Designer reagents for mass spectrometry-based proteomics: clickable cross-linkers for elucidation of protein structures and interactions

Anal Chem. 2012 Mar 20;84(6):2662-9. doi: 10.1021/ac202637n. Epub 2012 Mar 5.

Abstract

We present novel homobifunctional amine-reactive clickable cross-linkers (CXLs) for investigation of three-dimensional protein structures and protein-protein interactions (PPIs). CXLs afford consolidated advantages not previously available in a simple cross-linker, including (1) their small size and cationic nature at physiological pH, resulting in good water solubility and cell-permeability, (2) an alkyne group for bio-orthogonal conjugation to affinity tags via the click reaction for enrichment of cross-linked peptides, (3) a nucleophilic displacement reaction involving the 1,2,3-triazole ring formed in the click reaction, yielding a lock-mass reporter ion for only clicked peptides, and (4) higher charge states of cross-linked peptides in the gas-phase for augmented electron transfer dissociation (ETD) yields. Ubiquitin, a lysine-abundant protein, is used as a model system to demonstrate structural studies using CXLs. To validate the sensitivity of our approach, biotin-azide labeling and subsequent enrichment of cross-linked peptides are performed for cross-linked ubiquitin digests mixed with yeast cell lysates. Cross-linked peptides are detected and identified by collision induced dissociation (CID) and ETD with linear quadrupole ion trap (LTQ)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) and LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometers. The application of CXLs to more complex systems (e.g., in vivo cross-linking) is illustrated by Western blot detection of Cul1 complexes including known binders, Cand1 and Skp2, in HEK 293 cells, confirming good water solubility and cell-permeability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Avidin / chemistry
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Ubiquitin / chemistry

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Peptides
  • Proteins
  • Ubiquitin
  • Avidin