title: Bovine serum albumin as a molecular sensor for the discrimination of complex metabolite samples.
abstract: The potential for using serum albumin (SA) as a broadly applicable molecular sensor was explored in an effort to develop a method for rapid analysis of complex metabolite samples. SA is a protein present at high concentration in blood, which transports a diverse set of compounds including fatty acids, hormones, and drugs. The effectiveness of the bovine ortholog (BSA) as a molecular sensor was tested by analyzing the pool of small molecules bound to the protein after a brief incubation with complex fluids of biological origin. As an initial test, three varietals of red wine were readily distinguished. Further analysis using four varietals of white wine also showed clear separation. In a second analysis using urine, animals in hemorrhagic shock were separated from a group of comparably treated controls. A time course analysis showed that recovery from injury could also be followed using the assay. This finding is significant as there currently is no method or biomarker for predicting the onset of shock. Comparison of samples was based on liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) analysis of compounds selectively bound by BSA. Analysis of the samples after protein selection revealed a significant reduction in complexity and clear separation of groups by Principle Component Analysis (PCA). These results show the potential for using cargo-carrying proteins as molecular sensors for screening complex samples without the need for prior knowledge of sample composition or concentration and may streamline elucidation of biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamerly
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokmina-Lukaszewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55433, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Lusczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55433, United States.
authors.forename: Kristine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mulier
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55433, United States.
authors.forename: Greg J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Beilman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States. Electronic address: bbothner@chemistry.montana.edu.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bothner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine; D002417:Cattle; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D055442:Metabolome; D055432:Metabolomics; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011485:Protein Binding; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine
keywords: Bovine serum albumin; Hemorrhagic shock; Metabolic fingerprinting; Metabolomics; Protein sensor; Wine