The authors would like to thank C&#233;line Jeanty for her assistance in creation of cellular pellets with treatment of MG-132 as described in the representative results and Elise Mommaerts for her provision of E. coli pellets used in the protocol.

1. Preparation of a heavy peptide standard
<ol>
	<li>Depending on the supplier and quality of the heavy peptides purchased, the heavy peptides will need to be diluted. This protocol used the peptide sequences reported in Table 1, with the C&#8211;terminal amino acid modified to Lysine (13C615N2-lysine) or Arginine (13C615N4-arginine).
	<ol>
		<li>Mix the heavy peptides, diluting the mix with 50% acetonitrile (ACN) t...

<ol>
	<li>Khoury, G. A., Baliban, R. C., Floudas, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Proteome-wide+post-translational+modification+statistics:+frequency+analysis+and+curation+of+the+swiss-prot+database.">Proteome-wide post-translational modification statistics: frequency analysis and curation of the swiss-prot database.</a> Scientific Reports. 1, 90 (2011).</li><li>Goldstein, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+a+polypeptide+that+has+lymphocyte-differentiating+properties+and+is+probably+represented+universally+in+living+cells.">Isolation of a polypeptide that has lymphocyte-differentiating properties and is probably represented universally in living cells.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 72 (1), 11-15 (1975).</li><li>Glickman, M. H., Ciechanover, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+ubiquitin-proteasome+proteolytic+pathway:+Destruction+for+the+sake+of+construction.">The ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway: Destruction for the sake of construction.</a> Physiol. Rev. 82, 373-428 (2002).</li><li>Pickart, C. M., Eddins, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ubiquitin:+structures,+functions,+mechanisms.">Ubiquitin: structures, functions, mechanisms.</a> Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research. 1695 (1-3), 55-72 (2004).</li><li>Akutsu, M., Dikic, I., Bremm, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ubiquitin+chain+diversity+at+a+glance.">Ubiquitin chain diversity at a glance.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 129 (5), 875-880 (2016).</li><li>Komander, D., Rape, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Ubiquitin+Code.">The Ubiquitin Code.</a> Annual Review of Biochemistry. 81 (1), 203-229 (2012).</li><li>Mattern, M., Sutherland, J., Kadimisetty, K., Barrio, R., Rodriguez, M. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Using+Ubiquitin+Binders+to+Decipher+the+Ubiquitin+Code.">Using Ubiquitin Binders to Decipher the Ubiquitin Code.</a> Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 44 (7), 599-615 (2019).</li><li>Newton, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ubiquitin+chain+editing+revealed+by+polyubiquitin+linkage-specific+antibodies.">Ubiquitin chain editing revealed by polyubiquitin linkage-specific antibodies.</a> Cell. 134 (4), 668-678 (2008).</li><li>Spence, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+cycle-regulated+modification+of+the+ribosome+by+a+variant+multiubiquitin+chain.">Cell cycle-regulated modification of the ribosome by a variant multiubiquitin chain.</a> Cell. 102 (1), 67-76 (2000).</li><li>Borr&#224;s, E., Sabid&#243;, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=What+is+targeted+proteomics?+A+concise+revision+of+targeted+acquisition+and+targeted+data+analysis+in+mass+spectrometry.">What is targeted proteomics? A concise revision of targeted acquisition and targeted data analysis in mass spectrometry.</a> PROTEOMICS. 17 (17-18), (2017).</li><li>Lesur, A., Domon, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advances+in+high-resolution+accurate+mass+spectrometry+application+to+targeted+proteomics.">Advances in high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry application to targeted proteomics.</a> PROTEOMICS. 15 (5-6), 880-890 (2015).</li><li>Longworth, J., Dittmar, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessment+of+Ubiquitin+Chain+Topology+by+Targeted+Mass+Spectrometry.">Assessment of Ubiquitin Chain Topology by Targeted Mass Spectrometry.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 1977, 25-34 (2019).</li><li>Nielsen, M. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Iodoacetamide-induced+artifact+mimics+ubiquitination+in+mass+spectrometry.">Iodoacetamide-induced artifact mimics ubiquitination in mass spectrometry.</a> Nature Methods. 5 (6), 459-460 (2008).</li><li>Tawa, N. E., Odessey, R., Goldberg, A. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inhibitors+of+the+proteasome+reduce+the+accelerated+proteolysis+in+atrophying+rat+skeletal+muscles.">Inhibitors of the proteasome reduce the accelerated proteolysis in atrophying rat skeletal muscles.</a> The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 100 (1), 197-203 (1997).</li><li>Kim, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Systematic+and+quantitative+assessment+of+the+ubiquitin-modified+proteome.">Systematic and quantitative assessment of the ubiquitin-modified proteome.</a> Molecular Cell. 44 (2), 325-340 (2011).</li><li>MacLean, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+Collision+Energy+Optimization+on+the+Measurement+of+Peptides+by+Selected+Reaction+Monitoring+(SRM)+Mass+Spectrometry.">Effect of Collision Energy Optimization on the Measurement of Peptides by Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) Mass Spectrometry.</a> Analytical Chemistry. 82 (24), 10116-10124 (2010).</li></ol>

The authors declare no competing interests.

Analysis of the ubiquitin state within a proteome is of increasing importance to a wide variety of biological questions. The description of the ubiquitination state of a sample must focus not only on the profile of proteins being ubiquitinated but also on the topology of such ubiquitination. The assessment of this topology by targeted MS, as described here, has a role in a wide range of biological investigations.
It should be understood that the protocol outlined here provides a global topolog...

The close regulation of protein function and stability is of paramount importance, as they are major drivers of phenotypic control of biology. The function of a protein is constructed from two components: its intrinsic polypeptide sequence and any posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Various chemical PTMs have been identified including glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, and methylation1. In 1975, Goldstein et al.2 identified a small protein and named it ubiquitin due to its ubiquitous nature. Ubiquitin was found to be important in protein degradation3. However, since then it has been established that the function of ubiquitin as a signaling molecule extends far beyond the regulation of protein stability. Ubiquitin signaling is involved in a wide range of other biological functions, such as protein stabilization, autophagy, cell cycle control, and protein trafficking4.
While other PTMs are generally binary (i.e., the protein is modified or left unmodified) for a given site, ubiquitin can modify a protein both as a monomer or as a polymeric chain, with the attached ubiquitin itself being ubiquitinated. Further, this polyubiquitination chain can develop in several topologies with the ubiquitination of the previous ubiquitin attaching to one of eight linkage sites5,6. Ubiquitin is transferred by a multistep enzymatic process (Figure 1) where the C-terminus of ubiquitin is linked to one of its seven lysine residues (K06, K11, K27, K29, K33, K48, or K63) or the N-terminal of the previous ubiquitin (referred to as the M1 or linear ubiquitination)5,6. This chain topology is key to the fate of the protein under modification. For example, the modification with a K48 or K11 linked chain leads to the degradation of the modified protein at the proteasome, while a linear chain is necessary for the activation of NF-kB signaling. Thus, the relative distribution of these chain topologies is relevant to a wide variety of biological questions.
The use of mass spectrometry (MS) is of particular benefit to ubiquitin chain topology analysis as it is not reliant on antibody-based or affinity-based interactions7,8, many of which have limited specificity and do not differentiate between the various chain types. A different detection possibility is using genetically modified ubiquitin mutants. Here, a specific lysine is exchanged for arginine, which cannot support the modification by ubiquitin. The lack of ubiquitin chain formation on the substrate protein is then interpreted as evidence for a specific topology9.
MS-based identification of ubiquitinated proteins is based on the fact that the C-terminus of ubiquitin contains an arginine residue in position 74 that is recognized by trypsin during the proteolytic preparation of the samples for MS analysis, separating the C-terminal double glycine. This GlyGly (-GG) remains attached to the &#949;-amino group of the lysine residue of the substrate protein. For ubiquitin topology analysis, the modification occurs on one of the seven lysine residues of ubiquitin. This creates a set of seven key peptides that carry a lysine residue that is modified by GG, specific for each of the topologies (Figure 2). For example, with K06 topology, the lysine at position 6 on the amino acid sequence will be protected from tryptic digestion with a -GG modification of 114 Da added to this lysine.
Identification of specific predetermined peptides by MS is referred to as targeted proteomics, or more specifically, targeted peptide acquisition10. Two methods have been developed depending on the performance of the mass spectrometer being used. These are selected reaction monitoring (SRM), also called multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). SRM involves the selection of transitions consisting of the precursor m/z and the product ion m/z. Conversely, PRM requires only the precursor m/z. Post selection, a full survey scan of the product ions is performed. This has the advantage that no selection of appropriate product ions for quantitation on the specific mass spectrometer is necessary prior to the measurement11. Both SRM and PRM can, depending on the instrument, be scheduled. Scheduling is the practice of assigning a time window during which a particular ion will be included for analysis, as peptides are eluting at defined retention times from the chromatographic system. Reducing the number of ions being interrogated at any given time increases the frequency of interrogation of those ions scheduled at that time, thus improving data accuracy.
In general, the application of targeted proteomics for ubiquitin topology is the same as any other targeted proteomics experiment. However, two key differences are important: First, the stability of ubiquitin chains must be considered. There are multiple potent deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that rapidly degrade chains upon cell lysis. The ubiquitin-specific proteases fall into two categories, the thioesterases and metalloproteases. Most of the ubiquitin-hydrolases are thioesterases and carry a cysteine residue in their active center. By alkylating this cysteine residue, they can be inactivated. As such, the use of ubiquitin stabilization buffers containing alkylating agents, like N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), and highly denaturing chemicals, and keeping samples chilled is vital to a successful analysis. Second, unlike other targeted experiments, the peptide choice is fixed. In a typical targeted experiment, a proteotypic peptide can be selected for good chromatographic and ionization performance. For some topology-characteristic peptides such as K48 these properties are good, while for others, they are less desirable. For example, K33 chromatography in a typical reverse-phase setup is poor due to the formation of a stretched elution profile, and the poor ionization properties of the K27 peptide reduce its visibility by MS12.
In this protocol, we describe how to perform ubiquitin topology assessment of a biological sample by PRM. Example data for the procedure are presented using a perturbation of the proteasome using MG-132 inhibitor treatment in several different cell types.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetonitrile (ACN)</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>100029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ammonium bicarbonate (ABC)</td>
			<td>Fluka</td>
			<td>9830</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>Microfuge 16</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chloroacetamide (CAA)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>22790</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Eppendorf LoBind</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>22431081</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formic acid (FA)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>85178</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heavy Peptides</td>
			<td>JPT Peptide Technologies</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HPLC</td>
			<td>Dionex</td>
			<td>Ulitimate 3000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LC Column</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>160321</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lys C</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>125-05061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mass Spectrometer</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Q-Exactive Plus</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-ethylmaleimide (NEM)</td>
			<td>ACROS Organics</td>
			<td>156100050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Positive Control Chain K48</td>
			<td>Boston Biochem</td>
			<td>UC-240</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Positive Control Chain K63</td>
			<td>Boston Biochem</td>
			<td>UC-340-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Positive Control Chain M1</td>
			<td>Boston Biochem</td>
			<td>UC-710B-025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S5881</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sonifier</td>
			<td>Branson sonifier</td>
			<td>SFX 150</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermomixer</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>Thermomixer Comfort</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)</td>
			<td>Sigam</td>
			<td>T6508</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>77720</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>V1511A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Urea</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>51456</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Waters &#956;Elution C18 plates</td>
			<td>Waters</td>
			<td>186002318</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

ubiquitin chain analysis by parallel reaction monitoring

Assessment of the global profile of ubiquitin chain topologies within a proteome is of interest to answer a wide range of biological questions. The protocol outlined here takes advantage of the di-glycine (-GG) modification left after the tryptic digestion of ubiquitin incorporated in a chain. By quantifying these topology-characteristic peptides the relative abundance of each ubiquitin chain topology can be determined. The steps required to quantify these peptides by a parallel reaction monitoring experiment are reported taking into consideration the stabilization of ubiquitin chains. Preparation of heavy controls, cell lysis, and digestion are described along with the appropriate mass spectrometer setup and data analysis workflow. An example data set with perturbations in ubiquitin topology is presented, accompanied by examples of how optimization of the protocol can affect results. By following the steps outlined, a user will be able to perform a global assessment of the ubiquitin topology landscape within their biological context.

To demonstrate the use of a ubiquitin chain analysis by PRM, three cell lines were selected: a mouse melanoma cell line B16, and the two common human cell lines A549 (adenocarcinomic alveolar basal epithelial cells) and HeLa (cervical cancer cells). These cultures grew to midexponential phase in appropriate media before being treated with 0, 10, or 100 mM MG-132 for 4 h prior to harvest. MG-132 is a proteasome inhibitor preventing the degradation of ubiquitin-conjugated proteins by the proteasome14</sup...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Ubiquitin Chain Analysis by Parallel Reaction Monitoring at JoVE.com

Ubiquitin Chain Analysis by Parallel Reaction Monitoring

This method describes the assessment of global changes in ubiquitin chain topology. The assessment is performed by the application of a mass spectrometry-based targeted proteomics approach.

Assessment of the global profile of ubiquitin chain topologies within a proteome is of interest to answer a wide range of biological questions. The ...

As different ubiquitin chain topologies have a broad range of biological effects, understanding changes in their abundance is relevant to a wide variety of biological states. Applying parallel reaction monitoring to ubiquitin chain analysis allows the specific identification and quantification of the ubiquitin chain topologies. Unlike typical PRM experiments, analysis of ubiquitin chain topology is restricted to specific modified peptides, many of which are not ideal for MS analysis.Visual demonstration of this technique highlights the adjustments and the expected results observed for these non-ideal peptides. Begin by preparing an ammonium bicarbonate solution, n-ethylmaleimide solution, and ubiquitin stabilization buffer as described in the text manuscript. Resuspend the biological sample in the ubiquitin stabilization buffer and lyse the cells with an appropriate method.After cell lysis, centrifuge the sample at 18, 000 times G for 10 minutes at four degrees Celsius and transfer the supernatant to a fresh low protein binding microcentrifuge tube. If necessary, store the samples at negative 20 degrees Celsius before proceeding. To thaw the samples, mix them rapidly with a ThermoMixer and do not use temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius.Once thawed, centrifuge the samples at 18, 000 times G for 10 minutes at four degrees Celsius and transfer 20 micrograms to a fresh low bind microcentrifuge tube, then adjust the volume to 50 microliters with ubiquitin stabilization buffer. Prepare a negative control with a normalized volume of ubiquitin stabilization buffer and a positive control with the buffer and commercially available chain types. Prepare a solution of 50 millimolar ammonium bicarbonate in water and adjust the pH to eight with one molar sodium hydroxide.Pellet an E.coli culture by centrifugation at 5, 000 times G for five minutes. Wash the cells twice with PBS and resuspend them in ubiquitin stabilization buffer at five micrograms per milliliter. Add one microgram of E.coli lysate to each sample and control.Then prepare 500 millimolar TCEP in MS Grade water and add it to each sample to a final concentration of 50 millimolar. Vortex the samples briefly and incubate them for 30 minutes at room temperature. Next, prepare a solution of 500 millimolar chloroacetaldehyde and ammonium bicarbonate and add it to the samples and controls to a final concentration of 55 millimolar.Vortex the samples briefly and incubate them in the dark for 20 minutes. Add Endopeptidase Lys-C to the samples and incubate them at 37 degrees Celsius for three hours. After the incubation, dilute the samples with 200 microliters of 50 millimolar ammonium bicarbonate, add trypsin, and incubate them for another 12 hours.On the next day, add 10%formic acid solution to each sample and control at a 1:10 volume-to-volume ratio. Verify that the pH is less than three. Then add 0.5 microliters of heavy peptide standard to each sample.After standard C18 sample cleanup, proceed with mass spectrometry analysis of the samples with a PRM-based methodology. To export the isolation list, select isolation list from the export menu, select the instrument type and set the method to standard. Click OK which will open a prompt to save a CSV file that can be used to create a PRM method.Next, import the scheduling run by selecting File, Import, and Results. Choose several files to import simultaneously and click OK, then select the files and wait for the import to complete. When ready, review the identifications by clicking on the mass for each heavy peptide entry.Correct recognition of the peak is often determined automatically, but manual curation may be required. Retention times selected for the heavy variants are also applied to the light versions, creating a schedule for the PRM. To modify the scheduling window, select the peak and click on Settings and Peptide Settings.Then change the time window in the Prediction tab. The schedule inclusion list can then be exported using File, Export, and Isolation List. Choose the appropriate instrument type, set method type to scheduled, and click OK.To analyze the data, import all samples and perform curation, removing transitions with interference or poor signal-to-noise ratios, then export data by either right-clicking on relevant graphs and selecting Copy Data or clicking on File, Export, and Report.Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 prevents the degradation of ubiquitin conjugated proteins, which results in an increase of the K48 chain in the mouse melanoma cell line B16, as well as the two human cell lines, A549 and HeLa. Parallel reaction monitoring or PRM performs a full product ion scan after selection of the precursor ion, which means that product ions should be curated post run. The chromatogram for K48 is shown before and after curation.Product ions that have a signal with an inconsistent elution profile and low-intensity were removed. The transition selected during curation should be consistent between experiments, but may differ depending on chromatographic conditions, analysis settings, and the biological background of the sample. Shown here are typical product ion chromatograms for each of the identified ubiquitin chain topologies in this experiment.When designing a PRM experiment, collision energy can be optimized to improve the signal. When collision energies from 14 to 28 were applied, it was found that a higher collision energy of 26 was optimal for K63, while a lower energy of 18 was ideal for M1.Favorable collision energies were found for the topology characteristic peptides in this experiment and a selection of unmodified ubiquitin fragments, but they may need to be optimized based on the mass spectrometer and fragmentation method used. While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember that for ubiquitin chain analysis, a balance of conditions must be created to ensure that ubiquitin chain linkages are maintained whilst promoting their digestion into peptides.This method is vital for the understanding of ubiquitin signaling as it provides an accurate quantification of the ubiquitin chain topology. It could be combined with a pull-down or an organelle fractionation to address which ubiquitin chain topology is associated with the targeted protein sample.

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3.4K Views.  Luxembourg Institute of Health. As different ubiquitin chain topologies have a broad range of biological effects, understanding changes in their abundance is relevant to a wide variety of biological states. Applying parallel reaction monitoring to ubiquitin chain analysis allows the specific identification and quantification of the ubiquitin chain topologies. Unlike typical PRM experiments, analysis of ubiquitin chain topology is restricted to specific modified peptides, many of which are not ideal for MS analysis.Vi...