Mapping protein carboxymethylation sites provides insights into their role in proteostasis and cell proliferation

November 29, 2021

Title

Mapping protein carboxymethylation sites provides insights into their role in proteostasis and cell proliferation

Author

Simone Di Sanzo, Katrin Spengler, Anja Leheis, Joanna M. Kirkpatrick, Theresa L. Randler, Tim Baldensperger, Therese Dau, Christian Henning, Luca Parca, Christian Marx, Zhao-Qi Wang, Marcus A Glomb, Alessandro Ori & Regine Heller

Year

2021

Journal

Nature Communications

Abstract

Posttranslational mechanisms play a key role in modifying the abundance and function of cellular proteins. Among these, modification by advanced glycation end products has been shown to accumulate during aging and age-associated diseases but specific protein targets and functional consequences remain largely unexplored. Here, we devise a proteomic strategy to identify sites of carboxymethyllysine modification, one of the most abundant advanced glycation end products. We identify over 1000 sites of protein carboxymethylation in mouse and primary human cells treated with the glycating agent glyoxal. By using quantitative proteomics, we find that protein glycation triggers a proteotoxic response and indirectly affects the protein degradation machinery. In primary endothelial cells, we show that glyoxal induces cell cycle perturbation and that carboxymethyllysine modification reduces acetylation of tubulins and impairs microtubule dynamics. Our data demonstrate the relevance of carboxymethyllysine modification for cellular function and pinpoint specific protein networks that might become compromised during aging.

Instrument

LC-2000

Keywords

proteins, proteomix, aging