Calcium-induced noncovalently linked tetramers of MRP8 and MRP14 are confirmed by electrospray ionization-mass analysis

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2000 Sep;11(9):780-8. doi: 10.1016/S1044-0305(00)00150-1.

Abstract

Proteins of the S100- family such as MRP8 (S100A8) and MRP14 (S100A9)-and its isoform MRP14*-show two calcium-binding sites (EF hands) per protein chain. MRP8, MRP14*, and MRP14, isolated from human granulocytes or monocytes, are known to form noncovalently associated complexes; the exact stoichiometries of these complexes in the presence of calcium are still controversially discussed in the literature. The present electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) study shows that MRP8, MRP14*, and MRP14 exist as heterodimers MRP8/14* and MRP8/14, respectively, in the absence of calcium confirming both a recent nuclear magnetic resonance study and a biochemical study on this topic. Furthermore, this ESI-MS study confirms the previously published matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-MS study, which states that the MRP8/14* and MRP8/14 heterodimeric complexes tetramerize to heterotetramers (MRP8/14*)2, (MRP8/14*)(MRP8/14), and (MRP8/14)2, respectively, in the presence of calcium. The number of Ca2+ ions bound to the individual tetramer is determined to be eight for nonphosphorylated fractions; this is in agreement with the previously reported MALDI study on these fractions. About 1.2 Ca2+ ions more are bound to the phosphorylated form; it is speculated that the additional Ca2+ ions are bound to the phosphate groups in the tetramers. This study is, therefore, convincing proof of the reliability of MALDI-MS in studying noncovalent protein-protein interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Differentiation / chemistry*
  • Binding Sites
  • Calcium / chemistry*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Calgranulin A
  • Calgranulin B
  • Calibration
  • Granulocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Denaturation
  • S100 Proteins / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Calgranulin A
  • Calgranulin B
  • S100 Proteins
  • Calcium