Protein alkylation in the presence/absence of thiourea in proteome analysis: A matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry investigation

Marina Galvani, Luca Rovatti, Mahmoud Hamdan, Ben Herbert, Pier Giorgio Righetti*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    68 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Although it is highly recommended that reduction and alkylation of free -SH groups in proteins should be performed prior to any electrophoretic step (including the first isoelectric focusing/immobilized pH gradient (IEF/IPG) dimension), it is here reported that one component of the sample solubilization cocktail adopted recently (namely thiourea) strongly quenches such alkylation process (as typically carried out with iodoacetamide, IAA). The present matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis demonstrates that thiourea is an effective scavenger of IAA, since its sulfur atom reacts as efficiently as the ionized, free -SH group of Cys in proteins at alkaline pH values (pH 8.5-9.0). As a result of this reaction, free IAA is quickly depleted by thiourea, via the formation of an intermediate adduct, which is rapidly deamidated to form the cyclic compound thiazolinidone monoimine. This reaction strongly competes with the direct addition reaction of IAA onto the -SH group in proteins, resulting in poorly alkylated proteins. It is, therefore, recommended that, whenever possible and compatible with the type of sample, thiourea should be omitted from the solubilizing cocktail in proteome analysis. However, after proper sample reduction and alkylation, thiourea can be incorporated into the IEF/IPG gel, where it will have the beneficial effect of augmenting protein solubility at their p/ values and scavenging the excess of free IAA.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2066-2074
    Number of pages9
    JournalElectrophoresis
    Volume22
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2001

    Keywords

    • Alkylation
    • Ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry
    • Matrix assisted laser desorption
    • Reduction
    • Two-dimensional maps

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