Quantification of seminolipid by LC-ESI-MS/MS-multiple reaction monitoring: compensatory levels in Cgt mice

Seminolipid, also known as sulfogalactosylglycerolipid (SGG), plays important roles in male reproduction. Therefore, an accurate and sensitive method for SGG quantification in testes and sperm is needed. Here we compare SGG quantitation by the traditional colorimetric Azure A assay with LC-ESI-MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Inclusion of deuterated SGG as the internal standard endowed accuracy to the MRM method. The results showed reasonable agreement between the two procedures for purified samples, but for crude lipid extracts, the colorimetric assay significantly overestimated the SGG content. Using ESI-MS/MS MRM, C16:0-alkyl/C16:0-acyl SGG of Cgt^+/− mice was quantified to be 406.06 ± 23.63 μg/g testis and 0.13 ± 0.02 μg/million sperm, corresponding to 78% and 87% of the wild-type values, respectively. CGT (ceramide galactosyltransferase) is a critical enzyme in the SGG biosynthesis pathway. Cgt^−/− males depleted of SGG are infertile due to spermatogenesis arrest. However, Cgt^+/− males sire offspring. The higher than 50% expression level of SGG in Cgt^+/− animals, compared with the wild-type expression, might be partly due to compensatory translation of the active CGT enzyme. The results also indicated that 78% of SGG levels in Cgt^+/− mice were sufficient for normal spermatogenesis.     

Algorithms for the de novo sequencing of peptides from tandem mass spectra

Proteomics is the study of proteins, their time- and location-dependent expression profiles, as well as their modifications and interactions. Mass spectrometry is useful to investigate many of the questions asked in proteomics. Database search methods are typically employed to identify proteins from complex mixtures. However, databases are not often available or, despite their availability, some sequences are not readily found therein. To overcome this problem, de novo sequencing can be used to directly assign a peptide sequence to a tandem mass spectrometry spectrum. Many algorithms have been proposed for de novo sequencing and a selection of them are detailed in this article. Although a standard accuracy measure has not been agreed upon in the field, relative algorithm performance is discussed. The current state of the de novo sequencing is assessed thereafter and, finally, examples are used to construct possible future perspectives of the field.     

Characterization of overall ceramide species in human stratum corneum

Ceramides (CERs) in human stratum corneum (SC) play physicochemical roles in determining barrier and water-holding functions of the skin, and specific species might be closely related to the regulation of keratinization, together with other CER-related lipids. Structures of those diverse CER species, however, have not been comprehensively revealed. The aim of this study was to characterize overall CER species in the SC. First, we constructed 3D multi-mass chromatograms of the overall CER species, based on normal-phase liquid chromatography (NPLC) connected to electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) using a gradient elution system and a postcolumn addition of a volatile salt-containing polar solvent. The CERs targeted from the 3D chromatograms were structurally analyzed using NPLC-ESI-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), which resulted in the identification of 342 CER species in the inner forearm SC. This led to the discovery of a new CER class consisting of alpha-hydroxy fatty acid and dihydrosphingosine moieties, in addition to the 10 classes generally known. The results also revealed that those CERs contain long-chain (more than C(18))-containing sphingoids and a great number of isobaric species. These novel results will contribute not only to physiochemical research on CERs in the SC but also to lipidomics approaches to CERs in the skin.     

Comparison of methods to examine the endogenous peptides of fetal calf serum

There is a great desire to relate the patterns of endogenous peptides in blood to human disease and drug response. The best practices for the preparation of blood fluids for analysis are not clear and also relatively few of the peptides in blood have been identified by tandem mass spectrometry. We compared a number of sample preparation methods to extract endogenous peptides including C18 reversed phase, precipitation, and ultrafiltration. We examined the results of these sample preparation methods by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using MALDI-TOF/TOF and electrospray ionization-ion trap. Peptides from solid-phase extraction with C18 in the range of hundreds of femtomoles per spot were detected from the equivalent of 1 μL of serum by MALDI-TOF. We observed endogenous serum peptides from fibrinogen α- and β-chain, complement C3, α-2-HS-glycoprotein, albumin, serine (or cysteine) proteinase inhibitor, factor VIII, plasminogen, immunoglobulin, and other abundant blood proteins. However, we also recorded significant MS/MS spectra from tumor necrosis factor-α-, major histocompatibility complex-, and angiotensin-related peptides, as well as peptides from collagens and other low-abundance proteins. Amino acid substitutions were detected and a phosphorylated peptide was also observed. This is the first time the endogenous peptides of fetal serum have been examined by MS and where peptides from low-abundance proteins, phosphopeptides, and amino acid substitutions were detected.     

Preparation of 3-Methyl-3-(substituted phenyl)-pyruvic Acid

The relationships between dietary levels of the essential amino acids and hepatic polysome profiles of rats were investigated with special attention to the amino acid requirement pattern for the maximum rat growth as determined by other investigators. The basal diet contained a 7% essential amino acid mixture and a 3% non-essential amino acid mixture, with appropriate amounts of other nutrients. Rats were fed test diet for 5 hours and then the polysome profile was determined. The amounts of essential amino acids needed for maximum aggregation of polysome were low for methionine-cystine, leucine and tryptophan as compared with requirements for maximum growth. But in other essential amino acids, the amounts were in almost the same range as those reported for maximum growth by others. The differences between the amino acid requirement patterns for maximum aggregation of hepatic ribosomes and for maximum growth of rats might be due to a difference in amino acid requirements of the liver and whole body. Therefore, the hepatic polysome profile might be used to measure the effect of amino acid supplementation on dietary proteins. The requirement pattern of essential amino acids in other organs may be studied by polysome profile determination.     

Targeted analysis of ganglioside and sulfatide molecular species by LC/ESI-MS/MS with theoretically expanded multiple reaction monitoring

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been applied primarily to the analysis of glycosphingolipids separated from other complex mixtures by TLC, but it is difficult to obtain quantitative profiling of each glycosphingolipid among the different spots on TLC by MALDI-MS. Thus, the development of a convenient approach that utilizes liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization (LC/ESI)-MS has received interest. However, previously reported methods have been insufficient to separate and distinguish each ganglioside class. Here we report an effective method for the targeted analysis of theoretically expected ganglioside molecular species by LC/ESI tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) in combination with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). MRM detection specific for sialic acid enabled us to analyze ganglioside standards such as GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1, and GT1 at picomolar to femtomolar levels. Furthermore, other gangliosides, such as GD2, GD3, GT2, GT3, and GQ1, were also detected in glycosphingolipid standard mixtures from porcine brain and acidic glycolipid extract from mouse brain by theoretically expanded MRM. We found that this approach was also applicable to sulfatides contained in the glycosphingolipid mixtures. In addition, we established a method to separate and distinguish regioisomeric gangliosides, such as GM1a and -1b, GD1a, -1b, and -1c, and GT1a, -1b, and -1c with diagnostic sugar chains in the MRM.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric characterization of peptides

Structural characterization of peptides in the range of 500–5000 Da, using fast atom bombardment (FAB) and Cs⁺ ion liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), is reviewed. These include syntheitc peptides Kemptamide (mol wt 1516); GIF-C15 (mol wt 1875), an isolated natural product as an acylated pentapeptide; and polypeptides generated from enzymatic digests of proteins. MS data is shown to reveal molecular weight and sequence information as well as determine disulfide bonds between cysteine residues and glycosylation sites in the case of a glycopeptide. The complementarity of MS technique to classical biochemical methods for peptide characterization is highlighted. The reader is briefly acquainted with two newer ionization techniques namely, electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). Synthetic chemists and biochemists can refer to the in-depth review articles that are cited throughout this article.     

Analysis of peptides secreted from cultured mouse brain tissue

Peptides represent a major class of cell–cell signaling molecules. Most peptidomic studies have focused on peptides present in brain or other tissues. For a peptide to function in intercellular signaling, it must be secreted. The present study was undertaken to identify the major peptides secreted from mouse brain slices that were cultured in oxygenated buffer for 3–4 h. Approximately 75% of the peptides identified in extracts of cultured slices matched the previously reported peptide content of heat-inactivated mouse brain tissue, whereas only 2% matched the peptide content of unheated brain tissue; the latter showed a large number of postmortem changes. As found with extracts of heat-inactivated mouse brain, the extracts of cultured brain slices represented secretory pathway peptides as well as peptides derived from intracellular proteins such as those present in the cytosol and mitochondria. A subset of the peptides detected in the extracts of the cultured slices was detected in the culture media. The vast majority of secreted peptides arose from intracellular proteins and not secretory pathway proteins. The peptide RVD-hemopressin, a CB1 cannabinoid receptor agonist, was detected in culture media, which is consistent with a role for RVD-hemopressin as a non-classical neuropeptide. Taken together with previous studies, the present results show that short-term culture of mouse brain slices is an appropriate system to study peptide secretion, especially the non-conventional pathway(s) by which peptides produced from intracellular proteins are secreted. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: An Updated Secretome.     

Variations in the Lipid Compositions and in the Lipid Molecular Species of Lipomyces starkeyi Cultivated in the Glucose Sufficient and the Glucose Deficient Media

The lipid compositions, fatty acid compositions, positional distributions of fatty acids in glycerides, and molecular species of phospholipids of L. starkeyi, cultured in the glucose sufficient and the glucose deficient media were compared.

Under the glucose sufficient condition, the triglyceride content increased, accompanied by the remarkable increase of C_16:0–C_18:1–C_18:0. The phospholipid content also increased with the variations of the compositions of molecular species in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine.

Under the glucose deficient condition, the triglyceride content remarkably decreased, especially in C_18:1–C_18:1–C_18:1. The compositions of phospholipid molecular species were considerably different from those of the glucose sufficient condition.     

枯草芽孢杆菌JA产生的脂肽类抗生素－iturin A的纯化 及电喷雾质谱鉴定

枯草芽孢杆菌JA产生的抗生素对植物病原真菌具有广谱抗性,明确抗生素的种类是进一步研究的基础.用6mol/L盐酸沉淀JA菌株的去菌体培养基,再用甲醇抽提获得抗生素的粗提物.利用反相HPLC系统,将粗提物过Diamonsil C18柱,收集有抗小麦赤霉病等病原真菌活性的化合物1、2.运用电喷雾质谱法(ESI/MS)测得其分子量分别为1042.4D和1056.5D.再利用碰撞诱导解离(CID)技术获得化合物的典型结构特征离子碎片,结果表明分子量为1042.4D的化合物一级结构为Pro-Asn-Tyr-βAA-Asn-Tyr-Asn-Gln(βAA为14个碳原子的氨基脂肪酸),属于脂iturin A.化合物1、2为相差一个亚甲基(-CH2)的iturin A同系物.研究结果提供了一种从枯草芽孢杆菌发酵液中快速分离纯化和鉴定脂肽类抗生素iturin A的新方法.     

Products Formed by Photosensitized Oxidation of Tocopherols

Two isomers of primary products formed by méthylene blue sensitized photooxidation of δ-tocopherol were separated by thin layer chromatography. The products were characterized by UV, IR and NMR spectra and were identified to be 8aS- and 8aR-hydroperoxy δ-tocopheryl dienones, respectively. On decomposition of the photooxidized α-, γ- and δ-tocopherols, to-copheryl quinone and tocopheryl quinone epoxide were formed. The effect of hydroperoxy 5-tocopheryl dienone on methyl linoleate peroxidation was examined. The hydroperoxy dienone formed by the photooxidation of tocopherols did not accelerate lipid peroxidation.     

液相串联质谱法同时定量检测生物样本中鞘脂类化合物

鞘脂类中的主要活性分子鞘氨醇1-磷酸（S1P）,可通过介导细胞增殖、分化和迁移等发挥广泛的生物学功能|同时,S1P可在相关酶的作用下转变为其它形式.本文旨在建立一种简便的鞘脂类的制备方法,并结合液相串联质谱（LC-MS/MS）快速检测生物样本中纳克水平的鞘脂类化合物. 采用甲醇沉淀或经典的脂质提取方法获得鞘脂类化合物,再采用LC-MS/MS在多反应监测模式（MRM）下进行定量分析. 实验结果表明,甲醇沉淀法可简便快捷地获得血浆或脂蛋白中鞘氨醇类化合物; S1P、二氢鞘氨醇（DH-S1P）和鞘氨醇（SPH）的定量限分别为110.5、215.6和44.3 pg;人血浆中S1P、DH-S1P和SPH的含量分别为257.8±49.4 nmol/L、93.5±17.3 nmol/L和44.6± 7.4 nmol/L, 鞘脂类化合物在人血浆脂蛋白上的分布存在显著性差异|在ApoE-/-小鼠血浆中S1P、DH-S1P和SPH的含量分别为590.1±78.2 nmol/L、197.8±60.6 nmol/L和35.4±16.7 nmol/L|每1×106个人脐静脉内皮细胞（EA.hy926）中,S1P和SPH的含量分别为103.7±21.8 pg和16.3±5.3 ng.甲醇沉淀法结合LC-MS/MS可简便快捷地对血浆和脂蛋白中的鞘脂类化合物进行定量检测. 该方法特别适用于大量生物样本中鞘脂类的快速定量分析.     

A new derivative for oxosteroid analysis by mass spectrometry

Here we report a new method for oxosteroid identification utilizing “tandem mass tag hydrazine” (TMTH) carbonyl-reactive derivatisation reagent. TMTH is a reagent with a chargeable tertiary amino group attached through a linker to a carbonyl-reactive hydrazine group. Thirty oxosteroids were analysed after derivatisation with TMTH by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and were found to give high ion-currents compared to underivatised molecules. ESI-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis of the derivatives yielded characteristic fragmentation patterns with specific mass reporter ions derived from the TMT group. A shotgun ESI-MS method incorporating TMTH derivatisation was applied to a urine sample.     

Characterization of a noncovalent lipocalin complex by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to identify the nature of the ligand that binds noncovalently to siderocalin (lipocalin 2). The folded state siderocalin-ligand complex was separated from free, unfolded siderocalin using reversed phase chromatography, and the molecular weight of the siderocalin ligand was then determined from the deconvoluted molecular weights of the complex and of the free protein. The ligand was identified as dihydroxybenzoyl-serine, a breakdown product of enterobactin, an iron-chelating compound ("siderophore") synthesized in bacteria. These results demonstrate that, in some cases, electrostatic noncovalent protein complexes can survive the denaturing conditions of reversed phase liquid chromatography and the gas phase transfer occurring during electrospray ionization.     

Classification and identification of bacteria using mass spectrometry-based proteomics

Timely classification and identification of bacteria is of vital importance in many areas of public health. Mass spectrometry-based methods provide an attractive alternative to well-established microbiologic procedures. Mass spectrometry methods can be characterized by the relatively high speed of acquiring taxonomically relevant information. Gel-free mass spectrometry proteomics techniques allow for rapid fingerprinting of bacterial proteins using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry or, for high-throughput sequencing of peptides from protease-digested cellular proteins, using mass analysis of fragments from collision-induced dissociation of peptide ions. The latter technique uses database searching of product ion mass spectra. A database contains a comprehensive list of protein sequences translated from protein-encoding open reading frames found in bacterial genomes. The results of such searches allow the assignment of experimental peptide sequences to matching theoretical bacterial proteomes. Phylogenetic profiles of sequenced peptides are then used to create a matrix of sequence-to-bacterium assignments, which are analyzed using numerical taxonomy tools. The results thereof reveal the relatedness between bacteria, and allow the taxonomic position of an investigated strain to be inferred.     

Comparison of molecular species of various transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine (PS) with bovine cortex PS by mass spectrometry

The exogenous introduction of a molecular species mixture of bovine cortex phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) has been claimed to improve memory function in subjects suffering from age-associated memory impairment and dementia. However, it has been also reported that oral administration of another molecular species mixture of transphosphatidylated-soybean phosphatidylserine (T-Soy-PS) showed a little effect in older individuals with memory complaints. In this study, a new type of mixture of transphosphatidylated-fish liver phosphatidylserine (T-FL-PS) species, as well as intact molecular species of the two commercial products of T-Soy-PS made in the United States and Europe, were characterized by mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry, and molecular species of various transphosphatidylated PSs, including T-FL-PS, T-Soy-PS and transphosphatidylated-squid skin phosphatidylserine (T-SS-PS) were then compared with those of BC-PS for the first time. The results show that (i) the presence of a relatively high content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-containing species (more than 45%) is remarkable in T-FL-PS, (ii) DHA-ether PS species are found only in T-FL-PS, especially the species (about 17%) made from marine fish liver, rather than BC-PS and T-SS-PS, and (iii) DHA species present in both T-FL-PS and T-SS-PS are significantly enriched, compared with those in BC-PS (about 10%) and T-Soy-PS (no DHA species). We conclude that mixtures of T-FL-PS and T-SS-PS species are considered to be qualified alternatives of BC-PS supplement used as brain nutrients. It is expected that intact structural information on molecular species in current and potential transphosphatidylated PS products provided here will be useful in the further study and development of therapeutic roles of the phospholipid at molecular species level.     

Validation of salivary cortisol and testosterone assays in chimpanzees by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry

Owing to its high temporal sensitivity, saliva has distinct advantages for measuring steroids, compared with other noninvasive samples such as urine and feces. Here, we report the validity of assaying salivary cortisol (C) and testosterone (T) using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) in captive male chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes. For both the C and T concentrations, we found positive relationships between saliva and plasma. The concentrations of C and T in saliva showed clear patterns of diurnal fluctuation, whereas those in urine and feces did not. These results suggest that the salivary steroid concentrations can be regarded as good indicators of circulating steroid levels. We also developed and validated an efficient method for collecting saliva samples from cotton rope. Although rope includes inherent steroid‐like compounds and may affect the accuracy of steroid measurements, our rope‐washing procedures effectively removed intrinsic steroidal materials. There was a significant association between the C and T concentrations measured from saliva collected from rope licked by the chimpanzees and those measured from saliva collected directly from the mouth. Salivary T values estimated by LC/MS‐MS were similar to those measured by radioimmunoassay. The results indicate the usefulness of saliva as a noninvasive steroid measure and that steroids in the saliva of chimpanzees can be accurately measured by LC‐MS/MS. Am. J. Primatol. 71:696–706, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Comparative analysis of secreted proteins from normal and preeclamptic trophoblastic cells using proteomic approaches

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pathology of pregnancy which represents the main cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Defective placentation is the first event of this pathology. The purpose of this study was to identify the proteins secreted by cytotrophoblastic cells (CTB) using proteomic approach that are associated with PE. Comparison of secreted proteins by mass spectrometry allowed us to identify 21 proteins which were significantly differentially secreted by control and PE CTB. One protein has been detected exclusively in supernatant of control CTB and was identified as factor XIII chain A. To determine if this observation is due to a difference of protein secretion or gene expression, its mRNA was quantified in all CTB. We found that it was significantly decreased in PE CTB compared to control. Collectively, these data suggest that decrease of factor XIII chain A might be associated with development of PE.