Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric characterization of photocrosslinked DNA-EcoRI DNA methyltransferase complexes

Nucleic Acids Res. 1998 Jan 15;26(2):645-9. doi: 10.1093/nar/26.2.645.

Abstract

We describe a novel strategy combining photocrosslinking and HPLC-based electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to identify UV crosslinked DNA-protein complexes. Eco RI DNA methyltransferase modifies the second adenine within the recognition sequence GAATTC. Substitution of 5-iodouracil for the thymine adjacent to the target base (GAATTC) does not detectably alter the DNA-protein complex. Irradiation of the 5-iodouracil-substituted DNA-protein complex at various wavelengths was optimized, with a crosslinking yield >60% at 313 nm after 1 min. No protein degradation was observed under these conditions. The crosslinked DNA-protein complex was further analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The total mass is consistent with irradiation-dependent covalent bond formation between one strand of DNA and the protein. These preliminary results support the possibility of identifying picomole quantities of crosslinked peptides by similar strategies.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cross-Linking Reagents*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / chemistry
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / metabolism
  • Photochemistry
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / chemistry*
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Ultraviolet Rays*
  • Uracil / analogs & derivatives
  • Uracil / chemistry

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Uracil
  • DNA
  • DNA modification methylase EcoRI
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific)
  • 5-iodouracil