PTMap--a sequence alignment software for unrestricted, accurate, and full-spectrum identification of post-translational modification sites

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jan 20;106(3):761-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811739106. Epub 2009 Jan 9.

Abstract

We present sequence alignment software, called PTMap, for the accurate identification of full-spectrum protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) and polymorphisms. The software incorporates several features to improve searching speed and accuracy, including peak selection, adjustment of inaccurate mass shifts, and precise localization of PTM sites. PTMap also automates rules, based mainly on unmatched peaks, for manual verification of identified peptides. To evaluate the quality of sequence alignment, we developed a scoring system that takes into account both matched and unmatched peaks in the mass spectrum. Incorporation of these features dramatically increased both accuracy and sensitivity of the peptide- and PTM-identifications. To our knowledge, PTMap is the first algorithm that emphasizes unmatched peaks to eliminate false positives. The superior performance and reliability of PTMap were demonstrated by confident identification of PTMs on 156 peptides from four proteins and validated by MS/MS of the synthetic peptides. Our results demonstrate that PTMap is a powerful algorithm capable of identification of all possible protein PTMs with high confidence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • False Positive Reactions
  • HMGB2 Protein / chemistry
  • Histones / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Sequence Alignment / methods*
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / chemistry
  • Software*

Substances

  • HMGB2 Protein
  • Histones
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • serum-glucocorticoid regulated kinase