Identifying specific protein interaction partners using quantitative mass spectrometry and bead proteomes

The identification of interaction partners in protein complexes is a major goal in cell biology. Here we present a reliable affinity purification strategy to identify specific interactors that combines quantitative SILAC-based mass spectrometry with characterization of common contaminants binding to affinity matrices (bead proteomes). This strategy can be applied to affinity purification of either tagged fusion protein complexes or endogenous protein complexes, illustrated here using the well-characterized SMN complex as a model. GFP is used as the tag of choice because it shows minimal nonspecific binding to mammalian cell proteins, can be quantitatively depleted from cell extracts, and allows the integration of biochemical protein interaction data with in vivo measurements using fluorescence microscopy. Proteins binding nonspecifically to the most commonly used affinity matrices were determined using quantitative mass spectrometry, revealing important differences that affect experimental design. These data provide a specificity filter to distinguish specific protein binding partners in both quantitative and nonquantitative pull-down and immunoprecipitation experiments.     

Identifying dynamic interactors of protein complexes by quantitative mass spectrometry

Dynamically interacting proteins associate and dissociate with their binding partners at high on/off rates. Although their identification is of great significance to proteomics research, lack of an efficient strategy to distinguish stable and dynamic interactors has hampered the efforts toward this goal. In this work, we developed a new method, MAP (mixing after purification)-SILAC (stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture), to quantitatively investigate the interactions of protein complexes by mass spectrometry. In combination with the original SILAC approach, stable and dynamic components were effectively distinguished by the differences in their relative abundance ratio changes. We applied the newly developed strategies to decipher the dynamics of the human 26 S proteasome-interacting proteins. A total of 67 putative human proteasome-interacting proteins were identified by the MAP-SILAC method among which 14 proteins would have been misidentified as background proteins due to low relative abundance ratios in standard SILAC experiments and 57 proteins have not been reported previously. In addition, 35 of the 67 proteins were classified as stable interactors of the proteasome complex, whereas 16 of them were identified as dynamic interactors. The methods reported here provide a valuable expansion of proteomics technologies for identification of important but previously unidentifiable interacting proteins.     

Deciphering protein complexes and protein interaction networks by tandem affinity purification and mass spectrometry: analytical perspective

We employed a combination of tandem affinity purification and mass spectrometry for deciphering protein complexes and the protein interaction network in budding yeast. 53 genes were epitope-tagged, and their interaction partners were isolated by two-step immunoaffinity chromatography from whole cell lysates. 38 baits pulled down a total of 220 interaction partners, which are members of 19 functionally distinct protein complexes. We identified four proteins shared between complexes of different functionality thus charting segments of a protein interaction network. Concordance with the results of genome-wide two-hybrid screening was poor (14% of identified interactors overlapped) suggesting that the two approaches may provide complementary views on physical interactions within the proteome.     

Quantitative proteomic analysis of protein complexes: concurrent identification of interactors and their state of phosphorylation

Protein complexes have largely been studied by immunoaffinity purification and (mass spectrometric) analysis. Although this approach has been widely and successfully used it is limited because it has difficulties reliably discriminating true from false protein complex components, identifying post-translational modifications, and detecting quantitative changes in complex composition or state of modification of complex components. We have developed a protocol that enables us to determine, in a single LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis, the true protein constituents of a complex, to detect changes in the complex composition, and to localize phosphorylation sites and estimate their respective stoichiometry. The method is based on the combination of fourplex iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) isobaric labeling and protein phosphatase treatment of substrates. It was evaluated on model peptides and proteins and on the complex Ccl1-Kin28-Tfb3 isolated by tandem affinity purification from yeast cells. The two known phosphosites in Kin28 and Tfb3 could be reproducibly shown to be fully modified. The protocol was then applied to the analysis of samples immunopurified from Drosophila melanogaster cells expressing an epitope-tagged form of the insulin receptor substrate homologue Chico. These experiments allowed us to identify 14-3-3epsilon, 14-3-3zeta, and the insulin receptor as specific Chico interactors. In a further experiment, we compared the immunopurified materials obtained from tagged Chico-expressing cells that were either treated with insulin or left unstimulated. This analysis showed that hormone stimulation increases the association of 14-3-3 proteins with Chico and modulates several phosphorylation sites of the bait, some of which are located within predicted recognition motives of 14-3-3 proteins.     

Simple protein complex purification and identification method for high-throughput mapping of protein interaction networks

Most current methods for purification and identification of protein complexes use endogenous expression of affinity-tagged bait, tandem affinity tag purification of protein complexes followed by specific elution of complexes from beads, and gel separation and in-gel digestion prior to mass spectrometric analysis of protein interactors. We propose a single affinity tag in vitro pull-down assay with denaturing elution, trypsin digestion in organic solvent, and LC-ESI MS/MS protein identification using SEQUEST analysis. Our method is simple and easy to scale-up and automate, making it suitable for high-throughput mapping of protein interaction networks and functional proteomics.     

Chemical proteomics for drug discovery based on compound-immobilized affinity chromatography

Chemical proteomics is an effective approach to focused proteomics, having the potential to find specific interactors in moderate-scale comprehensive analysis. Unlike chemical genetics, chemical proteomics directly and comprehensively identifies proteins that bind specifically to candidate compounds by means of affinity chromatographic purification using the immobilized candidate, combined with mass spectrometric identification of interacting proteins. This is an effective approach for discovering unknown protein functions, identifying the molecular mechanisms of drug action, and obtaining information for optimization of lead compounds. However, immobilized-small molecule affinity chromatography always suffers from the problem of non-specific binders. Although several approaches were reported to reduce non-specific binding proteins, these are mainly focused on the use of low-binding-affinity beads or insertion of a spacer between the bead and the compound. Stable isotope labeling strategies have proven particularly advantageous for the discrimination of true interactors from many non-specific binders, including carrier proteins, such as serum albumin, and are expected to be valuable for drug discovery.     

Protein interactions of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) and its cancer-associated G20E mutant compared by using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture-based parallel affinity purification

The tumor suppressor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue) negatively regulates the PI3K pathway through its lipid phosphatase activity and is one of the most commonly lost tumor suppressors in human cancers. Though the tumor suppressive function involves the lipid phosphatase-dependent and -independent activities of PTEN, the mechanism leading to the phosphatase-independent function of PTEN is understood poorly. Some PTEN mutants have lipid phosphatase activity but fail to suppress cell growth. Here, we use a cancer-associated mutant, G20E, to gain insight into the phosphatase-independent function of PTEN by investigating protein-protein interactions using MS-based stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). A strategy named parallel affinity purification (PAP) and SILAC has been developed to prioritize interactors and to compare the interactions between wild-type and G20E PTEN. Clustering of the prioritized interactors acquired by the PAP-SILAC approach shows three distinct clusters: 1) wild-type-specific interactors, 2) interactors unique to the G20E mutant, and 3) proteins common to wild-type and mutant. These interactors are involved mainly in cell migration and apoptosis pathways. We further demonstrate that the wild-type-specific interactor, NUDTL16L1, is required for the regulatory function of wild-type PTEN in cell migration. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of the phosphatase-dependent and -independent functions of PTEN.     

Identification of novel protein-protein interactions using a versatile mammalian tandem affinity purification expression system

Identification of protein-protein interactions is essential for elucidating the biochemical mechanism of signal transduction. Purification and identification of individual proteins in mammalian cells have been difficult, however, due to the sheer complexity of protein mixtures obtained from cellular extracts. Recently, a tandem affinity purification (TAP) method has been developed as a tool that allows rapid purification of native protein complexes expressed at their natural level in engineered yeast cells. To adapt this method to mammalian cells, we have created a TAP tag retroviral expression vector to allow stable expression of the TAP-tagged protein at close to physiological levels. To demonstrate the utility of this vector, we have fused a TAP tag, consisting of a protein A tag, a cleavage site for the tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease, and the FLAG epitope, to the N terminus of human SMAD3 and SMAD4. We have stably expressed these proteins in mammalian cells at desirable levels by retroviral gene transfer and purified native SMAD3 protein complexes from cell lysates. The combination of two different affinity tags greatly reduced the number of nonspecific proteins in the mixture. We have identified HSP70 as a specific interacting protein of SMAD3. We demonstrated that SMAD3, but not SMAD1, binds HSP70 in vivo, validating the TAP purification approach. This method is applicable to virtually any protein and provides an efficient way to purify unknown proteins to homogeneity from the complex mixtures found in mammalian cell lysates in preparation for identification by mass spectrometry.     

Optimization of the isotope-coded affinity tag-labeling procedure for quantitative proteome analysis

The combination of isotope coded affinity tag (ICAT) reagents and tandem mass spectrometry constitutes a new method for quantitative proteomics. It involves the site-specific, covalent labeling of proteins with isotopically normal or heavy ICAT reagents, proteolysis of the combined, labeled protein mixture, followed by the isolation and mass spectrometric analysis of the labeled peptides. The method critically depends on labeling protocols that are specific, quantitative, general, robust, and reproducible. Here we describe the systematic evaluation of important parameters of the labeling protocol and describe optimized labeling conditions. The tested factors include the ICAT reagent concentration, the influence of the protein, SDS, and urea concentrations on the labeling reaction, and the reaction time. We demonstrate that using the optimized conditions specific and quantitative labeling was achieved on standard proteins as well as in complex protein mixtures such as a yeast cell lysate.     

Identification of intracellular proteins associated with the EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 5 using an efficient TAP procedure and FT-ICR mass spectrometry

Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 5 (EBNA5) is one of the first viral proteins detected after primary EBV infection and has been shown to be required for efficient transformation of B lymphocytes. EBNA5 is a protein that has many suggested functions but the underlying biology remains to be clarified. To gain further insight into the biological roles of the proposed multifunctional EBNA5, we isolated EBNA5 containing protein complexes using a modified tandem affinity purification (TAP) method and identified the protein components by LC-MS/MS analysis of tryptic digests on a LTQ-FT-ICR mass spectrometer. The modified TAP tag contained a Protein A domain and a StrepTagII sequence separated by two Tobacco Etch Virus protease cleavage sites and was fused to the C-terminus of EBNA5. Our results confirmed the wide applicability of this two-step affinity purification strategy for purification of protein complexes in mammalian cells. A total of 147 novel putative EBNA5 interaction partners were identified, 37 of which were validated with LC-MS/MS in split-tag experiments or in co-immuno precipitates from HEK293 cell extracts. This subgroup included the Bcl2-associated Athanogene 2 (BAG2) co-chaperone involved in protein folding and renaturation, the 26S proteasome subunit 2 involved in regulation of ubiquitin/proteasome protein degradation, and the heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein M (hnRNP M) involved in pre-mRNA processing. These EBNA5 interactors were further verified by co-immunoprecipitations from cell extracts of three EBV-positive lymphoblastoid lines. The combination of the Hsp70, Hsc70, BAG2 and 26S proteasome subunit 2 interactors suggests that EBNA5 might have a functional relationship with protein quality control systems that recognize proteins with abnormal structures and either refold them to normal conformation or target them for degradation. Our study also confirms previously identified interactors including HA95, Hsp70, Hsc70, Hsp27, HAX-1, Prolyl 4-hydroxylase, S3a, and alpha- and beta-tubulin.     

Biotin tagging coupled with amino acid‐coded mass tagging for efficient and precise screening of interaction proteome in mammalian cells

In mammalian cells, when tandem affinity purification approach is employed, the existence of untagged endogenous target protein and repetitive washing steps together result in overall low yield of purified/stable complexes and the loss of weakly and transiently interacting partners of biological significance. To avoid the trade‐offs involving in methodological sensitivity, precision, and throughput, here we introduce an integrated method, biotin tagging coupled with amino acid‐coded mass tagging, for highly sensitive and accurate screening of mammalian protein–protein interactions. Without the need of establishing a stable cell line, using a short peptide tag which could be specifically biotinylated in vivo, the biotin‐tagged target/bait protein was then isolated along with its associates efficiently by streptavidin magnetic microbeads in a single step. In a pulled‐down complex amino acid‐coded mass tagging serves as “in‐spectra” quantitative markers to distinguish those bait‐specific interactors from non‐specific background proteins under stringent criteria. Applying this biotin tagging coupled with amino acid‐coded mass tagging approach, we first biotin‐tagged in vivo a multi‐functional protein family member, 14‐3‐3ε, which was expressed at close to endogenous level. Starting with approximately 20 millions of 293T cells which were significantly less than what needed for a tandem affinity purification run, 266 specific interactors of 14‐3‐3ε were identified in high confidence.     

Targeted cross-linking-mass spectrometry determines vicinal interactomes within heterogeneous RNP complexes

Proteomic and RNomic approaches have identified many components of different ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs), yet still little is known about the organization and protein proximities within these heterogeneous and highly dynamic complexes. Here we describe a targeted cross-linking approach, which combines cross-linking from a known anchor site with affinity purification and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify the changing vicinity interactomes along RNP maturation pathways. Our method confines the reaction radius of a heterobifunctional cross-linker to a specific interaction surface, increasing the probability to capture low abundance conformations and transient vicinal interactors too infrequent for identification by traditional cross-linking-MS approaches, and determine protein proximities within RNPs. Applying the method to two conserved RNA-associated complexes in Saccharomyces cerevisae, the mRNA export receptor Mex67:Mtr2 and the pre-ribosomal Nop7 subcomplex, we identified dynamic vicinal interactomes within those complexes and along their changing pathway milieu. Our results therefore show that this method provides a new tool to study the changing spatial organization of heterogeneous dynamic RNP complexes.     

A novel S3S‐TAP‐tag for the isolation of T‐cell interaction partners of adhesion and degranulation promoting adaptor protein

The identification of modular units of cellular function is a major goal for proteomic research. Protein complexes represent important building blocks defining functionality and deciphering their composition remains a major challenge. Here, we have designed a new tandem affinity purification (TAP) tag (termed S3S‐tag) for the isolation of protein complexes. Specifically, the immune cell protein ADAP that regulates integrin adhesion was fused either C‐ or N‐terminally to the S3S‐tag. After retroviral transduction of a vector containing S3S‐tagged ADAP and internal ribosomal entry site encoded enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), Jurkat T cells were sorted according to eGFP expression and further selected for expression of TAP‐tagged protein close to endogenous levels. The combination of a cleavable S‐tag and a Strep‐tag II allowed for the isolation of ADAP and associated proteins. Subsequently, stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture‐based mass spectrometric analysis was performed to identify potentially specific interaction partners. Co‐purification of the known interaction partner Src kinase‐associated phosphoprotein of 55 kDa indicates the validity of our approach, while the identification of the ENA/VASP family member EVL, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor GEF‐H1 and the adaptor protein DOCK2 corroborates a link between ADAP‐mediated integrin regulation and the cytoskeleton.