Top-down HPLC-ESI-MS detection of S-glutathionylated and S-cysteinylated derivatives of cystatin B and its 1-53 and 54-98 fragments in whole saliva of human preterm newborns

J Proteome Res. 2013 Feb 1;12(2):917-26. doi: 10.1021/pr300960f. Epub 2013 Jan 16.

Abstract

Analysis by a HPLC-ESI-MS top-down proteomic platform of specimens of human preterm newborn whole saliva evidenced high relative amounts of cystatin B and its S-glutathionylated,S-cysteinylated, and S-S 2-mer (on Cys(3)) derivatives, decreasing as a function of postconceptional age (PCA). The percentage of S-unmodified cystatin B was higher than the S-modified isoforms in the early PCA period, differently from adults where cystatin B was detectable only as S-modified derivatives. The percentage of S-modified derivatives increased as a function of PCA, reaching at the normal term of delivery values similar to those determined in at-term newborns, babies, and adults. Moreover, in the early PCA period, high relative amounts of the 1-53 and 54-98 cystatin B fragments were detected, decreasing as a function of PCA and disappearing at the normal term of delivery. In agreement with intact cystatin B, fragment 1-53 was detectable as S-unmodified and S-modified derivatives, and their percentages changed accordingly with the percentages of intact proteins, suggesting that the fragmentation process could be subsequent to and independent from the S-modification of the protein. This study highlights specific enzymatic activity in the oral cavity of preterm newborns not present in at-term newborns and adults, which can be a clue to specialized pathways occurring during fetal oral development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cystatin B / analysis*
  • Cystatin B / metabolism
  • Cysteine / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glutathione / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis*
  • Saliva / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Substances

  • CSTB protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Cystatin B
  • Glutathione
  • Cysteine