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1. Identification of histone post-translational modifications in three tissues of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

   Mojica, EA*; Fu, Y; Kültz, D (January 2021, SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY 2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING)

   null (Ed.)

   Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) are epigenetic marks that modify the state of chromatin and lead to alterations in gene expression. Advances in mass spectrometry have enabled the high-throughput analysis of histone PTMs without the need for prior knowledge of individual PTMs of interest. In this study, the global histone PTM landscape was analyzed in the gills, kidney, and testes of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) through tandem mass spectrometry using data dependent acquisition (DDA-LCMS2) and PTM mapping approaches. PTM assignment to a specific amino acid was validated using A-score and localization probability scores that are based on the detection of diagnostic MSMS ions. These values signify the robustness of PTM assignment to a specific residue within the protein sequence. For PTMs that were represented by both modified and unmodified versions of the corresponding peptide, the stoichiometry was calculated and compared between tissues. We have identified multiple types of histone PTMs and assigned them to specific residues in each tissue. These PTMs include acetylation, methylation, demethylation, trimethylation, phosphorylation/ dehydration, and ubiquitination. Our results indicate that the gills, kidney, and testes each display a unique profile of histone PTMs. These data provide a strong basis for the generation of spectral libraries that enable high-throughput quantitative analyses of histone PTM stoichiometry on a global scale in tilapia exposed to diverse environmental and developmental contexts. 

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2. Post-Translational Modifications and Diabetes

   https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14030310  

   Sharma, Chiranjeev; Hamza, Abu; Boyle, Emily; Donu, Dickson; Cen, Yana (March 2024, Biomolecules)

   Diabetes and its associated complications have increasingly become major challenges for global healthcare. The current therapeutic strategies involve insulin replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and small-molecule drugs for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite these advances, the complex nature of diabetes necessitates innovative clinical interventions for effective treatment and complication prevention. Accumulative evidence suggests that protein post-translational modifications (PTMs), including glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, and SUMOylation, play important roles in diabetes and its pathological consequences. Therefore, the investigation of these PTMs not only sheds important light on the mechanistic regulation of diabetes but also opens new avenues for targeted therapies. Here, we offer a comprehensive overview of the role of several PTMs in diabetes, focusing on the most recent advances in understanding their functions and regulatory mechanisms. Additionally, we summarize the pharmacological interventions targeting PTMs that have advanced into clinical trials for the treatment of diabetes. Current challenges and future perspectives are also provided. 

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3. Proton-detected solution-state NMR at 14.1 T based on scalar-driven 13C Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmr.2022.107304  

   Soundararajan, Murari; Dubroca, Thierry; van_Tol, Johan; Hill, Stephen; Frydman, Lucio; Wi, Sungsool (October 2022, Journal of Magnetic Resonance)

   Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (ODNP) NMR of solutions at high fields is usually mediated by scalar couplings that polarize the nuclei of heavier, electron-rich atoms. This leaves 1H-detected NMR outside the realm of such studies. This study presents experiments that deliver 1H-detected NMR experiments on relatively large liquid volumes (60 ∼ 100 μL) and at high fields (14.1 T), while relying on ODNP enhancements. To this end 13C NMR polarizations were first enhanced by relying on a mechanism that utilizes e--13C scalar coupling interactions; the nuclear spin alignment thus achieved was then passed on to neighboring 1H for observation, by a reverse INEPT scheme relying on one-bond JCH-couplings. Such 13C 1H polarization transfer ported the 13C ODNP gains into the 1H, permitting detection at higher frequencies and with higher potential sensitivities. For a model solution of labeled 13CHCl3 comixed with a nitroxide-based TEMPO derivative as polarizing agent, an ODNP enhancement factor of ca. 5x could thus be imparted to the 1H signal. When applied to bigger organic molecules like 2-13C-phenylacetylene and 13C8-indole, ODNP enhancements in the 1.2-3x range were obtained. Thus, although handicapped by the lower γ of the 13C, enhancements could be imparted on the 1H thermal acquisitions in all cases. We also find that conventional 1H–13C nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOEs) are largely absent in these solutions due to the presence of co-dissolved radicals, adding negligible gains and playing negligible roles on the scalar e-→13C ODNP transfer. Potential rationalizations of these effects as well as extensions of these experiments, are briefly discussed. 

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4. A systematic assessment of structural heterogeneity and IgG/IgE-binding of ovalbumin

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d0fo02980g  

   Yang, Wenhua; Tu, Zongcai; McClements, David Julian; Kaltashov, Igor A. (August 2021, Food & Function)

   Ovalbumin (OVA), one of the major allergens in hen egg, exhibits extensive structural heterogeneity due to a range of post-translational modifications (PTMs). However, analyzing the structural heterogeneity of native OVA is challenging, and the relationship between heterogeneity and IgG/IgE-binding of OVA remains unclear. In this work, ion exchange chromatography (IXC) with salt gradient elution and on-line detection by native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) was used to assess the structural heterogeneity of OVA, while inhibition-ELISA was used to assess the IgG/IgE binding characteristics of OVA. Over 130 different OVA proteoforms (including glycan-free species and 32 pairs of isobaric species) were identified. Proteoforms with acetylation, phosphorylation, oxidation and succinimide modifications had reduced IgG/IgE binding capacities, whereas those with few structural modifications had higher IgG/IgE binding capacities. OVA isoforms with a sialic acid-containing glycan modification had the highest IgG/IgE binding capacity. Our results demonstrate that on-line native IXC/MS with salt gradient elution can be used for rapid assessment of the structural heterogeneity of proteins. An improved understanding of the relationship between IgG/IgE binding capacity and OVA structure provides a basis for developing biotechnology or food processing methods for reducing protein allergenicity reduction. 

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5. Evaluation of Non-Uniform Sampling 2D 1H–13C HSQC Spectra for Semi-Quantitative Metabolomics

   https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10050203  

   Zhang, Bo; Powers, Robert; O’Day, Elizabeth M. (May 2020, Metabolites)

   null (Ed.)

   Metabolomics is the comprehensive study of metabolism, the biochemical processes that sustain life. By comparing metabolites between healthy and disease states, new insights into disease mechanisms can be uncovered. NMR is a powerful analytical method to detect and quantify metabolites. Standard one-dimensional (1D) 1H-NMR metabolite profiling is informative but challenged by significant chemical shift overlap. Multi-dimensional NMR can increase resolution, but the required long acquisition times lead to limited throughput. Non-uniform sampling (NUS) is a well-accepted mode of acquiring multi-dimensional NMR data, enabling either reduced acquisition times or increased sensitivity in equivalent time. Despite these advantages, the technique is not widely applied to metabolomics. In this study, we evaluated the utility of NUS 1H–13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) for semi-quantitative metabolomics. We demonstrated that NUS improved sensitivity compared to uniform sampling (US). We verified that the NUS measurement maintains linearity, making it possible to detect metabolite changes across samples and studies. Furthermore, we calculated the lower limit of detection and quantification (LOD/LOQ) of common metabolites. Finally, we demonstrate that the measurements are repeatable on the same system and across different systems. In conclusion, our results detail the analytical capability of NUS and, in doing so, empower the future use of NUS 1H–13C HSQC in metabolomic studies. 

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