A mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach for identification of serine/threonine-phosphorylated proteins by enrichment with phospho-specific antibodies: identification of a novel protein, Frigg, as a protein kinase A substrate

Mol Cell Proteomics. 2002 Jul;1(7):517-27. doi: 10.1074/mcp.m200010-mcp200.

Abstract

Although proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine residues can be enriched by immunoprecipitation with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, it has been difficult to identify proteins that are phosphorylated on serine/threonine residues because of lack of immunoprecipitating antibodies. In this report, we describe several antibodies that recognize phosphoserine/phosphothreonine-containing proteins by Western blotting. Importantly, these antibodies can be used to enrich for proteins phosphorylated on serine/threonine residues by immunoprecipitation, as well. Using these antibodies, we have immunoprecipitated proteins from untreated cells or those treated with calyculin A, a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor. Mass spectrometry-based analysis of bands from one-dimensional gels that were specifically observed in calyculin A-treated samples resulted in identification of several known serine/threonine-phosphorylated proteins including drebrin 1, alpha-actinin 4, and filamin-1. We also identified a protein, poly(A)-binding protein 2, which was previously not known to be phosphorylated, in addition to a novel protein without any obvious domains that we designate as Frigg. Frigg is widely expressed and was demonstrated to be a protein kinase A substrate in vitro. We identified several in vivo phosphorylation sites by tandem mass spectrometry using Frigg protein immunoprecipitated from cells. Our method should be applicable as a generic strategy for enrichment and identification of serine/threonine-phosphorylated substrates in signal transduction pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies / immunology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Contractile Proteins / analysis
  • Contractile Proteins / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Filamins
  • Humans
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microfilament Proteins / analysis
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxazoles / pharmacology
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / analysis*
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / immunology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Phosphoserine / analysis*
  • Phosphoserine / chemistry
  • Phosphothreonine / analysis*
  • Phosphothreonine / chemistry
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Proteomics*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Contractile Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Filamins
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Oxazoles
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Phosphothreonine
  • Phosphoserine
  • calyculin A