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High selectivity quantification of protein isoforms using MRM³ workflow

CYP450 isoform quantification Using the QTRAP 4500 system

Kelli Jonakin, Christie Hunter
SCIEX, USA

Abstract

MRM³ analysis enables higher specificity peptide detection and therefore better quantification of peptide from highly complex samples. Specific detection of CYP450 isoforms is enabled using MRM³ analysis on the QTRAP 4500 System.

Introduction

The cytochrome P450 protein superfamily of mono-oxygenases is the major phase-I enzyme system responsible for metabolism of most drugs and other foreign chemicals, frequently resulting in the formation of toxic drug metabolites. In higher eukaryotes, there are over 70 families of P450s involved in drug metabolism, comprising over 200 different isoforms, with diverse substrate specificities and inducible by different drugs or chemicals. These proteins share substantial sequence homology making quantification of specific isoforms challenging.

Quantitation of proteins by Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) requires selection of peptides which are unique to the sequence of the protein of interest. When a protein is part of a protein family with very high sequence similarity, this can often restrict the choice of unique peptides for quantification to those that are not proteotypic, and are present at lower abundance. Therefore, having an additional level of selectivity in the MS quantification methods can be of upmost importance for the analysis of similar protein isoforms in complex matrices. The MRM³ workflow¹ that is possible on the QTRAP Systems is a high selectivity method that provides additional specificity by monitoring the secondary product ions of a peptide of interest, rather than just the product ions (Figure 1). In this work, the CYP450 3A5 protein (which shares ~80% amino acid sequence identity with isoform 3A4) is specifically quantified in liver microsomes by monitoring unique peptides to 3A5 protein.

Key features of the QTRAP 4500 System for peptide quantification

High sensitivity, fast scanning linear ion trap enables the MRM³ workflow for high selectivity quantification of peptides in complex proteomic matrices (Figure 1).

High ion trap sensitivity – the QTRAP Systems feature a high sensitivity ion trap mass analyzer
Faster linear ion trap scan speeds – Scan speeds up to 20,000 Da/sec enable MS³ scans with an HPLC compatible cycle time. Extracted ion chromatograms (XICs) of second generation product ions can be extracted and integrated with a sufficient number of data points across the chromatographic peak.
Better in-trap fragmentation – the Linear Accelerator™ Trap with pulsed gas valve implemented in the QTRAP 4500 System provides faster, more efficient in-trap fragmentation²
High selectivity – Unit isolation of precursor ions in Q1 followed by excitation and fragmentation at unit resolution in the ion trap provides the highest available selectivity in MRM³ analysis

Methods

Sample preparation: Synthetic tryptic peptides to the CYP450 3A5 protein (both isotopically heavy and light) were used to design MRM and MRM³ assays (Figure 2). Standard concentration curves were constructed using the standard peptides in digested human liver microsomes (~1 ug of protein matrix on column). Light peptides were added as an internal standard and heavy labeled peptides dosed at levels between 305 amol to 805 fmol on column.

Chromatography: Analysis of peptide quantitation curves was performed on a nanoflow LC system in trap elute mode. In each injection, sample was desalted on a 200 µm x 6 mm trap and then eluted onto a 200 µm x 150 mm column for MS analysis. Both the trap and column chips were filled with ChromXP™ C18-CL 3μm 120Å reversed phase material. Peptides were separated using a linear gradient formed by A (2% ACN, 0.1% FA) and B (98% ACN, 0.1% FA) from 10–30% of B over 45 minutes at a flow of 1 µL/min.

Mass spectrometry: The MS analysis was performed on a QTRAP 4500 System (SCIEX) using MRM and MRM³ analysis. MRM analysis was performed at Unit resolution in both Q1 and Q3 quadrupoles. MRM³ analysis was performed using the MS/MS/MS scan function. Precursor ions were isolated in Q1 using unit resolution, first-generation product ions were generated in the Q2 collision cell using an optimized collision energy and trapped in the Q3 linear ion trap for 100 ms. A suitable first-generation product ion was isolated and further excited by resonance excitation for 25 ms to produce second-generation fragments, which are scanned out of the trap at 10000 Da/sec for a total cycle time of 1370 ms per peptide.

Data processing: Data was processed using MultiQuant™ Software. MRM peak areas were integrated, either individually or summed together. MRM³ peak areas were determined by summing the integration of secondary product ions using extraction widths of 0.5 Da.

Developing MRM and MRM³ assays

When a peptide is fragmented in the collision cell, a number of product ions are generated that can be assessed for use in MRM³ experiment (Figure 2, top). For the DTINFLSK peptide, the dominant y5 ion was isolated and fragmented in the linear ion trap to generate an MS³ spectrum (Figure 2, middle). Multiple secondary product ions are extracted using a width of 0.5 Da and summed together to produce the MRM³ signal shown (Figure 2, bottom). Integration of the resulting peak provides the quantitative data.

Increased selectivity improves LLOQs

The MRM³ workflow provides further specificity compared to MRM alone due to the additional level of selectivity obtained by monitoring secondary product ions. Three MRM transitions for the peptide DTINFLSK are shown at 4.8 fmol on column in Figure 3, top. Higher flow rates provided by the 200 µm cHiPLC column yield good peak shape; however, 2 of the 3 transitions showed significant interferences. The MRM³ data shows much better specificity (Figure 3, bottom). A similar observation was made for the SLGPVGFMK peptide, where two of the three monitored MRM transitions showed some interference, but the MRM³ data was very clean (Figure 5).

Concentrations curves for two peptides to the CYP 3A5 protein were generated in digested liver microsomes using heavy isotope labeled peptide standards. Both MRM and MRM³ assays were performed, and lower limits of quantitation (LLOQ) determined by processing in MultiQuant Software. For both peptides, the MRM³ assay provided lower limits of quantitation than the MRM assay. Quantitation limits of 1.2 fmol were obtained for MRM³, and actual signal at this level is shown in Figure 4 and 6, bottom. Good linearity was obtained across the concentration range interrogated – from LLOQ of 1.2 fmol to 805fmol on column in 1 µg of digested protein (Figure 4 and 6, top).

Conclusions

The quadrupole selectivity and linear ion trap sensitivity of the QTRAP 4500 System combine to produce a sensitive, flexible system for targeted peptide quantitation. MRM transitions designed for tryptic peptides to a protein are the standard method for quantitation of proteins by mass spectrometry. While MRM transitions can be very sensitive and selective, sometimes added selectivity is required due to the complexity of the matrices and the need to monitor unique low abundance peptides.

The speed and sensitivity of the linear ion trap on the QTRAP 4500 System make MRM³ analysis a robust quantitative strategy for peptides in complex matrices when significant background / interferences are present.
The increased selectivity of MRM³ allowed for the elimination of chromatographic interference, resulting in superior analytical performance compared to traditional MRM.

References

MRM³ quantitation for highest specificity in complex matrices. SCIEX technical note RUO-MKT-02-2739-A.
Powerful Scan Modes of QTRAP System Technology. SCIEX technical note RUO-MKT-02-8611-A.