Glycoproteomic analysis of human fibrinogen reveals novel regions of O-glycosylation

J Proteome Res. 2012 Dec 7;11(12):5804-14. doi: 10.1021/pr3005937. Epub 2012 Oct 29.

Abstract

Human fibrinogen is a 340 kDa, soluble plasma glycoprotein composed of paired sets of three subunits (α, β, γ). The protein plays a crucial role in protecting the vascular network against the loss of blood after tissue injury. The beta and gamma subunits each contain one N-glycosylation site, each of which is occupied by a biantennary N-glycan. So far O-linked oligosaccharides have rarely been described. Here, we make use of tryptic- and proteinase K-generated fibrinogen glycopeptides for the detailed analysis of the protein's O-glycosylation by combining information obtained from both one- and two-dimensional nanoLC-ESI-ion trap (IT)-MS approaches. Glycopeptides were analyzed by ion trap-MS/MS which displayed fragmentations of glycosidic linkages and some peptide backbone cleavages. MS3 spectra of the generated O-glycopeptides showed cleavages of the peptide backbone and provided essential information on the peptide sequence. The previously reported N-glycan attachment sites of human fibrinogen could be confirmed. Moreover, we describe seven novel O-glycosylation regions in human fibrinogen, all occupied by a monosialylated T-antigen. Our findings may help to improve the general understanding of human fibrinogen in the blood clotting process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Endopeptidase K / chemistry
  • Fibrinogen / analysis*
  • Fibrinogen / chemistry
  • Glycopeptides / analysis*
  • Glycopeptides / chemistry
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nanotechnology
  • Oligosaccharides / analysis
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Proteolysis
  • Proteome / analysis*
  • Proteome / chemistry
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Trypsin / chemistry

Substances

  • Glycopeptides
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Proteome
  • Fibrinogen
  • Trypsin
  • Endopeptidase K