Publications

Viewing posts from the Publications category

30 Dec 2020

Recent publication highlights phosphoproteome analysis using FAIMS

By nickwiecien

Mass spectrometry is the premier tool for identifying and quantifying protein phosphorylation. Analysis of phosphopeptides requires enrichment, and even after that step, the samples remain highly complex and exhibit broad dynamic range of abundance. In a recent publication, Muehlbauer et al. describe a method for integrating a high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) device into the workflow. The data collected with FAIMS yielded a 26% increase in total reproducible measurements, leading researchers to conclude that the new FAIMS technology is a valuable addition to any phosphoproteomic workflow, with greater benefits emerging from longer analyses and higher amounts of material.

Read the publication here: Global Phosphoproteome Analysis Using High-Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry on a Hybrid Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer

23 Dec 2020

LipidGenie, a genome-guided lipid identification tool

By nickwiecien

Despite the crucial roles of lipids in metabolism, we are still in the early stages of annotating lipid species and their genetic basis. To help in this work, a team of researchers led by Vanessa Linke recently developed LipidGenie, an interactive, query-able resource for lipid identification. The research team used high-resolution liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to quantify 3,283 molecular features from the liver and plasma of outbred mice. These features were then mapped to 5,622 lipid quantitative trait loci, compiled and cross-referenced to the human genome.

Download the software and read the manuscript.

16 Dec 2020

Relish protein level affects secondary traumatic brain injuries

By nickwiecien

Brain trauma is caused by both primary and secondary injuries. Primary injuries result from the physical damage to the brain, and secondary injuries from the bodies’ responses to those injuries. A recent publication in Genetics by Swanson et al. describes using mass spectrometry to investigate secondary injuries in the Relish (Rel) protein level in fly heads after a primary brain injury. They found changes in Rel levels were necessary for secondary traumatic brain injuries to occur.

08 Dec 2020

Fast, unbiased proteome quantification without LC

By nickwiecien

Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) delivers sensitive peptide analysis for proteomics but requires extensive analysis time, reducing productivity. A recent paper by Meyer et al. titled “Quantitative shotgun proteome analysis by direct infusion” demonstrated that gas-phase peptide separation using direct infusion–shotgun proteome analysis enabled fast, unbiased proteome quantification without LC, and offered an approach to boost throughput, critical to studies that require analysis of thousands of proteomes.

02 Dec 2020

Gut microbiome may play a role in brain functions and behaviors

By nickwiecien

Gut microbiota can regulate host physiological and pathological status through gut–brain communications or pathways. However, the impact of the gut microbiome on the proteins involved in regulating brain functions and behaviors is still not clearly understood. In a recent publication by Liu et al., the author describes a combined label-free and 10-plex DiLeu-based quantitative method that enabled a comprehensive profiling of gut microbiome that induced dynamic changes, suggesting that the gut microbiome might mediate a range of behavioral changes, brain development, and learning and memory through these neuropeptides and proteins.

Liu R et al. Integrated Label-Free and 10-plex DiLeu Isobaric Tag Quantitative Methods for Profiling Changes in the Mouse Hypothalamic Neuropeptidome and Proteome: Assessment of the Impact of the Gut Microbiome. Analytical Chemistry.

18 Nov 2020

Argonaut enables collaborative data visualization and exploration

By nickwiecien

Argonaut is an online platform for collaborative exploration of multi-omic data described in this recent publication by Brademan et al.

Through this platform, information is presented using intuitive, interactive visualizations in a code-free environment, empowering both experts and non-experts worldwide to easily interact and share data.

The Argonaut platform aims to overcome the hurdles of working with large datasets and lower the barrier to entry for biological and clinical collaborators.

This and other software tools can be found here.

04 Nov 2020

DiLeu tagging for protein and phosphorylation quantification in parallel

By nickwiecien

For the first time, DiLeu tagging has been implemented for protein and phosphorylation quantification in parallel. This process was described in a recent publication by Zhong et al titled Highly multiplexed quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses in vascular smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation.

The research team developed a strategy that used 12-plex N,N-dimethyl leucine (DiLeu) isobaric tags together with the DiLeu software tool to globally assess protein expression and phosphorylation changes in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) treated with TGFβ/Smad3 and/or SDF-1α (stromal cell-derived factor).

The goal of this work was to develop insights into the mechanisms of TGFβ regulated SMC dedifferentiation, as well as effective therapeutics for vascular disease.

23 Oct 2020

Creating efficient and effective peptide fragmentation in tandem MS (MS/MS)

By nickwiecien

Photoactivation and photodissociation have long proven to be useful tools in tandem mass spectrometry, but implementation often involves cumbersome and potentially dangerous configurations. To remedy this problem, a fiber-optic cable was coupled to an infrared (IR) laser on a mass spectrometer. These advances allow for a more robust, straightforward, and safe instrumentation platform, permitting implementation of AI-ETD and IRMPD on commercial mass spectrometers and broadening the accessibility of these techniques.

This research is described in a recent Analytical Chemistry publication by Trent Peters-Clarke titled Optical Fiber-Enabled Photoactivation of Peptides and Proteins.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c02087
15 Oct 2020

Training opportunity leads to publication

By nickwiecien

In early 2020, a group of researchers from the University of Copenhagen spent a week at NCQBCS facilities to learning more about Activated Ion Electron Transfer Dissociation (AI-ETD) and how to apply it to their research. That training has led to a publication in Cell Reports titled Mapping physiological ADP-ribosylation using Activated Ion Electron Transfer Dissociation (AI-ETD). This work describes the use of AI-ETD for mass spec-based proteomics analysis of ADPr, which is known to play a pivotal role in a wide range of cellular processes.

For more information on training opportunities offered by NCQBCS visit the training section of our website.

07 Oct 2020

Li lab project uses DiLeu isobaric labeling to monitor neurotoxicity in chemotherapy in children

By nickwiecien

A new project by the Lingjun Li lab explores the use of the 4-plex N,N-dimethyl leucine (DiLeu) isobaric labeling strategy for protein identification and quantification in cerebrospinal fluid in children undergoing chemotherapy. The results from this and future studies will provide a means to monitor neurotoxicity and develop strategies to prevent central nervous system injury in response to chemotherapy in children.

The publication is Isobaric labeling strategy utilizing 4-plex N,N-dimethyl leucine (DiLeu) tags reveals proteomic changes induced by chemotherapy in cerebrospinal fluid of children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia from the Journal of Proteome Research.

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