Palmitoylated proteins: purification and identification

J Wan, AF Roth, AO Bailey, NG Davis - Nature protocols, 2007 - nature.com
J Wan, AF Roth, AO Bailey, NG Davis
Nature protocols, 2007nature.com
This proteomic protocol purifies and identifies palmitoylated proteins (ie, S-acylated
proteins) from complex protein extracts. The method relies on an acyl-biotinyl exchange
chemistry in which biotin moieties are substituted for the thioester-linked protein acyl-
modifications through a sequence of three in vitro chemical steps:(i) blockade of free thiols
with N-ethylmaleimide;(ii) cleavage of the Cys-palmitoyl thioester linkages with
hydroxylamine; and (iii) labeling of thiols, newly exposed by the hydroxylamine, with biotin …
Abstract
This proteomic protocol purifies and identifies palmitoylated proteins (i.e., S-acylated proteins) from complex protein extracts. The method relies on an acyl-biotinyl exchange chemistry in which biotin moieties are substituted for the thioester-linked protein acyl-modifications through a sequence of three in vitro chemical steps: (i) blockade of free thiols with N-ethylmaleimide; (ii) cleavage of the Cys-palmitoyl thioester linkages with hydroxylamine; and (iii) labeling of thiols, newly exposed by the hydroxylamine, with biotin–HPDP (Biotin-HPDP-N-[6-(Biotinamido)hexyl]-3′-(2′-pyridyldithio)propionamide. The biotinylated proteins are then affinity-purified using streptavidin–agarose and identified by multi-dimensional protein identification technology (MuDPIT), a high-throughput, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)–based proteomic technology. MuDPIT also affords a semi-quantitative analysis that may be used to assess the gross changes induced to the global palmitoylation profile by mutation or drugs. Typically, 2–3 weeks are required for this analysis.
nature.com