Pressurized pepsin digestion in proteomics: an automatable alternative to trypsin for integrated top-down bottom-up proteomics

Mol Cell Proteomics. 2011 Feb;10(2):M110.001479. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M110.001479. Epub 2010 Jul 12.

Abstract

Integrated top-down bottom-up proteomics combined with on-line digestion has great potential to improve the characterization of protein isoforms in biological systems and is amendable to high throughput proteomics experiments. Bottom-up proteomics ultimately provides the peptide sequences derived from the tandem MS analyses of peptides after the proteome has been digested. Top-down proteomics conversely entails the MS analyses of intact proteins for more effective characterization of genetic variations and/or post-translational modifications. Herein, we describe recent efforts toward efficient integration of bottom-up and top-down LC-MS-based proteomics strategies. Since most proteomics separations utilize acidic conditions, we exploited the compatibility of pepsin (where the optimal digestion conditions are at low pH) for integration into bottom-up and top-down proteomics work flows. Pressure-enhanced pepsin digestions were successfully performed and characterized with several standard proteins in either an off-line mode using a Barocycler or an on-line mode using a modified high pressure LC system referred to as a fast on-line digestion system (FOLDS). FOLDS was tested using pepsin and a whole microbial proteome, and the results were compared against traditional trypsin digestions on the same platform. Additionally, FOLDS was integrated with a RePlay configuration to demonstrate an ultrarapid integrated bottom-up top-down proteomics strategy using a standard mixture of proteins and a monkey pox virus proteome.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Automation
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Pepsin A / chemistry*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteome
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Shewanella / metabolism
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Trypsin / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Proteins
  • Proteome
  • Trypsin
  • Pepsin A