An isotopically coded CID-cleavable biotinylated cross-linker for structural proteomics

Mol Cell Proteomics. 2011 Feb;10(2):M110.001420. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M110.001420. Epub 2010 Jul 9.

Abstract

Successful application of cross-linking combined with mass spectrometry for structural proteomics demands specifically designed cross-linking reagents to address challenges in the detection and assignment of cross-links. A combination of affinity enrichment, isotopic coding, and cleavage of the cross-linker is beneficial for detection and identification of the peptide cross-links. Here we describe a novel cross-linker, cyanurbiotindipropionylsuccinimide (CBDPS), that allows affinity enrichment of cross-linker-containing peptides with avidin. Affinity enrichment eliminates interfering non-cross-linked peptides and allows the researcher to focus on the analysis of the cross-linked peptides. CBDPS is also isotopically coded and CID-cleavable. The cleaved fragments still contain a portion of the isotopic label and can therefore be distinguished from unlabeled fragments by their distinct isotopic signatures in the MS/MS spectra. This cleavage information has been incorporated into a program for the automatic analysis of the MS/MS spectra of the cross-links. This allows rapid determination of cross-link type in addition to facilitating identification of the individual peptides constituting the interpeptide cross-links. Thus, affinity enrichment combined with isotopic coding and CID cleavage allows in-depth mass spectrometric analysis of the peptide cross-links. We have characterized the performance of CBDPS on the 120-kDa protein heterodimer of HIV reverse transcriptase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biotin / analogs & derivatives
  • Biotin / chemistry
  • Biotinylation*
  • Chromatography / methods
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / pharmacology*
  • Dimerization
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / metabolism
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Models, Chemical
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteome
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Succinimides / chemistry
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Peptides
  • Proteins
  • Proteome
  • Succinimides
  • cyanurbiotindipropionylsuccinimide
  • N-propionylsuccinimide
  • Biotin
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase