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HomeProtein Labeling & ModificationPost Translational Modification

Post Translational Modification

Most proteins undergo some form of modification following translation. These modifications result in mass changes that are detected during analysis (Chart 1). Post-translational modifications such as glycosylation, phosphorylation, and sulfation, to name a few, serve many functions. As a result, the analysis of proteins and their post-translational modifications is particularly important for the study of diseases where multiple genes are known to be involved, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Phosphorylation

Reversible phosphorylation is one of the most important and well-studied post-translational modifications. Most commonly occurring on threonine, serine and tyrosine residues, phosphorylation plays critical roles in the regulation of many cellular processes including: cell cycle, growth, apoptosis and differentiation. Thus, the identification and characterization of phosphorylation sites is crucial for the understanding of various signaling events. Mass spectrometry (MS) of phosphopeptides obtained from tryptic protein digests has become a powerful tool for characterization (Stensballe, A., et al., 2000). However, there is a general need to significantly enrich samples for phosphopeptide content in order to compensate for low abundance, poor ionization, and suppression effects (Zhou, W., et al., 2000).

Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) has been commonly used for purification of phosphorylated compounds. Our PHOS-Select™ Iron Affinity Gel is prepared with a novel iron [Fe(III)] chelate matrix based on our proprietary (patent pending) NTA analog chelate ligand. That matrix provides high capacity affinity binding of molecules containing phosphate groups, making these products ideal for the enrichment of phosphopeptides from protein tryptic digests, or small organic phosphocompounds (e.g. adenosine 5’-monophosphate). They can also be used for direct transfer of phosphocompounds for analysis by HPLC or mass spectrometry.

Glycosylation

One of the most common post-translational modifications of proteins is glycosylation, the covalent attachment of oligosaccharides. Carbohydrates in the form of asparagine-linked (N-linked) or serine/threonine-linked (O-linked) oligosaccharides are major structural components of many cell surface and secreted proteins. Glycoproteins play crucial roles in cellular processes such as protein sorting, immune recognition, receptor binding, inflammation, and pathogenicity.

The diversity of oligosaccharide structures often results in heterogeneity in the mass and charge of glycoproteins. This complex nature of glycosylation presents problems for proteomic analysis. We simplify the analysis of glycoproteins by offering deglycosylation kits, a number of individual glycosidases and several glycosylation inhibitors. Glycoprotein stains, labeled lectins and lectin resins are also available for the detection or purification of glycoproteins.

Enrichment of Biotinylated Peptides in Proteomics Application (e.g. ICAT)

Our Streptavidin HC (High Capacity) multiwell plates are prepared with a highly-porous, high-density streptavidin coating. Streptavidin has similar biotin-binding characteristics as avidin. Streptavidin can bind 4 moles of biotin per mole of protein with high selectivity and affinity (Kd~10-15). Unlike avidin, streptavidin has a near neutral pI that alleviates non-specific binding commonly associated with the basic avidin protein.

Chart of mass changes resulting from typical post-translational modifications of proteins and peptides.

ModificationMonoisotopic Mass ChangeAverage Mass Change
Homeserine formed from Met by CNBR treatment-29.99281-30.0935
Pyroglutamic acid formed from Gln-17.02655-17.0306
Disulphide bond formation-2.01565-2.0159
C-terminal amide formed from Gly-0.98402-0.9847
Deamidation of Asn and Gln0.98402-0.9847
Methylation14.0156514.0269
Hydroxylation15.9949115.9994
Oxidation of Met15.9949115.9994
Formylation27.9949128.0104
Acetylation42.0105642.0373
Carboxylation of Asp and Glu43.9898344.0098
Carboxyamidomethylcysteine (Cam) from Cys (iodoacetamide)57.0214657.0520
Carboxymethylcysteine (Cme) from Cys (iodoacetic acid)
58.0054858.0367
Phosphorylation79.9663379.9799
Sulphation79.9568280.0624
Pyridylethyleysteine (PE-Cys) from Cys (4-vinylpyridine)105.05785105.1393
Cysteinylation119.00410119.1442
Pentoses (Ara, Rib, Xyl)132.04226132.1161
Deoxyhexoses (Fuc, Rha)146.05791146.1430
Hexosamines (GalN, GlcN)191.06881161.1577
Hexoses (Fru, Gal, Glc, Man)162.05282162.1424
Lipoic acid (amide bond to lysine)188.03296188.3147
N-acetylhexosamines (GalNAc, GlcNAc)203.07937203.1950
Farnesylation204.18780204.3556
Myristoylation210.19836210.3598
Biotinylation (amide bond to lysine)226.07760226.2994
Pyridoxal phosphate (Schiff Base formed to lysine)231.02966231.1449
Palmitoylation238.22966238.4136
Stearoylation266.26096266.4674
Geranylgeranylation272.25040272.4741
N-acetylneuraminic acid (Sialic acid, NeuAc, NANA, SA)291.09542291.2579
Gluthathionylation305.06816305.3117
N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc)307.09033307.2573
5'-Adenosylation329.05252329.2091
4'-Phosphopantetheine339.07797339.3294
ADP-ribosylation (from NAD)541.06111541.3052
Methyl (Me)14.0156514.0269
Formyl (CHO)27.9949128.0104
Ehtyl (Et)28.0313028.0538
Acetyl (Ac)42.0105642.0373
t-Butyl (t-Bu)56.0626056.1075
Anisyl90.0469590.1246
Benzyl (Bzl)90.0469590.1246
Trifluoroacetyl (Tfa)95.9823096.0087
N-hydroxysuccinimide (ONSu, Osu)97.0163897.0734
T-Butyloxycarbonyl (Boc)100.05243100.1173
Benzoyl (Bz)104.02621104.1082
4-Methylbenzyl (Meb)104.06260104.1515
Thioanisyl106.02411106.1912
Benzyloxymethyl (Bom)120.05751120.1509
4-Nitrophenyl (Onp)121.01638121.0954
Benzyloxycarbonyl (Z)134.03678134.1344
2-Nitrobenzoyl (NBz)149.01129149.1058
2-Nitrophenylsulphenyl (Nps)152.98845153.1614
4-Toluenesulphonyl (Tosyl, Tos)154.00885154.1894
Pentafluorophenyl (Pfp)165.98419166.0501
Diphenylmethyl (Dpm)166.07825166.2224
2-Chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl (Cl-Z)167.99781168.5792
2, 4, 5-Trichlorophenyl177.91438179.4320
2-Bromobenzyloxycarbonyl (Br-Z)211.94729213.0305
9-Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)222.06808222.2432
Triphenylmethyl (Triyl, Trt)242.10955242.3202
2, 2, 5, 7, 8-pentamehylchroman-6-sulphonyl (Pmc)266.09767266.3611
Chart 1
Materials
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