Mapping protein interfaces by a trifunctional cross-linker combined with MALDI-TOF and ESI-FTICR mass spectrometry

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2005 Dec;16(12):1921-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jasms.2005.07.020. Epub 2005 Oct 24.

Abstract

Chemical cross-linking of protein complexes has gained renewed interest in combination with mass spectrometric analysis of the reaction products as it allows a rapid mapping of protein interfaces, which is crucial for understanding protein/protein interactions. The identification of cross-linking products from the complex mixtures created after the cross-linking reaction, however, remains a daunting task. To facilitate the identification of cross-linking products, we explore the use of the commercially available biotinylated cross-linking reagent sulfo-SBED (sulfosuccinimidyl-2-[6-(biotinamido)-2-(p-azidobenzamido)-hexanoamido]ethyl-1,3'-dithiopropionate). This trifunctional cross-linker possesses one amine-reactive and one photo-reactive site and, additionally, allows an affinity-based enrichment of cross-linker containing species. As a model system, we chose the Ca(2+)-dependent complex between calmodulin and its target peptide M13, which represents a part of the C-terminal sequence of the skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase. After the cross-linking reaction, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and one-dimensional gel electrophoresis were employed to check for the extent of cross-linking product formation. The cross-linking reaction mixtures were subjected to tryptic in-solution digestion. Biotinylated peptides, e.g., peptides that had been modified by the cross-linker as well as cross-linked peptides, were enriched on monomeric avidin beads after several washing steps had been performed. Peptide mixtures were analyzed by MALDI-TOFMS, nano-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/nano-electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICRMS), and tandem MS. We demonstrate that an enrichment of cross-linker containing species allows a more efficient identification of interacting amino acid sequences in protein complexes. This strategy is expected to be especially beneficial for investigating large protein assemblies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Calcium / chemistry*
  • Calmodulin / analysis
  • Calmodulin / chemistry*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • Cyclotrons
  • Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / analysis
  • Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods*

Substances

  • Calmodulin
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • M13 protein (myosin light-chain kinase)
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase
  • Calcium