Isolation and characterization of a resistant core peptide of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF); confirmation of the GM-CSF amino acid sequence by mass spectrometry.

A trypsin-resistant core peptide of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) was isolated and analyzed by high-energy Cs+ liquid secondary-ion (LSI) mass spectrometric analysis. This analysis provided successful detection of the high-mass disulfide-linked core peptide as well as information confirming the existence of disulfide pairing. Similarly, LSI mass spectrometric analysis of the peptide fragments isolated chromatographically from a Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digest of rhGM-CSF provided rapid confirmation of the cDNA-derived sequence and determination of the existing disulfide bonds between cysteine residues 54-96 and 88-121.

Mutagenic analysis of AMP nucleosidase from Escherichia coli. Deletion of a region similar to AMP deaminase and peptide characterization by mass spectrometry.

AMP nucleosidase (EC 3.2.2.

Analysis of phosphoprotein p19 by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Identification of two proline-directed serine phosphorylation sites and a blocked amino terminus.

p19 is a highly conserved 19-kDa cytosolic protein that undergoes phosphorylation in mammalian cells upon activation of several distinct signal transduction pathways. Its expression is widespread but developmentally regulated. To determine the in vivo phosphorylation site(s) of p19, the protein was purified from bovine brain and resolved into the unphosphorylated form (p19) and a mixture of the two predominant phospho-forms (pp19).

Structural analysis of biologically active peptides and recombinant proteins and their modified counterparts by mass spectrometry.

The structural characterization of the Escherichia coli-expressed human interferon alpha-2b (rh-IFN alpha-2b) was carried out by employing the fast atom bombardment (FAB) and plasma desorption (PD) mapping methods. The mass spectral data of the rh-IFN alpha-2b and the trypsin-generated peptide mixture allowed rapid and facile confirmation of the cDNA-derived sequence and determination of the existing disulfide pattern in the protein molecule. The same PD/FAB mapping approach was successfully employed in the structural determination of the iodination reaction product of rh-IFN alpha-2b and the potent vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin.

Multiple forms of recombinant murine interleukin-4 expressed in COS-7 monkey kidney cells.

Recombinant murine interleukin-4 (muIL-4) expressed in COS-7 monkey kidney cells was purified to homogeneity by sequential CM-Sepharose, Sephadex G-100 chromatography and mono-S FPLC to a specific activity of 6.10(7) units per mg of protein based on an in vitro HT-2 cell proliferation assay. Two electrophoretic variants, designated a and b, which migrated on SDS-PAGE as a closely spaced doublet with Mr 19,000, were present in the final product.