A Multiplexed Mass Spectrometry-Based Assay for Robust Quantification of Phosphosignaling in Response to DNA Damage

Radiat Res. 2018 May;189(5):505-518. doi: 10.1667/RR14963.1. Epub 2018 Feb 23.

Abstract

A lack of analytically robust and multiplexed assays has hampered studies of the large, branched phosphosignaling network responsive to DNA damage. To address this need, we developed and fully analytically characterized a 62-plex assay quantifying protein expression and post-translational modification (phosphorylation and ubiquitination) after induction of DNA damage. The linear range was over 3 orders of magnitude, the median inter-assay variability was 10% CV and the vast majority (∼85%) of assays were stable after extended storage. The multiplexed assay was applied in proof-of-principle studies to quantify signaling after exposure to genotoxic stress (ionizing radiation and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide) in immortalized cell lines and primary human cells. The effects of genomic variants and pharmacologic kinase inhibition (ATM/ATR) were profiled using the assay. This study demonstrates the utility of a quantitative multiplexed assay for studying cellular signaling dynamics, and the potential application to studies on inter-individual variation in the radiation response.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • DNA Damage*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry*
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / genetics
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Ubiquitination / genetics

Substances

  • Phosphoproteins