title: Integrated Workflow for Structural Proteomics Studies Based on Cross-Linking/Mass Spectrometry with an MS/MS Cleavable Cross-Linker.
abstract: Cross-linking combined with mass spectrometry (MS) has evolved as an alternative strategy in structural biology for characterizing three-dimensional structures of protein assemblies and for mapping protein-protein interactions. Here, we describe an integrated workflow for an automated identification of cross-linked products that is based on the use of a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) cleavable cross-linker (containing a 1,3-bis-(4-oxo-butyl)-urea group, BuUrBu) generating characteristic doublet patterns upon fragmentation. We evaluate different fragmentation methods available on an Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometer for three proteins and an E. coli cell lysate. An updated version of the dedicated software tool MeroX was employed for a fully automated identification of cross-links. The strength of our cleavable cross-linker is that characteristic patterns of the cross-linker as well as backbone fragments of the connected peptides are already observed at the MS/MS level, eliminating the need for conducting MS(3) or sequential CID (collision-induced dissociation)- and ETD (electron transfer dissociation)-MS/MS experiments. This makes our strategy applicable to a broad range of mass spectrometers with MS/MS capabilities. For purified proteins and protein complexes, our workflow using CID-MS/MS acquisition performs with high confidence, scoring cross-links at 0.5% false discovery rate (FDR). The cross-links provide structural insights into the intrinsically disordered tetrameric tumor suppressor protein p53. As a time-consuming manual inspection of cross-linking data is not required, our workflow will pave the way for making the cross-linking/MS approach a routine technique for structural proteomics studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Wolfgang-Langenbeck-St. 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arlt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Götze
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Wolfgang-Langenbeck-St. 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Christian H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ihling
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Wolfgang-Langenbeck-St. 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hage
authors.affiliation: Institute for Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne , Greinstr. 4, D-50939 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Wolfgang-Langenbeck-St. 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011487:Protein Conformation; D040901:Proteomics; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000032:analysis*; D012984:Software; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D010455:Peptides; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine