A Simple Cross-Linking/Mass Spectrometry Workflow for Studying System-wide Protein Interactions

Anal Chem. 2019 Aug 6;91(15):10236-10244. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02372. Epub 2019 Jul 19.

Abstract

We present a cross-linking/mass spectrometry workflow for performing proteome-wide cross-linking analyses within 1 week. The workflow is based on the commercially available mass spectrometry-cleavable cross-linker disuccinimidyl dibutyric urea and can be employed by every lab having access to a mass spectrometer with tandem mass spectrometry capabilities. We provide an updated version 2.0 of the freeware software tool MeroX, available at www.StavroX.com , that allows us to conduct fully automated and reliable studies delivering insights into protein-protein interaction networks and protein conformations at the proteome level. We exemplify our optimized workflow for mapping protein-protein interaction networks in Drosophila melanogaster embryos on a system-wide level. From cross-linked Drosophila embryo extracts, we detected 29931 cross-link spectrum matches corresponding to 7436 unique cross-linked residues in biological triplicate experiments at a 1% false discovery rate. Among these, 1611 interprotein cross-linking sites were identified and yielded valuable information about protein-protein interactions. The 5825 remaining intraprotein cross-links yield information about the conformational landscape of proteins in their cellular environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Proteome / analysis*
  • Software

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Proteome