Mapping yeast N-glycosites with isotopically recoded glycans

Mol Cell Proteomics. 2012 Jun;11(6):M111.015339. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M111.015339. Epub 2012 Jan 19.

Abstract

Asparagine-linked glycosylation is a common post-translational modification of proteins; in addition to participating in key macromolecular interactions, N-glycans contribute to protein folding, trafficking, and stability. Despite their importance, few N-glycosites have been experimentally mapped in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteome. Factors including glycan heterogeneity, low abundance, and low occupancy can complicate site mapping. Here, we report a novel mass spectrometry-based strategy for detection of N-glycosites in the yeast proteome. Our method imparts N-glycopeptide mass envelopes with a pattern that is computationally distinguishable from background ions. Isotopic recoding is achieved via metabolic incorporation of a defined mixture of N-acetylglucosamine isotopologs into N-glycans. Peptides bearing the recoded envelopes are specifically targeted for fragmentation, facilitating high confidence site mapping. This strategy requires no chemical modification of the N-glycans or stringent sample enrichment. Further, enzymatically simplified N-glycans are preserved on peptides. Using this approach, we identify 133 N-glycosites spanning 58 proteins, nearly doubling the number of experimentally observed N-glycosites in the yeast proteome.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / chemistry
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Consensus Sequence
  • Glycosylation
  • Isotope Labeling
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Mapping
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Proteome / chemistry
  • Proteome / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Peptide Fragments
  • Polysaccharides
  • Proteome
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Acetylglucosamine