Capillary Electrophoresis-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry for Quantitative Analysis of Glycans Labeled with Multiplex Carbonyl-Reactive Tandem Mass Tags

Recently developed carbonyl-reactive aminoxy tandem mass tag (aminoxyTMT) reagents enable multiplexed characterization and quantitative comparison of structurally complex glycans between different biological samples. Compared to some previously reported isotopic labeling strategies for glycans, the use of the aminoxyTMT method features a simple labeling procedure, excellent labeling efficiency, and reduced spectral complexity at the MS¹ level. Presence of the tertiary amine functionality in the reporter region of the aminoxyTMT labels leads to increased ionization efficiency of the labeled glycans thus improving electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS) detection sensitivity. The use of the labeling reagent also makes electrophoretic separation of the labeled neutral and acidic glycans feasible. In this work, we characterized the ESI and collision induced dissociation (CID) behavior of the aminoxyTMT-labeled neutral and sialylated glycans. For the high-mannose N-glycans and small sialylated oligosaccharides, CID fragmentation of [M + Na + H]²⁺ provides the most informative MS² spectra for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. For complex N-glycans, MS³ of the protonated Y_1(H) ion can be used for relative quantification without interference from the HexNAc fragments. Online capillary electrophoresis (CE)-ESI-MS/MS analyses of multiplexed aminoxyTMT-labeled human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and different types of N-glycans released from glycoprotein standards were demonstrated. Improved resolution and quantification accuracy of the labeled HMO isomers was achieved by coupling CE with traveling wave ion mobility (TWIM)-CID-MS/MS. N-Glycans released from human serum protein digests were labeled with six-plex aminoxyTMT and subjected to CE-ESI-MS/pseudo-MS³ analysis, which demonstrated the potential utility of this glycan relative quantification platform for more complex biological samples

Carbonyl-Reactive Tandem Mass Tags for the Proteome-Wide Quantification of N-Linked Glycans

N-Linked protein glycosylation is one of the most prevalent post-translational modifications and is involved in essential cellular functions such as cell–cell interactions and cellular recognition as well as in chronic diseases. In this study, we explored stable isotope labeled carbonyl-reactive tandem mass tags (glyco-TMTs) as a novel approach for the quantification of N-linked glycans. Glyco-TMTs bearing hydrazide- and aminooxy-functionalized groups were compared for glycan reducing end derivatization efficiency and quantification merits. Aminooxy TMTs outperform the hydrazide reagents in terms of labeling efficiency (>95% vs 65% at 0.1 μM) and mass spectrometry based quantification using heavy/light-TMT labeled glycans enabled accurate quantification in MS1 spectra (CV < 15%) over a broad dynamic range (up to 1:40). In contrast, isobaric TMT labeling with quantification of reporter ions in tandem mass spectra suffered from severe ratio compression already at low sample ratios. To demonstrate the practical utility of the developed approach, we characterized the global N-linked glycosylation profiles of the isogenic human colon carcinoma cell lines SW480 (primary tumor) and SW620 (metastatic tumor). The data revealed significant down-regulation of high-mannose glycans in the metastatic cell line

Carbonyl-Reactive Tandem Mass Tags for the Proteome-Wide Quantification of N-Linked Glycans

N-Linked protein glycosylation is one of the most prevalent post-translational modifications and is involved in essential cellular functions such as cell–cell interactions and cellular recognition as well as in chronic diseases. In this study, we explored stable isotope labeled carbonyl-reactive tandem mass tags (glyco-TMTs) as a novel approach for the quantification of N-linked glycans. Glyco-TMTs bearing hydrazide- and aminooxy-functionalized groups were compared for glycan reducing end derivatization efficiency and quantification merits. Aminooxy TMTs outperform the hydrazide reagents in terms of labeling efficiency (>95% vs 65% at 0.1 μM) and mass spectrometry based quantification using heavy/light-TMT labeled glycans enabled accurate quantification in MS1 spectra (CV < 15%) over a broad dynamic range (up to 1:40). In contrast, isobaric TMT labeling with quantification of reporter ions in tandem mass spectra suffered from severe ratio compression already at low sample ratios. To demonstrate the practical utility of the developed approach, we characterized the global N-linked glycosylation profiles of the isogenic human colon carcinoma cell lines SW480 (primary tumor) and SW620 (metastatic tumor). The data revealed significant down-regulation of high-mannose glycans in the metastatic cell line

Increasing the Multiplexing Capacity of TMTs Using Reporter Ion Isotopologues with Isobaric Masses

Quantitative mass spectrometry methods offer near-comprehensive proteome coverage; however, these methods still suffer with regards to sample throughput. Multiplex quantitation via isobaric chemical tags (e.g., TMT and iTRAQ) provides an avenue for mass spectrometry-based proteome quantitation experiments to move away from simple binary comparisons and toward greater parallelization. Herein, we demonstrate a straightforward method for immediately expanding the throughput of the TMT isobaric reagents from 6-plex to 8-plex. This method is based upon our ability to resolve the isotopic shift that results from substituting a ¹⁵N for a ¹³C. In an accommodation to the preferred fragmentation pathways of ETD, the TMT-127 and -129 reagents were recently modified such that a ¹³C was exchanged for a ¹⁵N. As a result of this substitution, the new TMT reporter ions are 6.32 mDa lighter. Even though the mass difference between these reporter ion isotopologues is incredibly small, modern high-resolution and mass accuracy analyzers can resolve these ions. On the basis of our ability to resolve and accurately measure the relative intensity of these isobaric reporter ions, we demonstrate that we are able to quantify across eight samples simultaneously by combining the ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-containing reporter ions. Considering the structure of the TMT reporter ion, we believe this work serves as a blueprint for expanding the multiplexing capacity of the TMT reagents to at least 10-plex and possibly up to 18-plex

Proteomic Quantification and Site-Mapping of <i>S</i>‑Nitrosylated Proteins Using Isobaric iodoTMT Reagents

<i>S</i>-Nitrosylation is a redox-based protein post-translational modification in response to nitric oxide signaling and is involved in a wide range of biological processes. Detection and quantification of protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation have been challenging tasks due to instability and low abundance of the modification. Many studies have used mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods with different thiol-reactive reagents to label and identify proteins with <i>S</i>-nitrosylated cysteine (SNO-Cys). In this study, we developed a novel iodoTMT switch assay (ISA) using an isobaric set of thiol-reactive iodoTMTsixplex reagents to specifically detect and quantify protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation. Irreversible labeling of SNO-Cys with the iodoTMTsixplex reagents enables immune-affinity detection of <i>S</i>-nitrosylated proteins, enrichment of iodoTMT-labeled peptides by anti-TMT resin, and importantly, unambiguous modification site-mapping and multiplex quantification by liquid chromatography–tandem MS. Additionally, we significantly improved anti-TMT peptide enrichment efficiency by competitive elution. Using ISA, we identified a set of SNO-Cys sites responding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in murine BV-2 microglial cells and revealed effects of <i>S</i>-allyl cysteine from garlic on LPS-induced protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in antioxidative signaling and mitochondrial metabolic pathways. ISA proved to be an effective proteomic approach for quantitative analysis of <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in complex samples and will facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of nitrosative stress in disease

Proteomic Quantification and Site-Mapping of <i>S</i>‑Nitrosylated Proteins Using Isobaric iodoTMT Reagents

<i>S</i>-Nitrosylation is a redox-based protein post-translational modification in response to nitric oxide signaling and is involved in a wide range of biological processes. Detection and quantification of protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation have been challenging tasks due to instability and low abundance of the modification. Many studies have used mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods with different thiol-reactive reagents to label and identify proteins with <i>S</i>-nitrosylated cysteine (SNO-Cys). In this study, we developed a novel iodoTMT switch assay (ISA) using an isobaric set of thiol-reactive iodoTMTsixplex reagents to specifically detect and quantify protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation. Irreversible labeling of SNO-Cys with the iodoTMTsixplex reagents enables immune-affinity detection of <i>S</i>-nitrosylated proteins, enrichment of iodoTMT-labeled peptides by anti-TMT resin, and importantly, unambiguous modification site-mapping and multiplex quantification by liquid chromatography–tandem MS. Additionally, we significantly improved anti-TMT peptide enrichment efficiency by competitive elution. Using ISA, we identified a set of SNO-Cys sites responding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in murine BV-2 microglial cells and revealed effects of <i>S</i>-allyl cysteine from garlic on LPS-induced protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in antioxidative signaling and mitochondrial metabolic pathways. ISA proved to be an effective proteomic approach for quantitative analysis of <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in complex samples and will facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of nitrosative stress in disease

Proteomic Quantification and Site-Mapping of <i>S</i>‑Nitrosylated Proteins Using Isobaric iodoTMT Reagents

<i>S</i>-Nitrosylation is a redox-based protein post-translational modification in response to nitric oxide signaling and is involved in a wide range of biological processes. Detection and quantification of protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation have been challenging tasks due to instability and low abundance of the modification. Many studies have used mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods with different thiol-reactive reagents to label and identify proteins with <i>S</i>-nitrosylated cysteine (SNO-Cys). In this study, we developed a novel iodoTMT switch assay (ISA) using an isobaric set of thiol-reactive iodoTMTsixplex reagents to specifically detect and quantify protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation. Irreversible labeling of SNO-Cys with the iodoTMTsixplex reagents enables immune-affinity detection of <i>S</i>-nitrosylated proteins, enrichment of iodoTMT-labeled peptides by anti-TMT resin, and importantly, unambiguous modification site-mapping and multiplex quantification by liquid chromatography–tandem MS. Additionally, we significantly improved anti-TMT peptide enrichment efficiency by competitive elution. Using ISA, we identified a set of SNO-Cys sites responding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in murine BV-2 microglial cells and revealed effects of <i>S</i>-allyl cysteine from garlic on LPS-induced protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in antioxidative signaling and mitochondrial metabolic pathways. ISA proved to be an effective proteomic approach for quantitative analysis of <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in complex samples and will facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of nitrosative stress in disease

Proteomic Quantification and Site-Mapping of <i>S</i>‑Nitrosylated Proteins Using Isobaric iodoTMT Reagents

<i>S</i>-Nitrosylation is a redox-based protein post-translational modification in response to nitric oxide signaling and is involved in a wide range of biological processes. Detection and quantification of protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation have been challenging tasks due to instability and low abundance of the modification. Many studies have used mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods with different thiol-reactive reagents to label and identify proteins with <i>S</i>-nitrosylated cysteine (SNO-Cys). In this study, we developed a novel iodoTMT switch assay (ISA) using an isobaric set of thiol-reactive iodoTMTsixplex reagents to specifically detect and quantify protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation. Irreversible labeling of SNO-Cys with the iodoTMTsixplex reagents enables immune-affinity detection of <i>S</i>-nitrosylated proteins, enrichment of iodoTMT-labeled peptides by anti-TMT resin, and importantly, unambiguous modification site-mapping and multiplex quantification by liquid chromatography–tandem MS. Additionally, we significantly improved anti-TMT peptide enrichment efficiency by competitive elution. Using ISA, we identified a set of SNO-Cys sites responding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in murine BV-2 microglial cells and revealed effects of <i>S</i>-allyl cysteine from garlic on LPS-induced protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in antioxidative signaling and mitochondrial metabolic pathways. ISA proved to be an effective proteomic approach for quantitative analysis of <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in complex samples and will facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of nitrosative stress in disease

Proteomic Quantification and Site-Mapping of <i>S</i>‑Nitrosylated Proteins Using Isobaric iodoTMT Reagents

<i>S</i>-Nitrosylation is a redox-based protein post-translational modification in response to nitric oxide signaling and is involved in a wide range of biological processes. Detection and quantification of protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation have been challenging tasks due to instability and low abundance of the modification. Many studies have used mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods with different thiol-reactive reagents to label and identify proteins with <i>S</i>-nitrosylated cysteine (SNO-Cys). In this study, we developed a novel iodoTMT switch assay (ISA) using an isobaric set of thiol-reactive iodoTMTsixplex reagents to specifically detect and quantify protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation. Irreversible labeling of SNO-Cys with the iodoTMTsixplex reagents enables immune-affinity detection of <i>S</i>-nitrosylated proteins, enrichment of iodoTMT-labeled peptides by anti-TMT resin, and importantly, unambiguous modification site-mapping and multiplex quantification by liquid chromatography–tandem MS. Additionally, we significantly improved anti-TMT peptide enrichment efficiency by competitive elution. Using ISA, we identified a set of SNO-Cys sites responding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in murine BV-2 microglial cells and revealed effects of <i>S</i>-allyl cysteine from garlic on LPS-induced protein <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in antioxidative signaling and mitochondrial metabolic pathways. ISA proved to be an effective proteomic approach for quantitative analysis of <i>S</i>-nitrosylation in complex samples and will facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of nitrosative stress in disease