Project description:Bottom-up proteomics database search algorithms used for peptide identification cannot comprehensively identify posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in a single-pass because of high false discovery rates (FDRs). A new approach to database searching enables Global PTM (G-PTM) identification by exclusively looking for curated PTMs, thereby avoiding the FDR penalty experienced during conventional variable modification searches. We identified nearly 2500 unique, high-confidence modified peptides comprising 31 different PTM types in single-pass database searches.
Project description:Bottom-up proteomics database search algorithms used for peptide identification cannot comprehensively identify posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in a single-pass because of high false discovery rates (FDRs). A new approach to database searching enables Global PTM (G-PTM) identification by exclusively looking for curated PTMs, thereby avoiding the FDR penalty experienced during conventional variable modification searches. We identified nearly 2500 unique, high-confidence modified peptides comprising 31 different PTM types in single-pass database searches. Male C57BL/6J (B6) and CAST/EiJ (CAST) mice were purchased from The Jackson Laboratories (Bar Harbor, Maine) and housed in an environmentally controlled vivarium at the University of Wisconsin Biochemistry Department. Mice were provided standard rodent chow (Purina no. 5008) and water ad libitum, and maintained on a 12-hour light/dark cycle (6 AM – 6 PM). At 10 weeks of age, mice were sacrificed by CO2 asphyxiation. All animal procedures were preapproved by the University of Wisconsin Animal Care and Use Committee.
Project description:Unraveling the complex structure and functioning of microbial communities is essential to accurately predict the impact of perturbations and/or environmental changes. From all molecular tools available today to resolve the dynamics of microbial communities, metaproteomics stands out, allowing the establishment of phenotype-genotype linkages. Despite its rapid development, this technology has faced many technical challenges that still hamper its potential power. How to maximize the number of protein identification, improve quality of protein annotation and provide reliable ecological interpretation, are questions of immediate urgency. In our study, we used a robust metaproteomic workflow combining two protein fractionation approaches (gel-based versus gel-free) and four protein search databases derived from the same metagenome to analyze the same seawater sample. The resulting eight metaproteomes provided different outcomes in terms of (i) total protein numbers, (ii) taxonomic structures, and (iii) protein functions. The characterization and/or representativeness of numerous proteins from ecologically relevant taxa such as Pelagibacterales, Rhodobacterales and Synechococcales, as well as crucial environmental processes, such as nutrient uptake, nitrogen assimilation, light harvesting and oxidative stress response were found to be particularly affected by the methodology. Our results provide clear evidences that the use of different protein search databases significantly alters the biological conclusions in both gel-free and gel-based approaches. Our findings emphasize the importance of diversifying the experimental workflow for a comprehensive metaproteomic study.