparing the proteome at different time points, it is possible to create a "time-lapse" view of proteome dynamics. By combining high-throughput quantitative proteomics with detailed subcellular fractionation protocols and data analysis techniques it is also now possible to characterize in detail the proteomes of specific subcellular organelles, providing important insights into cell regulatory mechanisms and physiological responses. In this chapter we present a reliable workflow and protocol for MS-based analysis and quantitation of the proteome of nucleoli isolated from human cells. The protocol presented is based on a SILAC analysis of human MCF10A-Src-ER cells with analysis performed on a Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap MS instrument (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The subsequent chapter describes how to process the resulting raw MS files from this experiment using MaxQuant software and data analysis procedures to evaluate the nucleolar proteome using customized R scripts.

Fast Global Phosphoproteome Profiling of Jurkat T Cells by HIFU-TiO2-SCX-LC-MS/MS

We propose a new workflow for fast phosphoproteome profiling. The workflow is based on the use of accelerated in-solution trypsin digestion under an ultrasonic field provided by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with an inverse strategy based on TiO₂ selective phosphopeptide enrichment, fractionation by strong cation exchange chromatography (SCX) and analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using a high-resolution mass spectrometer. The performance of the method was established for the global phosphoproteome analysis of unstimulated human Jurkat leukemia T cells (E6.1). Using this accelerated workflow, 15367 phosphorylation sites from 13029 different phosphopeptides belonging to 3163 different phosphoproteins were efficiently identified with high-throughput and reproducibility in less than 15 h. The functional analysis revealed significant phosphorylation-based networks that are implicated in immune function and tumor development pathways. The present strategy, HIFU-TiO₂-SCX-LC-MS/MS, is the fastest analytical method reported to date for generating large-scale phosphoproteomics data sets (<15 h).

Flux control through protein phosphorylation in yeast

Protein phosphorylation is one of the most important mechanisms regulating metabolism as it can directly modify metabolic enzymes by the addition of phosphate groups. Attributed to such a rapid and reversible mechanism, cells can adjust metabolism rapidly in response to temporal changes. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a widely used cell factory and model organism, is reported to show frequent phosphorylation events in metabolism. Studying protein phosphorylation in S. cerevisiae allows for gaining new insight into the function of regulatory networks, which may enable improved metabolic engineering as well as identify mechanisms underlying human metabolic diseases. Here we collect functional phosphorylation events of 41 enzymes involved in yeast metabolism and demonstrate functional mechanisms and the application of this information in metabolic engineering. From a systems biology perspective, we describe the development of phosphoproteomics in yeast as well as approaches to analysing the phosphoproteomics data. Finally, we focus on integrated analyses with other omics data sets and genome-scale metabolic models. Despite the advances, future studies improving both experimental technologies and computational approaches are imperative to expand the current knowledge of protein phosphorylation in S. cerevisiae.

Epigenetic Phosphorylation Control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Persistence

Reversible protein phosphorylation is the most common type of epigenetic posttranslational modification in living cells used as a major regulation mechanism of biological processes. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome encodes for 11 serine/threonine protein kinases that are responsible for sensing environmental signals to coordinate a cellular response to ensure the pathogen's infectivity, survival, and growth. To overcome killing mechanisms generated within the host during infection, M. tuberculosis enters a state of nonreplicating persistence that is characterized by arrested growth, limited metabolic activity, and phenotypic resistance to antimycobacterial drugs. In this article we focus our attention on the role of M. tuberculosis serine/threonine protein kinases in sensing the host environment to coordinate the bacilli's physiology, including growth, cell wall components, and central metabolism, to establish a persistent infection.

Multiplexed Phosphoproteomic Profiling Using Titanium Dioxide and Immunoaffinity Enrichments Reveals Complementary Phosphorylation Events

A comprehensive view of protein phosphorylation remains an unmet challenge in the field of cell biology. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics is one of the most promising approaches for identifying thousands of phosphorylation events in a single experiment, yet the full breadth of the phosphoproteome has yet to be elucidated. In this article, we examined the complementarity of two methods for phosphopeptide enrichment based on either titanium dioxide (TiO₂) enrichment or phosphorylation motif-specific immunoaffinity precipitation (IAP) with four different antibodies. Each method identified nearly 2000 phosphoproteins. However, distinct populations of phosphopeptides were observed. Despite quantifying over 10 000 unique phosphorylation events using TiO₂ and over 3900 with IAP, less than 5% of the sites were in common. Agreeing with published literature, the ratio of pS:pT:pY phosphorylation for the TiO₂-enriched data set approximated 90:10:<1. In contrast, that ratio for the combined IAP data sets was 51:29:20. These differences not only suggest the complementarity between multiple enrichment methods but also emphasize their collective importance in obtaining a comprehensive view of the phosphoproteome.

Phosphorylation Is a Central Mechanism for Circadian Control of Metabolism and Physiology

Circadian clocks are self-sustainable endogenous oscillators, present in virtually every cell, driving daily cycles of metabolism and physiology. The molecular mechanism of the circadian clock is based on interconnected transcriptional and translational feedback loops. While many studies have addressed circadian rhythms of the transcriptome and, to a lesser extent, the proteome, none have investigated the phosphoproteome. We apply mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics to obtain the first global in vivo quantification of circadian phosphorylation in mammals. Of more than 20,000 phosphosites, 25% significantly oscillate in the mouse liver, including novel sites on core clock proteins. The extent and amplitude of phosphorylation cycles far exceeds those observed in RNA and protein abundance. Our data indicate a dominant regulatory role for phosphorylation-dependent circadian tuning of signaling pathways. This allows the organism to integrate different signals and rapidly and economically respond to daily changes in nutrient availability and physiological states.

Insights into chemoselectivity principles in metal oxide affinity chromatography using tailored nanocast metal oxide microspheres and mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics

Custom-made nanocast metal oxide materials provide new insights into the mechanisms of metal oxide affinity chromatography, a method widely used to study proteome-wide protein phosphorylation.

Untargeted metabolomics unravels functionalities of phosphorylation sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background

Coordinated through a complex network of kinases and phosphatases, protein phosphorylation regulates essentially all cellular processes in eukaryotes. Recent advances in proteomics enable detection of thousands of phosphorylation sites (phosphosites) in single experiments. However, functionality of the vast majority of these sites remains unclear and we lack suitable approaches to evaluate functional relevance at a pace that matches their detection.

Results

Here, we assess functionality of 26 phosphosites by introducing phosphodeletion and phosphomimic mutations in 25 metabolic enzymes and regulators from the TOR and HOG signaling pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by phenotypic analysis and untargeted metabolomics. We show that metabolomics largely outperforms growth analysis and recovers 10 out of the 13 previously characterized phosphosites and suggests functionality for several novel sites, including S79 on the TOR regulatory protein Tip41. We analyze metabolic profiles to identify consequences underlying regulatory phosphorylation events and detecting glycerol metabolism to have a so far unknown influence on arginine metabolism via phosphoregulation of the glycerol dehydrogenases. Further, we also find S508 in the MAPKK Pbs2 as a potential link for cross-talking between HOG signaling and the cell wall integrity pathway.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that metabolic profiles can be exploited for gaining insight into regulatory consequences and biological roles of phosphosites. Altogether, untargeted metabolomics is a fast, sensitive and informative approach appropriate for future large-scale functional analyses of phosphosites.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12918-016-0350-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Proteome complexity and the forces that drive proteome imbalance

The cellular proteome is a complex microcosm of structural and regulatory networks that requires continuous surveillance and modification to meet the dynamic needs of the cell. It is therefore crucial that the protein flux of the cell remains in balance to ensure proper cell function. Genetic alterations that range from chromosome imbalance to oncogene activation can affect the speed, fidelity and capacity of protein biogenesis and degradation systems, which often results in proteome imbalance. An improved understanding of the causes and consequences of proteome imbalance is helping to reveal how these systems can be targeted to treat diseases such as cancer.

Phosphorylation of plastoglobular proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plastoglobules (PGs) are plastid lipid-protein particles with a small specialized proteome and metabolome. Among the 30 core PG proteins are six proteins of the ancient ABC1 atypical kinase (ABC1K) family and their locations in an Arabidopsis mRNA-based co-expression network suggested central regulatory roles. To identify candidate ABC1K targets and a possible ABC1K hierarchical phosphorylation network within the chloroplast PG proteome, we searched Arabidopsis phosphoproteomics data from publicly available sources. Evaluation of underlying spectra and/or associated information was challenging for a variety of reasons, but supported pSer sites and a few pThr sites in nine PG proteins, including five FIBRILLINS. PG phosphorylation motifs are discussed in the context of possible responsible kinases. The challenges of collection and evaluation of published Arabidopsis phosphorylation data are discussed, illustrating the importance of deposition of all mass spectrometry data in well-organized repositories such as PRIDE and ProteomeXchange. This study provides a starting point for experimental testing of phosho-sites in PG proteins and also suggests that phosphoproteomics studies specifically designed toward the PG proteome and its ABC1K are needed to understand phosphorylation networks in these specialized particles.

Enrichment Strategies in Phosphoproteomics

The comprehensive study of the phosphoproteome is heavily dependent on appropriate enrichment strategies that are most often, but not exclusively, carried out on the peptide level. In this chapter, I give an overview of the most widely used techniques. In addition to dedicated antibodies, phosphopeptides are enriched by their selective interaction with metals in the form of chelated metal ions or metal oxides. The negative charge of the phosphate group is also exploited in a variety of chromatographic fractionation methods that include different types of ion exchange chromatography, hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC), and electrostatic repulsion HILIC (ERLIC) chromatography. Selected examples from the literature will demonstrate how a combination of these techniques with current high-performance mass spectrometry enables the identification of thousands of phosphorylation sites from various sample types.

Drafting the proteome landscape of myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of cells that are defined by their myeloid origin, immature state, and ability to potently suppress T-cell responses. They regulate immune responses and the population significantly increases in the tumor microenvironment of patients with glioma and other malignant tumors. For their study, MDSCs are usually isolated from the spleen or directly of tumors from a large number of tumor-bearing mice although promising ex vivo differentiated MDSC production systems have been recently developed. During the last years, proteomics has emerged as a powerful approach to analyze MDSCs proteomes using shotgun-based mass spectrometry (MS), providing functional information about cellular homeostasis and metabolic state at a global level. Here, we will revise recent proteome profiling studies performed in MDSCs from different origins. Moreover, we will perform an integrative functional analysis of the protein compilation derived from these large-scale proteomic studies in order to obtain a comprehensive view of MDSCs biology. Finally, we will also discuss the potential application of high-throughput proteomic approaches to study global proteome dynamics and post-translational modifications (PTMs) during the differentiation process of MDSCs that will greatly boost the identification of novel MDSC-specific therapeutic targets to apply in cancer immunotherapy.

Sensitive measurement of total protein phosphorylation level in complex protein samples

Measurement of protein phosphorylation plays an essential role in delineating cell signaling pathways. Although the detection of a specific phosphoprotein has been largely accomplished by immunological methods, a specific and sensitive assay to measure total protein phosphorylation level in complex samples such as whole cell extracts has yet to be established. Here, we present a sensitive phosphorylation assay on a microwell plate to determine total protein phosphorylation level calibrated to a phosphoprotein standard. The core of the assay is a reagent termed pIMAGO that is multi-functionalized with titanium ions for its superior selectivity towards phosphorylated proteins and with fluorophores for quantification. The specificity, sensitivity, and quantitative nature of the assay were demonstrated with standard proteins and whole cell lysates. The method was then employed to measure the overall protein phosphorylation level of human cells under different treatments. At last, we investigated the practicability of the assay to serve as a sensitive tool to estimate the amount of phosphorylated samples prior to a mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomic analysis.

Quantitative proteomics of kinase inhibitor targets and mechanisms

Small molecule inhibitors of protein kinases are key tools for signal transduction research and represent a major class of targeted drugs. Recent developments in quantitative proteomics enable an unbiased view on kinase inhibitor selectivity and modes of action in the biological context. While chemical proteomics techniques utilizing quantitative mass spectrometry interrogate both target specificity and affinity in cellular extracts, proteome-wide phosphorylation analyses upon kinase inhibitor treatment identify signal transduction pathway and network regulation in an unbiased manner. Thus, critical information is provided to promote new insights into mechanisms of kinase signaling and their relevance for kinase inhibitor drug discovery.

Mass spectrometry-based detection and assignment of protein posttranslational modifications

Recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics allow the identification and quantitation of thousands of posttranslational modification (PTM) sites in a single experiment. This follows from the development of more effective class enrichment strategies, new high performance instrumentation and bioinformatic algorithms with rigorous scoring strategies. More widespread use of these combined capabilities have led to a vast expansion in our knowledge of the complexity of biological processes mediated by PTMs. The classes most actively pursued include phosphorylation, ubiquitination, O-GlcNAcylation, methylation, and acetylation. Very recently succinylation, SUMOylation, and citrullination have emerged. Among the some 260 000 PTM sites that have been identified in the human proteome thus far, only a few have been assigned to key regulatory and/or other biological roles. Here, we provide an update of MS-based PTM analyses, with a focus on current enrichment strategies coupled with revolutionary advances in high performance MS. Furthermore, we discuss examples of the discovery of recently described biological roles of PTMs and address the challenges of defining site-specific functions.

Agents of change - concepts in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphosignalling

The flow of information from the outside to the inside of bacterial cells is largely directed by protein kinases. In addition to histidine/aspartate phosphorelays of two-component response regulators, recent work in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) reinforces the idea that phosphorylation on serine (Ser), threonine (Thr) and tyrosine (Tyr) is central to bacterial physiology and pathogenesis, and that the corresponding phosphosystems are highly similar to those in eukaryotes. In this way, eukaryotes are a useful guide to understanding Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphorylation (O-phosphorylation) in prokaryotes such as Mtb. However, as novel functions and components of bacterial O-phosphorylation are identified, distinct differences between pro- and eukaryotic phosphosignalling systems become apparent. The emerging picture of O-phosphorylation in Mtb is complicated, goes beyond the eukaryotic paradigms, and shows the limitations of viewing bacterial phosphosignalling within the confines of the 'eukaryotic-like' model. Here, we summarize recent findings about Ser/Thr and the recently discovered Tyr phosphorylation pathways in Mtb, highlight the similarities and differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic O-phosphorylation, and pose additional questions about signalling components, pathway organization, and ultimately, the cellular roles of O-phosphorylation in Mtb physiology and pathogenesis.

Ultradeep human phosphoproteome reveals a distinct regulatory nature of Tyr and Ser/Thr-based signaling

Regulatory protein phosphorylation controls normal and pathophysiological signaling in eukaryotic cells. Despite great advances in mass-spectrometry-based proteomics, the extent, localization, and site-specific stoichiometry of this posttranslational modification (PTM) are unknown. Here, we develop a stringent experimental and computational workflow, capable of mapping more than 50,000 distinct phosphorylated peptides in a single human cancer cell line. We detected more than three-quarters of cellular proteins as phosphoproteins and determined very high stoichiometries in mitosis or growth factor signaling by label-free quantitation. The proportion of phospho-Tyr drastically decreases as coverage of the phosphoproteome increases, whereas Ser/Thr sites saturate only for technical reasons. Tyrosine phosphorylation is maintained at especially low stoichiometric levels in the absence of specific signaling events. Unexpectedly, it is enriched on higher-abundance proteins, and this correlates with the substrate KM values of tyrosine kinases. Our data suggest that P-Tyr should be considered a functionally separate PTM of eukaryotic proteomes.