UNIVERSITY of ALBERTA High Sensitivity Protein Sequencing
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UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA High Sensitivity Protein Sequencing using Fluorescein Isothiocyanate for Denvatization on a Miniaturized Sequencer using Capillary EIectrophoresis with Laser hduced Fluorescence Detection for Prduct Identification. A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial Mfiment of the requirernents for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA SPRING 2000 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 141 ,cm,, du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibtiographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une Licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Lïbrary of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or selI reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in rnicroform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la fonne de microfiche/fïlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retauis ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. For my Parents Primary sequence malysis is an important step in determining the strùctr;re- function relationship for a @en protein or peptide. By far the most popular sequencing method in use today is the Edman degradation. A number of automated Edman sequencers are commerciaily available. They dl incorporate high perto rmance Liquid chro matography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection for identification of the phenykhiohydantoin (PTK) amino acid sequencing products. This detection system is suitable for the analysis of proteins at the low picornole level. However, many biologically active proteins can only be isolated at the mid to low femtomole level. This thesis describes the development of a sequencer that has the potential to successfully analyse these rare proteins. The new sequencer incorporates three major modifications from current instruments. First. sequencing products are identified by capillary eIectrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) detection. This approzch allows for unambiguous identification of the fluorescein thiohydantoin (FTH) derivatives of the eighteen coded amino acids studied thus far- Furthemore, mass limits of detection are in the low zeptomole (lzmol= Lx~o-" mols) range for all components in the separation. This sensitivity is seven to eight orders of magnitude better than that of HPLC with W absorbance detection. The second modification involves a change tiom phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) to fluorescein isothiocyanaie (FITC) as the prirnary derivatizing agent in the Edman degradation. It is this change that resuIts in formation of the FTH-amino acid sequencing products that can be detected with such exquisite sensitivity by CE-LIF. Finaliy, the sequencer has been miniaturized io make it more compatible with the volume requirements of CE. Reagents are deiivered by syringe pumps to a reaction chamber that is a traction of the sue of those hund on commercial sequencers- This thesis presents data describing the CE-LIF separation of 18 FTH-amino acids. It then descnbes the syringe pump sequencer and the modified Edrnan degradation chemistry. It fmishes by presenting sequencing data for five cycles of P-lactoglobulin at the 25 pmol. 10 pmol and 1 pmol levels. The data shows that this proof of p~ciple instrument already has a sensitivity comparable to that of state of the art Edman sequencers. Preface 16 GENERATIONS OF SCIENCE PERSON SCHOOL DATE Ian D. Ireland Alberta 1999 Norman J. Dovichi Utah 1980 Joel M. Harris Purdue 1976 Fred E. Lytle M.I.T. 1968 David M. Hercules MIT. 1957 Lockhart B. Rogers Princeton 1942 Earle C. Caley Ohio State 1928 Charles W. Fauik Leipzig 1890 Wilhelm Ostwald Dorpat 1878 Car1 Schmidt Giessen 1844 Justus von Liebig Er1angen 1822 Joseph L. Gay-Lussac Paris 1800 Claude L, Berthollet Pans 1778 Jean B.M. Bucquet Paris 1770 Antoine L. Lavoisier Pans 1763 GuiIIaume F. Rouelle Paris Apothecary School 1725 Norther Lights Laser Lab Ian Ireland - 1999 Rong Jiang - 1998 Devanand Pinto - 1998 Sue Bay - 1998 Karl Voss - 1998 Darcy Hager - 1997 H. John Crabtree - 1996 Yanni Zhang - 1996 Daniel Figeys - 1995 Heather Starke - 1994 JianYing Zhao - 1994 JianZhong Zhang - 1994 Karen Waldron - 1993 DaYong Chen - 1993 Robert McLaren - 199 1 YungFong Cheng - 1988 Danyl Bornhop - 1987 Dean Burgi - 1987 Tomas Nolan - 1986 Wayne Weimer - 1985 Fahima Zarrïn - 1985 Obtaining a Ph.D. in any field involves a huge cornmitment in both the and energy. And, as with any such endeavor, its successful completion requires support, both practical and emotional, from a large nuniber of people. In the next few paragraphs, 1 would like to express rny appreciation to those people who helped me to reach such a meaningful personal rnilestone. First, 1would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Nom Dovichi, my supervisor. Norm, when 1 made the decision to join the Northern Lights Laser Lab, 1 was attracted not ody by the wonderful science being done in the group but also by your genuine interest in and concern for the people that you supervise. 1 know that if I had to do it over again (heaven forbid), 1 would unhesitatingly make the same choice that 1 made almost seven (!) years ago. 1 would also like to thank al1 of the other mernbers of the NLLL with whom 1 had the pleasure of working. There always seemed to be someone in the group who had the expertise to help with any problem that arose. In particular, 1 wodd like to thank Xing- Fang Li and Darren Lewis for al1 of the work they did on the design and construction of the sequencer and Min Chen and Annika Renborg for their help with the FTH-amino acid separation. There is another group in the Chernistry Department who played a large part in the success of this project. These people work in the machine, gIassblowing and electronics shops. They were responsible for making the various sequencer components. Their input went beyond simply constructing the components. They often suggested design modifications that led to significant irnprovements to the finished instrument. Some of the people who helped me the most while 1 was at the University of Alberta were not directly involved in the development of the protein sequencer. Instead, they provided the encouragement and emotionai support outside of the lab that kept my spirits up during the bad times and made the good times that much better. Lanssa Powell carne to Edmonton with me. For more than five years we made a home together and shared our hopes and drearns. Larissa, things didn't turn out the way we planned, but 1 know that you will be successful, both at work and at home. 1 am grateful to Lorraine and Roland Zimmermann (and the boys) for their unwavering support. They gave me a place to go on those days when 1 needed to forget my worries and just escape for a while. Lorraine, it was a pleasure working with you and I'm glad that you are back doing something you enjoy. 1am also deeply indebted to the McDemott farnily - Mark, Christie, Jordan and Quentin. You opened up your home to me (not to mention your fridge and your liquor cabinet) and made me feel Iike I was part of the family. For that 1 wiil dways be grateful. 1 carmot adequately express how much your understanding and encouragement have meant to me. Finally, 1 corne to my parents and my sister, Vikki - my fdy. You have always been there for me and you know me the best. It would take pages to descnbe all that you have done for me. Instead, 1 will content myself with two heartfelt thoughts: thank you and I love you. Table of Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 1. 1 Introduction............................................................................................. 1 1-2 Capillary Electro p horesis ................................................................... 2 1.3 Laser Induced Fluorescence Detection.................................................... -21 1.4 Protein Sequencing .................................................................................. 34 1-5 References............................................................................................ 56 Appendk A: L-oc-amino acid structures ........................................................... 62 2 Identification of Fluorescein Thiohydantoin Amino Acids by Capillary Electrophoresis with Laser Induced Fluorescence Detection as a Potentiai Method for Improving Sensitivity in Protein Sequencing ................................................. ... 63 Introduction............................................................................................. 63 Experirnental ..................................................................................... 65 1.2.1 Fluorescein Thiohydantoin Amino Acid Synthesis ................... -65 1.2.2 Capillary Electro phoresis wit h Laser Induced Fluorescence Detection .................................................................................. 66 Results and Discussion ..........................................................................