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) to create a peptide mix with each peptide at 10 &#181;M.</li>
		<li>Create aliquots of the peptide mix and store at -80 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Sample preparation
<ol>
	<li>Sample lysis 
	NOTE: The stability of ubiquitin chains must be considered during sample preparation. Keep biological samples and buffers chilled at 4 &#176;C and add samples to ubiquitin stabilization buffer as rapidly as possible.
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare a solution of 1 M NH4HCO3 (ammonium bicarbonate) in water and adjust the pH to 8 using 1 M NaOH.</li>
		<li>Prepare a solution of 200 mM N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) in water.</li>
		<li>Prepare ubiquitin stabilization buffer using 8 M urea in 50 mM NH4HCO3/10 mM NEM. Ubiquitin stabilization buffer must be prepared freshly each time. 
		NOTE: A 5 mL solution of 8 M urea will require considerably less than 5 mL of water given the expansion of water when in a saturated solution with urea. 
		CAUTION: Do not prepare the buffer above 50 &#176;C due to the tendency of urea to form polyurea at high temperatures.</li>
		<li>Resuspend the biological sample to be investigated in ubiquitin stabilization buffer aiming for 0.5 &#181;g/&#181;L of protein and lyse the cells with an appropriate method for the sample. A sonication method consisting of three 10 s pulses with an SFX 150 Branson sonifier set at 70% intensity with 10 s breaks on ice between each pulse, was used for the cell lines in this protocol.</li>
		<li>Centrifuge sample at 18,000 x g for 10 min at 4 &#176;C in a tabletop centrifuge.</li>
		<li>Transfer supernatant to a fresh low protein binding microcentrifuge tube. Samples can be stored at -20 &#176;C at this point if needed.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Preparation of sample and controls
	<ol>
		<li>If the samples are frozen, mix (e.g., with a thermomixer) while they are thawed to rapidly dissolve the urea. 
		CAUTION: Do not use temperatures above 50 &#176;C due to the tendency of urea to form polyurea at high temperatures.</li>
		<li>Centrifuge sample at 18,000 x g for 10 min at 4 &#176;C in a tabletop centrifuge.</li>
		<li>Transfer 20 &#181;g of sample to a fresh low-bind microcentrifuge tube and adjust the volume to 50 &#181;L with ubiquitin stabilization buffer.</li>
		<li>Create a negative control using a normalized volume of ubiquitin stabilization buffer (50 &#181;L). In this sample, no light version of each peptide should be present, allowing observation of any light contamination arising from the spike-in heavy peptides. This negative control was also used for retention time scheduling of the PRM described in section 3.1.</li>
		<li>A positive control was also created with ubiquitin stabilization buffer and the addition of commercially available chain types to the normalized volume of ubiquitin stabilization buffer (50 &#181;L). Commonly, K63, K48, and M1 are available. In the representative results 20 ng of K48, K63, and M1 were utilized.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Reduction, alkylation, and digestion
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare a solution of 50 mM ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) in water and adjust the sample to pH = 8 with 1 M NaOH.</li>
		<li>A culture of E. coli grown in LB broth was centrifuged 5,000 x g for 5 min to form a pellet, which was then washed 2x with PBS before resuspension in ubiquitin stabilization buffer at 5 &#956;g/&#956;L.</li>
		<li>Add 1 &#181;g of E. coli lysate to each sample and control. This protocol uses E. coli (DH10B), but any complex lysate without ubiquitin can be used. Note that ubiquitin is common to all eukaryotes. 
		NOTE: Using an E. coli lysate matrix reduces the loss of peptides due to nonspecific adhesion to plasticware. This is particularly noticeable in the negative control or samples with a limited protein content and has a strong impact on the observation of K6312.</li>
		<li>Prepare a solution of 500 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) in MS grade water (DTT can be used as an alternative).</li>
		<li>Reduce the samples and controls by the addition of TCEP to a final concentration of 50 mM. Vortex briefly before incubating for 30 min at room temperature (RT). If DTT is used, the temperature has to be elevated to 50 &#176;C. 
		CAUTION: Do not use temperatures above 50 &#176;C due to the tendency of urea to form polyurea at high temperatures.</li>
		<li>Prepare a solution of 550 mM chloroacetamide (CAA) in NH4HCO3. Store in the dark.</li>
		<li>Alkylate the samples and controls by adding CAA to a final concentration of 55 mM. Vortex briefly before incubating for 20 min at RT in the dark. 
		NOTE: CAA is used instead of iodoacetamide as the reduction agent to decrease the chance of a double carbamidomethyl modification (114.0429) on a lysine residue being mistaken for a -GG modification (114.0429)13.</li>
		<li>Add endopeptidase LysC to the samples at 1:25 (w/w) ratio to the protein content. Incubate for 3 h at 37 &#176;C.</li>
		<li>Dilute the samples and controls with 200 &#181;L of 50 mM NH4HCO3 pH = 8 (1:5 v/v).</li>
		<li>Add trypsin to the samples at 1:25 w/w ratio to the protein content. Incubate for 12 h at 37 &#176;C.</li>
		<li>Add 10% formic acid (FA) solution in MS grade water at a 1:10 ratio v/v to each sample and control sample. Check that pH is &#60;3) prior to the C18 cleanup and add more formic acid if needed.</li>
		<li>To each sample and control add 0.5 &#181;L of the heavy peptide standard created in section 1.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Peptide cleanup
	<ol>
		<li>Several manufacturers offer C18 cleanup tips or plates. Follow the manufacturer&#39;s instructions for the product used, and dry eluted peptides in a vacuum centrifuge, ready for MS analysis.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Analysis by LC-MS/MS
<ol>
	<li>Execute initial PRM analysis on the heavy peptide standard in an unscheduled fashion.
	<ol>
		<li>Resuspend the dried samples in 10 &#181;L of MS loading buffer 2% ACN/0.05% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).</li>
		<li>Equip an HPLC with a reverse-phase C18 analytical column (75 &#181;m x 15 cm, 2 &#181;m 100 &#197; C18 beads) designed for nanoflow MS. Form linear gradients exchanging MS grade water supplemented with 0.1% FA with ACN containing 0.1% FA. A sacrificial trap column (75 &#181;m x 2 cm, 3 &#181;m, 100 &#197; C18 beads) to preserve the life of the analytical column was used here but is not required.</li>
		<li>Couple the output of the analytical column to a nano-ESI source on a high-resolution mass spectrometer.</li>
		<li>Utilize an appropriate targeted proteomics method for the mass spectrometer. For example, on a Q-Exactive plus a two-experiment method, cycle between a Full MS and a PRM experiment. For the Full MS experiment, a resolution of 120,000 with an AGC target of 1e6 and 240 ms as Maximum IT was used. For the PRM experiment, the same AGC target and maximum IT was used with a lower resolution of 60,000 and an isolation window of 1.2 m/z.</li>
		<li>Inject 200 ng of the negative control onto the analytical column using the HPLC autosampler. Apply a linear gradient to the sample on the analytical column increasing the ACN concentration from 2&#8211;25% over a period of ~45 min. 
		NOTE: The 25% ACN concentration is lower than usual for proteomics due to the low hydrophilic nature of typical ubiquitin topology-characteristic peptides. If other peptides are to be quantified, a higher ACN concentration may be desired to achieve good target separation.</li>
		<li>Analyze the results of the scheduling run as described in section 4.2 to create a scheduled inclusion list.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Analysis of the samples
	<ol>
		<li>Run the remaining samples as described for the scheduling in 3.1 apart from the use of the scheduled inclusion list created in section 4.2. 
		NOTE: A blank must be run after the positive control to ensure no carryover from the previous run is being detected in subsequent samples.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Software analysis
<ol>
	<li>Create an inclusion list of appropriate formatting for the utilized MS. This protocol used the open source software Skyline (version 19.1.0.193) (https://skyline.ms), which offers well-documented support and help. An inclusion list can be created for several mass spectrometers using the export isolation list facility.
	<ol>
		<li>Open a new Skyline document.</li>
		<li>Select heavy isotope modifications as appropriate to heavy topology-characteristic peptides. In Settings|Peptide Settings under the Modification tab, click on the name field to see the potential modification. Selection is based on the isotopic state of the heavy peptides purchased. In this example, synthetic peptides carrying either a heavy Lysine (13C615N2-lysine) or a heavy Arginine (13C615N4-arginine) at the C-terminus were used. Appropriate labels would be: &#8220;Label:13C(6)15N(2) (C-term K)&#8221; and &#8220;Label:13C(6)15N(4) (C-term R)&#8221;.</li>
		<li>Select Settings|Transition. Under the Filter tab include Precursor Charges 2, 3, 4.</li>
		<li>Insert peptides by selecting Edit|Insert|Peptides.</li>
		<li>Fill in the relevant fields including the topology-characteristic peptide sequence and a protein name (e.g., &#34;Chain&#8211;K63&#34;).</li>
		<li>Expand each peptide now shown in the Targets panel. Delete undesired charge states. The preferred charge state and collision energy, which may differ based on mass spectrometer used, for each topology-characteristic peptide is shown in Table 1.</li>
		<li>For each topology-characteristic peptide (except for M1 where the GG is included in the sequence) right-click on the sequence and select Modify. Add a GG as a structural modification by clicking the name field and selecting &#60;Show all&#8230;&#62; before selecting &#34;GlyGly (K)&#34;.</li>
		<li>Export the isolation list File|Export|Isolation List, select the instrument type, and set the method type to Standard. Selecting OK will open a prompt to save a *.csv file that can be used to create a PRM method.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Create a scheduled inclusion list based on a heavy peptide scheduling run explained here using the open source Skyline software.
	<ol>
		<li>Create a target list as described in section 4.1.</li>
		<li>Import the scheduling run in 3.1 by selecting File|Import|Results.</li>
		<li>Review the identifications. The heavy signal for each peptide is observable by clicking on the mass for each heavy peptide entry. Correct recognition of the peak is often determined automatically, but the software may require manual curation by selecting the peak using click and drag under the x-axis.</li>
		<li>Retention times selected for the heavy variants are also applied to the light versions, thus creating a schedule for the PRM. The scheduling window can be modified under Settings|Peptide Settings using the Prediction tab, by changing the Time Window.</li>
		<li>A scheduled inclusion list can now be exported using File|Export|Isolation list and selecting the appropriate instrument type and setting method type to Scheduled.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Analyze the data.
	<ol>
		<li>Import the samples in the same fashion as for the scheduling run analysis in section 4.2.</li>
		<li>After the complete import of all samples, curation of transitions is recommended. This is the process by which transitions with interference or poor signal-to-noise ratios are removed. An example of a chromatogram before and after curation is shown in Figure 4.</li>
		<li>Data can now be exported either by right clicking on relevant graphs and selecting Copy data or by selecting File|Export|Results.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

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	<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...

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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 ...

ubiquitin-chain-analysis-by-parallel-reaction-monitoring

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

3.4K Views.  Luxembourg Institute of Health. 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.

Video: Ubiquitin Chain Analysis by Parallel Reaction Monitoring

2 in 1: One-step Affinity Purification for the Parallel Analysis of Protein-Protein and Protein-Metabolite Complexes

Cellular processes are regulated by interactions between biological molecules such as proteins, metabolites, and nucleic acids. While the investigation of protein-protein interactions (PPI) is no novelty, experimental approaches aiming to characterize endogenous protein-metabolite interactions (PMI) constitute a rather recent development. Herein, we present a protocol that allows simultaneous characterization of the PPI and PMI of a protein of choice, referred to as bait. Our protocol was optimized for Arabidopsis cell cultures and combines affinity purification (AP) with mass spectrometry (MS)-based protein and metabolite detection. In short, transgenic Arabidopsis lines, expressing bait protein fused to an affinity tag, are first lysed to obtain a native cellular extract. Anti-tag antibodies are used to pull down protein and metabolite partners of the bait protein. The affinity-purified complexes are extracted using a one-step methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)/methanol/water method. Whilst metabolites separate into either the polar or the hydrophobic phase, proteins can be found in the pellet. Both metabolites and proteins are then analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS or UPLC-MS/MS). Empty-vector (EV) control lines are used to exclude false positives. The major advantage of our protocol is that it enables identification of protein and metabolite partners of a target protein in parallel in near-physiological conditions (cellular lysate). The presented method is straightforward, fast, and can be easily adapted to biological systems other than plant cell cultures.

Protein-protein and protein-metabolite interactions are crucial for all cellular functions. Herein, we describe a protocol that allows parallel analysis of these interactions with a protein of choice. Our protocol was optimized for plant cell cultures and combines affinity purification with mass spectrometry-based protein and metabolite detection.

Cellular processes are regulated by interactions between biological molecules such as proteins, metabolites, and nucleic acids. While the investigation of ...

Analysis of Thylakoid Membrane Protein Complexes by Blue Native Gel Electrophoresis

Photosynthetic electron transfer chain (ETC) converts solar energy to chemical energy in the form of NADPH and ATP. Four large protein complexes embedded in the thylakoid membrane harvest solar energy to drive electrons from water to NADP+ via two photosystems, and use the created proton gradient for production of ATP. Photosystem PSII, PSI, cytochrome b6f (Cyt b6f) and ATPase are all multiprotein complexes with distinct orientation and dynamics in the thylakoid membrane. Valuable information about the composition and interactions of the protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane can be obtained by solubilizing the complexes from the membrane integrity by mild detergents followed by native gel electrophoretic separation of the complexes. Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) is an analytical method used for the separation of protein complexes in their native and functional form. The method can be used for protein complex purification for more detailed structural analysis, but it also provides a tool to dissect the dynamic interactions between the protein complexes. The method was developed for the analysis of mitochondrial respiratory protein complexes, but has since been optimized and improved for the dissection of the thylakoid protein complexes. Here, we provide a detailed up-to-date protocol for analysis of labile photosynthetic protein complexes and their interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana.

A protocol for the elucidation of plant thylakoid protein complex organization and composition with blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) and 2D-SDS-PAGE is described. The protocol is optimized for Arabidopsis thaliana, but can be used for other plant species with minor modifications.

Photosynthetic electron transfer chain (ETC) converts solar energy to chemical energy in the form of NADPH and ATP. Four large protein complexes embedded ...

Real-time Observation of the DNA Strand Exchange Reaction Mediated by Rad51

The DNA strand exchange reaction mediated by Rad51 is a critical step of homologous recombination. In this reaction, Rad51 forms a nucleoprotein filament on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and captures double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) non-specifically to interrogate it for a homologous sequence. After encountering homology, Rad51 catalyzes DNA strand exchange to mediate pairing of the ssDNA with the complementary strand of the dsDNA. This reaction is highly regulated by numerous accessary proteins in vivo. Although conventional biochemical assays have been successfully employed to examine the role of such accessory protein in vitro, kinetic analysis of intermediate formation and its progression into a final product has proven challenging due to the unstable and transient nature of the reaction intermediates. To observe these reaction steps directly in solution, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based real-time observation systems of this reaction were established. Kinetic analysis of real-time observations shows that the DNA strand exchange reaction mediated by Rad51 obeys a three-step reaction model involving the formation of a three-strand DNA intermediate, maturation of this intermediate, and the release of ssDNA from the mature intermediate. The Swi5-Sfr1 complex, an accessary protein conserved in eukaryotes, strongly enhances the second and third steps of this reaction. The FRET-based assays presented here enable us to uncover the molecular mechanisms through which recombination accessary proteins stimulate the DNA strand exchange activity of Rad51. The primary goal of this protocol is to enhance the repertoire of techniques available to researchers in the field of homologous recombination, particularly those working with proteins from species other than Schizosaccharomyces pombe, so that the evolutionary conservation of the findings presented herein can be determined.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based real-time observation systems of the DNA strand exchange reaction mediated by Rad51 were developed. Using the protocols presented here, we are able to detect the formation of reaction intermediates and their conversion into products, while also analyzing the enzymatic kinetics of the reaction.

The DNA strand exchange reaction mediated by Rad51 is a critical step of homologous recombination. In this reaction, Rad51 forms a nucleoprotein filament ...

Hybrid Clear/Blue Native Electrophoresis for the Separation and Analysis of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Supercomplexes

Complexes of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery form supramolecular protein arrangements named supercomplexes (SCs), which are believed to confer structural and functional advantages to mitochondria. SCs have been identified in many species, from yeast to mammal, and an increasing number of studies report disruption of their organization in genetic and acquired human diseases. As a result, an increasing number of laboratories are interested in analyzing SCs, which can be methodologically challenging. This article presents an optimized protocol that combines the advantages of Blue- and Clear-Native PAGE methods to resolve and analyze SCs in a time-effective manner. With this hybrid CN/BN-PAGE method, mitochondrial SCs extracted with optimal amounts of the mild detergent digitonin are exposed briefly to the anionic dye Coomassie Blue (CB) at the beginning of the electrophoresis, without exposure to other detergents. This short exposure to CB allows to separate and resolve SCs as effectively as with traditional BN-PAGE methods, while avoiding the negative impact of high CB levels on in-gel activity assays, and labile protein-protein interactions within SCs. With this protocol it is thus possible to combine precise and rapid in gel activity measurements with analytical techniques involving 2D electrophoresis, immuno-detection, and/or proteomics for advanced analysis of SCs.

Here we present a protocol to extract, resolve and identify mitochondrial supercomplexes which minimizes exposure to detergents and Coomassie Blue. This protocol offers an optimal balance between resolution, and preservation of enzyme activities, while minimizing the risk of losing labile protein-protein interactions.

Complexes of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery form supramolecular protein arrangements named supercomplexes (SCs), which are believed to confer ...

High-Resolution Complexome Profiling by Cryoslicing BN-MS Analysis

Proteins generally exert biological functions through interactions with other proteins, either in dynamic protein assemblies or as a part of stably formed complexes. The latter can be elegantly resolved according to molecular size using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE). Coupling of such separations to sensitive mass spectrometry (BN-MS) has been well-established and theoretically allows for exhaustive assessment of the extractable complexome in biological samples. However, this approach is rather laborious and provides limited complex size resolution and sensitivity. Also, its application has remained restricted to abundant mitochondrial and plastid proteins. Thus, for a majority of proteins, information regarding integration into stable protein complexes is still lacking. Presented here is an optimized approach for complexome profiling comprising preparative-scale BN-PAGE separation, sub-millimeter sampling of broad gel lanes by cryomicrotome slicing, and mass spectrometric analysis with label-free protein quantification. The procedures and tools for critical steps are described in detail. As an application, the report describes complexome analysis of a solubilized endosome-enriched membrane fraction from mouse kidneys, with 2,545 proteins profiled in total. The results demonstrate identification of uniform, low-abundance membrane proteins such as intracellular ion channels as well as high resolution, complex protein assembly patterns, including glycosylation isoforms. The results are in agreement with independent biochemical analyses. In summary, this methodology allows for comprehensive and unbiased identification of protein (super)complexes and their subunit composition, providing a basis for investigating stoichiometry, assembly, and interaction dynamics of protein complexes in any biological system.

A versatile cryoslicing BN-MS protocol using a microtome is presented for high-resolution complexome profiling.

Proteins generally exert biological functions through interactions with other proteins, either in dynamic protein assemblies or as a part of stably formed ...

Profiling Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-like Dependent Post-translational Modifications and Identification of Significant Alterations

Ubiquitin (ub) and ubiquitin-like (ubl) dependent post-translational modifications of proteins play fundamental biological regulatory roles within the cell by controlling protein stability, activity, interactions, and intracellular localization. They enable the cell to respond to signals and to adapt to changes in its environment. Alterations within these mechanisms can lead to severe pathological situations such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. The aim of the technique described here is to establish ub/ubls dependent PTMs profiles, rapidly and accurately, from cultured cell lines. The comparison of different profiles obtained from different conditions allows the identification of specific alterations, such as those induced by a treatment for example. Lentiviral mediated cell transduction is performed to create stable cell lines expressing a two-tags (6His and Flag) version of the modifier (ubiquitin or a ubl such as SUMO1 or Nedd8). These tags permit the purification of ubiquitin and therefore of ubiquitinated proteins from the cells. This is done through a two-step purification process: The first one is performed in denaturing conditions using the 6His tag, and the second one in native conditions using the Flag tag. This leads to a highly specific and pure isolation of modified proteins which are subsequently identified and semi-quantified by liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology. Easy informatics analysis of MS data using Excel software enables the establishment of PTM profiles by eliminating background signals. These profiles are compared between each condition in order to identify specific alterations which will then be studied more specifically, starting with their validation by standard biochemistry techniques.

This protocol aims at establishing ubiquitin (Ub) and ubiquitin-likes (Ubls) specific proteomes in order to identify alterations of these kind of post-translational modifications (PTMs), associated with a specific condition such as a treatment or a phenotype.

Ubiquitin (ub) and ubiquitin-like (ubl) dependent post-translational modifications of proteins play fundamental biological regulatory roles within the ...

Functional Characterization of RING-Type E3 Ubiquitin Ligases In Vitro and In Planta

Ubiquitination, as a posttranslational modification of proteins, plays an important regulatory role in homeostasis of eukaryotic cells. The covalent attachment of 76 amino acid ubiquitin modifiers to a target protein, depending on the length and topology of the polyubiquitin chain, can result in different outcomes ranging from protein degradation to changes in the localization and/or activity of modified protein. Three enzymes sequentially catalyze the ubiquitination process: E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme, E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, and E3 ubiquitin ligase. E3 ubiquitin ligase determines substrate specificity and, therefore, represents a very interesting study subject. Here we present a comprehensive approach to study the relationship between the enzymatic activity and function of the RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase. This four-step protocol describes 1) how to generate an E3 ligase deficient mutant through site-directed mutagenesis targeted at the conserved RING domain; 2&#8211;3) how to examine the ubiquitination activity both in vitro and in planta; 4) how to link those biochemical analysis to the biological significance of the tested protein. Generation of an E3 ligase-deficient mutant that still interacts with its substrate but no longer ubiquitinates it for degradation facilitates the testing of enzyme-substrate interactions in vivo. Furthermore, the mutation in the conserved RING domain often confers a dominant negative phenotype that can be utilized in functional knockout studies as an alternative approach to an RNA-interference approach. Our methods were optimized to investigate the biological role of the plant parasitic nematode effector RHA1B, which hijacks the host ubiquitination system in plant cells to promote parasitism. With slight modification of the in vivo expression system, this protocol can be applied to the analysis of any RING-type E3 ligase regardless of its origins.

The goal of this manuscript is to present an outline for the comprehensive biochemical and functional studies of the RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligases. This multistep pipeline, with detailed protocols, validates an enzymatic activity of the tested protein and demonstrates how to link the activity to function.

Ubiquitination, as a posttranslational modification of proteins, plays an important regulatory role in homeostasis of eukaryotic cells. The covalent ...

Single Cell Analysis Of Transcriptionally Active Alleles By Single Molecule FISH

Gene transcription is an essential process in cell biology, and allows cells to interpret and respond to internal and external cues. Traditional bulk population methods (Northern blot, PCR, and RNAseq) that measure mRNA levels lack the ability to provide information on cell-to-cell variation in responses. Precise single cell and allelic visualization and quantification is possible via single molecule RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH). RNA-FISH is performed by hybridizing target RNAs with labeled oligonucleotide probes. These can be imaged in medium/high throughput modalities, and, through image analysis pipelines, provide quantitative data on both mature and nascent RNAs, all at the single cell level. The fixation, permeabilization, hybridization and imaging steps have been optimized in the lab over many years using the model system described herein, which results in successful and robust single cell analysis of smFISH labeling. The main goal with sample preparation and processing is to produce high quality images characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio to reduce false positives and provide data that are more accurate. Here, we present a protocol describing the pipeline from sample preparation to data analysis in conjunction with suggestions and optimization steps to tailor to specific samples.&#160;

Single molecule RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) is a method to accurately quantify levels and localization of specific RNAs at the single cell level. Here, we report our validated lab protocols for wet-bench processing, imaging and image analysis for single cell quantification of specific RNAs.

Gene transcription is an essential process in cell biology, and allows cells to interpret and respond to internal and external cues. Traditional bulk ...

Isolation and Analysis of Plasma Lipoproteins by Ultracentrifugation

Analysis of plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins is an essential part for the diagnosis of dyslipidemia and studies of lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis. Although there are several methods for analyzing plasma lipoproteins, ultracentrifugation is still one of the most popular and reliable methods. Because of its intact separation procedure, the lipoprotein fractions isolated by this method can be used for analysis of lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, proteomes, and functional study of lipoproteins with cultured cells in vitro. Here, we provide a detailed protocol to isolate seven lipoprotein fractions including VLDL (d&#60;1.006 g/mL), IDL (d=1.02 g/mL), LDLs (d=1.04 and 1.06 g/mL), HDLs (d=1.08, 1.10, and 1.21 g/mL) from rabbit plasma using sequential floating ultracentrifugation. In addition, we introduce the readers how to analyze apolipoproteins such as apoA-I, apoB, and apoE by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and show representative results of lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profiles using hyperlipidemic rabbit models. This method can become a standard protocol for both clinicians and basic scientists to analyze lipoprotein functions.

Several methods have been used for analyzing plasma lipoproteins; however, ultracentrifugation is still one of the most popular and reliable methods. Here, we describe a method regarding how to isolate lipoproteins from plasma using sequential density ultracentrifugation and how to analyze the apolipoproteins for both diagnostic and research purposes.

Analysis of plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins is an essential part for the diagnosis of dyslipidemia and studies of lipid metabolism and ...

Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Peptidoglycan by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and Bioinformatics

Peptidoglycan is an important component of bacterial cell walls and a common cellular target for antimicrobials. Although aspects of peptidoglycan structure are fairly conserved across all bacteria, there is also considerable variation between Gram-positives/negatives and between species. In addition, there are numerous known variations, modifications, or adaptations to the peptidoglycan that can occur within a bacterial species in response to growth phase and/or environmental stimuli. These variations produce a highly dynamic structure that is known to participate in many cellular functions, including growth/division, antibiotic resistance, and host defense avoidance. To understand the variation within peptidoglycan, the overall structure must be broken down into its constitutive parts (known as muropeptides) and assessed for overall cellular composition. Peptidoglycomics uses advanced mass spectrometry combined with high-powered bioinformatic data analysis to examine peptidoglycan composition in fine detail. The following protocol describes the purification of peptidoglycan from bacterial cultures, the acquisition of muropeptide intensity data through a liquid chromatograph&#8212;mass spectrometer, and the differential analysis of peptidoglycan composition using bioinformatics.

This protocol covers a detailed analysis of peptidoglycan composition using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry coupled with advanced feature extraction and bioinformatic analysis software.