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In mass spectrometry-based proteomics, heavy internal standards are used to validate target peptide detections and to calibrate peptide quantitation. Here, we report light contamination present in heavy labelled synthetic peptides of high isotopic enrichment. Application of such peptides as assay-internal standards potentially compromises the detection and quantitation especially of low abundant cellular peptides. Therefore, it is important to adopt guidelines to prevent false-positive identifications of endogenous light peptides as well as errors in their quantitation from biological samples.

In mass spectrometry-based proteomics, heavy internal standards are used to validate target peptide detections and to calibrate peptide quantification. Here we report light contamination present in heavy labelled synthetic peptides of high isotopic enrichment. Application of such peptides as assay-internal standards potentially compromises the detection and quantification especially of low abundant cellular peptides. Therefore, it is important to adopt guidelines to prevent false-positive identifications of endogenous light peptides as well as errors in their quantification from biological samples.

For rational design of therapeutic vaccines, detailed knowledge about target epitopes that are endogenously processed and truly presented on infected or transformed cells is essential. Many potential target epitopes (viral or mutation-derived), are presented at low abundance. Therefore, direct detection of these peptides remains a challenge. This study presents a method for the isolation and LC-MS3-based targeted detection of low-abundant human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class-I-presented peptides from transformed cells. Human papillomavirus (HPV) was used as a model system, as the HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 are attractive therapeutic vaccination targets and expressed in all transformed cells, but present at low abundance due to viral immune evasion mechanisms. The presented approach included preselection of target antigen-derived peptides by in silico predictions and in vitro binding assays. The peptide purification process was tailored to minimize contaminants after immunoprecipitation of HLA-peptide complexes, while keeping high isolation yields of low-abundant target peptides. The subsequent targeted LC-MS3 detection allowed for increased sensitivity, which resulted in successful detection of the known HLA-A2-restricted epitope E711–19 and ten additional E7-derived peptides on the surface of HPV16-transformed cells. T-cell reactivity was shown for all the 11 detected peptides in ELISpot assays, which shows that detection by our approach has high predictive value for immunogenicity. The presented strategy is suitable for validating even low-abundant candidate epitopes to be true immunotherapy targets.

Son of Sevenless 1 (SOS1) is a dual guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that activates the small GTPases RAC and RAS. Although the molecular mechanisms of RAS GEF catalysis have been unveiled, how SOS1 acquires RAC GEF activity and what is the physio-pathological relevance of this activity is much less understood. Here we show that SOS1 is tyrosine phosphorylated on Y1196 by ABL. Phosphorylation of Y1196 controls SOS1 inter-molecular interaction, is required to promote the exchange of nucleotides on RAC in vitro and for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) activation of RAC- and RAC-dependent actin remodeling and cell migration. SOS1 is also phosphorylated on Y1196 by BCR-ABL in chronic myelogenous leukemic cells. Importantly, in these cells, SOS1 is required for BCR-ABL-mediated activation of RAC, cell proliferation and transformation in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. Finally, genetic removal of Sos1 in the bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) from Sos1 fl/fl mice and infected with BCR-ABL causes a significant delay in the onset of leukemogenesis once BMDCs are injected into recipient, lethally irradiated mice. Thus, SOS1 is required for full transformation and critically contribute to the leukemogenic potential of BCR-ABL., This work has been supported by the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC 10168 and 18621), the Italian Ministries of Education- University-Research (MIUR-PRIN-2009X23L78), the International Association For Cancer Research (AICR-09-0582 and 14-0335), the CARIPLO Foundation (2010-0737) and the European Research Council (Advanced-ERC268836). ALI was supported by a Grant from der German Jose Carreras Stiftung (DJCLS R14/22) and a Grant from the Government Baden-Württemberg (MWK). CM was supported form a AECC fellowship, Spain.

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is a causal factor of ~50% of cervical cancers, and of ~95% of extra-cervical (other anogenital and oropharyngeal) HPV-mediated cancers. The aim of our group is to develop a therapeutic vaccine against HPV16-induced malignancies. To find optimal vaccine antigens, it is important to assess the effect of the tumor microenvironment on viral antigen presentation. Hypoxia has been reported to regulate HLA class-I expression levels in the context of various tumors. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the effect of hypoxia on various components of the antigen processing machinery (APM) in HPV16-positive tumor cells and on the HPV16 E6- and E7-derived HLA class-I epitope repertoire. We are investigating the effect of hypoxia on cervical cancer cells transformed with HPV16 variant lineages (European, Asian-American and African) correlated with differences in oncogenic potential. This is achieved by comparing cells cultured under hypoxia (1.2% O2) or normoxia (21% O2). We investigate E6 protein levels by immunoblotting and HLA-A2 surface expression by flow cytometry. Subsequently, quantitative PCR and immunoblotting are used to assess whether components of the APM are affected by hypoxia. Cervical cancer cell lines transformed by sublineages of the HPV16 European variant (CaSki and SNU17) showed a decrease in E6 protein levels upon hypoxic treatment. HLA-A2 levels were increased in SNU17 cells (HPV16 European Asian prototype), but no change was observed in CaSki cells (European Prototype 2). First qPCR experiments of SNU17 cells showed changes in additional components of the APM at the mRNA level, which still have to be assessed at the protein level. Cell lines transformed by HPV16 variants other than European will be subjected to the same analysis. Potential changes in the HPV16 epitope repertoire will be investigated using a targeted mass spectrometry-based epitope detection strategy established in the lab. These investigations may yield novel insights into HPV16 immune evasion pathways. Furthermore, the identification of epitopes that are presented under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions will provide optimal candidates for therapeutic vaccine design against HPV-induced malignancies. Citation Format: Nitya Mohan, Maria Bonsack, Jonas Förster, Alina Steinbach, Renata Blatnik, Mogjiborahman Salek, Angelika B. Riemer. Investigation of the effect of hypoxia on presentation of HPV16-derived antigens - implications for therapeutic vaccine design [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 578.

Recent advances in peptide-based (bottom-up) quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics have opened unprecedented opportunities for extensive investigation of cellular proteomes and their dynamics. Here we discuss two approaches currently used to investigate the global dynamics of phosphorylation based on the isolation of phosphorylated proteins or peptides. We evaluate the accuracy of these methodologies to grasp the global dynamics of phosphorylation, and we raise awareness on ambiguities inherent to these analyses. We conclude that further development of targeted approaches should prevent inaccurate conclusions about the nature of biological regulations and in particular kinase-substrate networks.

Early downstream responses of T lymphocytes following T cell antigen receptor (TCR) activation are mediated by protein complexes that assemble in domains of the plasma membrane. Using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture and mass spectrometry, we quantitatively related the proteome of αCD3 immunoisolated native TCR signaling plasma membrane domains to that of control plasma membrane fragments not engaged in TCR signaling. Proteins were sorted according to their relative enrichment in isolated TCR signaling plasma membrane domains, identifying a complex protein network that is anchored in the vicinity of activated TCR. These networks harbor widespread mediators of plasma membrane-proximal T cell activities, including propagation, balancing, and attenuation of TCR signaling, immune synapse formation, as well as cytoskeletal arrangements relative to TCR activation clusters. These results highlight the unique potential of systematic characterizations of plasma membrane-proximal T cell activation proteome in the context of its native lipid bilayer platform.

Summary T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and coreceptor ligation is thought to initiate signal transduction by inducing activation of the kinase Lck. Here we showed that catalytically active Lck was present in unstimulated naive T cells and thymocytes and was readily detectable in these cells in lymphoid organs. In naive T cells up to ∼40% of total Lck was constitutively activated, part of which was also phosphorylated on the C-terminal inhibitory site. Formation of activated Lck was independent of TCR and coreceptors but required Lck catalytic activity and its maintenance relied on monitoring by the HSP90-CDC37 chaperone complex to avoid degradation. The amount of activated Lck did not change after TCR and coreceptor engagement; however it determined the extent of TCR-ζ phosphorylation. Our findings suggest a dynamic regulation of Lck activity that can be promptly utilized to initiate T cell activation and have implications for signaling by other immune receptors., Highlights ► Active Lck is present in unstimulated T cells ► Lck activity is not increased after TCR ligation ► Active Lck can be phosphorylated on both activating and inhibitory sites ► Lck activation is independent of TCR and coreceptors

Themis (thymocyte-expressed molecule involved in selection), a member of a family of proteins with unknown functions, is highly conserved among vertebrates. Here we found that Themis had high expression in thymocytes between the pre-T cell antigen receptor (pre-TCR) and positive-selection checkpoints and low expression in mature T cells. Themis-deficient thymocytes showed defective positive selection, which resulted in fewer mature thymocytes. Negative selection was also impaired in Themis-deficient mice. A greater percentage of Themis-deficient T cells had CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory and CD62L(lo)CD44(hi) memory phenotypes than did wild-type T cells. In support of the idea that Themis is involved in TCR signaling, this protein was phosphorylated quickly after TCR stimulation and was needed for optimal TCR-driven calcium mobilization and activation of the kinase Erk.

International audience; The SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kD (SLP-76) is a pivotal element of the signaling machinery controlling T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated activation. Here, we identify 14-3-3epsilon and zeta proteins as SLP-76 binding partners. This interaction was induced by TCR ligation and required phosphorylation of SLP-76 at serine 376. Ribonucleic acid interference and in vitro phosphorylation experiments showed that serine 376 is the target of the hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK-1). Interestingly, either S376A mutation or HPK-1 knockdown resulted in increased TCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SLP-76 and phospholipase C-gamma1. Moreover, an SLP-76-S376A mutant induced higher interleukin 2 gene transcription than wild-type SLP-76. These data reveal a novel negative feedback loop involving HPK-1-dependent serine phosphorylation of SLP-76 and 14-3-3 protein recruitment, which tunes T cell activation.

The activation kinetics of MAPK Erk are critical for T cell development and activation. In particular, sustained Erk signaling is required for T cell activation and effector functions, such as IL-2 production. Although Raf-1 triggers transient Erk activation, B-Raf is implicated in sustained Erk signaling after TCR stimulation. In this study, we show that B-Raf is dephosphorylated on its inhibitory serine 365 upon TCR triggering. However, it is unknown how B-Raf activation is coupled to the TCR. Using mass spectrometry, we identified protein kinase D–interacting substrate of 220 kDa (Kidins220)/ankyrin repeat-rich membrane spanning protein, mammalian target of rapamycin, Rictor, Dock2, and GM130 as novel B-Raf interaction partners. We focused on Kidins220, a protein that has been studied in neuronal cells and found that it associated with the pre-TCR, αβTCR, and γδTCR. Upon prolonged TCR stimulation, the Kidins220–TCR interaction was reduced, as demonstrated by immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. We show that Kidins220 is required for TCR-induced sustained, but not transient, Erk activation. Consequently, induction of the immediate early gene products and transcription factors c-Fos and Erg-1 was blocked, and upregulation of the activation markers CD69, IL-2, and IFN-γ was reduced. Further, Kidins220 was required for optimal calcium signaling. In conclusion, we describe Kidins220 as a novel TCR-interacting protein that couples B-Raf to the TCR. Kidins220 is mandatory for sustained Erk signaling; thus, it is crucial for TCR-mediated T cell activation.

Signaling through the T cell receptor (TCR) initiates adaptive immunity and its perturbation may results in autoimmunity. The plasma membrane scaffolding protein LAT acts as a central organizer of the TCR signaling machinery to activate many functional pathways. LAT-deficient mice develop an autoimmune syndrome but the mechanism of this pathology is unknown. In this work we have compared global dynamics of TCR signaling by MS-based quantitative phosphoproteomics in LAT-sufficient and LAT-defective Jurkat T cells. Surprisingly, we found that many TCR-induced phosphorylation events persist in the absence of LAT, despite ERK and PLCγ1 phosphorylation being repressed. Most importantly, the absence of LAT resulted in augmented and persistent tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3ζ and ZAP70. This indicates that LAT signaling hub is also implicated in negative feedback signals to modulate upstream phosphorylation events. Phosphorylation kinetics data resulting from this investigation is documented in a database (phosphoTCR) accessible online. The MS data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000341.

Stimulation of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) induces formation of a phosphorylation-dependent signaling network via multiprotein complexes, whose compositions and dynamics are incompletely understood. Using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based quantitative proteomics, we investigated the kinetics of signal propagation after TCR-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation. We confidently assigned 77 proteins (of 758 identified) as a direct or indirect consequence of tyrosine phosphorylation that proceeds in successive "signaling waves" revealing the temporal pace at which tyrosine kinases activate cellular functions. The first wave includes thymocyte-expressed molecule involved in selection (THEMIS), a protein recently implicated in thymocyte development but whose signaling role is unclear. We found that tyrosine phosphorylation of THEMIS depends on the presence of the scaffold proteins Linker for activation of T cells (LAT) and SH2 domain-containing lymphocyte protein of 76 kDa (SLP-76). THEMIS associates with LAT, presumably via the adapter growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) and with phospholipase Cγ1 (PLC-γ1). RNAi-mediated THEMIS knock-down inhibited TCR-induced IL-2 gene expression due to reduced ERK and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)/activator protein 1 (AP-1) signaling, whereas JNK, p38, or nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation were unaffected. Our study reveals the dynamics of TCR-dependent signaling networks and suggests a specific role for THEMIS in early TCR signalosome function.

The AGC protein kinase OXI1 is a key protein in plant responses to oxidative signals, and is important for two oxidative burst-mediated processes: basal resistance to microbial pathogens and root hair growth. To identify possible components of the OXI1 signalling pathway, phosphoproteomic techniques were used to detect alterations in the abundance of phosphorylated proteins and peptides in an oxi1 null mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana. The relative abundance of phosphorylated proteins was assessed either using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and staining with the phosphoprotein stain Pro-Q Diamond or by the identification and quantification, by mass spectrometry, of stable-isotope labelled phosphopeptides. A number of proteins show altered phosphorylation in the oxi1 mutant. Five proteins, including a putative F-box and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1, show reduced phosphorylation in the oxi1 mutant, and may be direct or indirect targets of OXI1. Four proteins, including ethylene insensitive 2 and phospholipase d-gamma, show increased phosphorylation in the oxi1 mutant. This study has identified a range of candidate proteins from the OXI1 signalling pathway. The diverse activities of these proteins, including protein degradation and hormone signalling, may suggest crosstalk between OXI1 and other signal transduction cascades.

A missense C1858T single nucleotide polymorphism in the PTPN22 gene recently emerged as a major risk factor for human autoimmunity. PTPN22 encodes the lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase (LYP), which forms a complex with the kinase Csk and is a critical negative regulator of signaling through the T cell receptor. The C1858T single nucleotide polymorphism results in the LYP-R620W variation within the LYP-Csk interaction motif. LYP-W620 exhibits a greatly reduced interaction with Csk and is a gain-of-function inhibitor of signaling. Here we show that LYP constitutively interacts with its substrate Lck in a Csk-dependent manner. T cell receptor-induced phosphorylation of LYP by Lck on an inhibitory tyrosine residue releases tonic inhibition of signaling by LYP. The R620W variation disrupts the interaction between Lck and LYP, leading to reduced phosphorylation of LYP, which ultimately contributes to gain-of-function inhibition of T cell signaling.

SummaryKinetochores are proteinaceous assemblies that mediate the interaction of chromosomes with the mitotic spindle. The 180 kDa Ndc80 complex is a direct point of contact between kinetochores and microtubules. Its four subunits contain coiled coils and form an elongated rod structure with functional globular domains at either end. We crystallized an engineered “bonsai” Ndc80 complex containing a shortened rod domain but retaining the globular domains required for kinetochore localization and microtubule binding. The structure reveals a microtubule-binding interface containing a pair of tightly interacting calponin-homology (CH) domains with a previously unknown arrangement. The interaction with microtubules is cooperative and predominantly electrostatic. It involves positive charges in the CH domains and in the N-terminal tail of the Ndc80 subunit and negative charges in tubulin C-terminal tails and is regulated by the Aurora B kinase. We discuss our results with reference to current models of kinetochore-microtubule attachment and centromere organization.

Protein analysis by database search engines using tandem mass spectra is limited by the presence of unexpected protein modifications, sequence isoforms which may not be in the protein databases, and poor quality tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of low abundance proteins. The analysis of expected protein modifications can be efficiently addressed by precursor ion scanning. However, it is limited to modifications that show such a characteristic loss in a peptide independent manner. We observed that proline and aspartic acid induced backbone fragmentation is accompanied by a low intensity signal for loss of H3PO4 for several pSer- or pThr-phosphopeptides. We describe here the use of peptide-specific fragments that can be used after a protein was identified to allow in-depth characterization of modifications and isoforms. We consider high abundance fragments formed by cleavage at the C-terminal side of aspartic acid, at the N-terminal side of proline and low mass ions such as a2, b2, b3, y1, y2, and y3. The MS/MS dataset is filtered for each sequence tag of interest by an in silico precursor ion scan. The resulting extracted ion traces are then combined by multiplication to increase specificity. Since the strategy is based on common peptide segments which are shared by different isoforms of peptides it can be applied to the analysis of any post-translational modification or sequence variants of a protein. This is demonstrated for the cases of serine and threonine phosphorylation, histone H1 acetylation and the spotting of multiple H1 isoforms.

Summary: The central proteomics facilities pipeline (CPFP) provides identification, validation, and quantitation of peptides and proteins from LC-MS/MS datasets through an easy to use web interface. It is the first analysis pipeline targeted specifically at the needs of proteomics core facilities, reducing the data analysis load on staff, and allowing facility clients to easily access and work with their data. Identification of peptides is performed using multiple search engines, their output combined and validated using state-of-the-art techniques for improved results. Cluster execution of jobs allows analysis capacity to be increased easily as demand grows. Availability: Released under the Common Development and Distribution License at http://cpfp.sourceforge.net/. Demonstration available at https://cpfp-master.molbiol.ox.ac.uk/cpfp_demo Contact: dctrud@ccmp.ox.ac.uk