QUDeX-MS: hydrogen/deuterium exchange calculation for mass spectra with resolved isotopic fine structure

Abstract

Background

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) coupled to mass spectrometry permits analysis of structure, dynamics, and molecular interactions of proteins. HDX mass spectrometry is confounded by deuterium exchange-associated peaks overlapping with peaks of heavy, natural abundance isotopes, such as carbon-13. Recent studies demonstrated that high-performance mass spectrometers could resolve isotopic fine structure and eliminate this peak overlap, allowing direct detection and quantification of deuterium incorporation.

Results

Here, we present a graphical tool that allows for a rapid and automated estimation of deuterium incorporation from a spectrum with isotopic fine structure. Given a peptide sequence (or elemental formula) and charge state, the mass-to-charge ratios of deuterium-associated peaks of the specified ion is determined. Intensities of peaks in an experimental mass spectrum within bins corresponding to these values are used to determine the distribution of deuterium incorporated. A theoretical spectrum can then be calculated based on the estimated distribution of deuterium exchange to confirm interpretation of the spectrum. Deuterium incorporation can also be detected for ion signals without a priori specification of an elemental formula, permitting detection of exchange in complex samples of unidentified material such as natural organic matter. A tool is also incorporated into QUDeX-MS to help in assigning ion signals from peptides arising from enzymatic digestion of proteins. MATLAB-deployable and standalone versions are available for academic use at qudex-ms.sourceforge.net and agarlabs.com.

Conclusion

Isotopic fine structure HDX-MS offers the potential to increase sequence coverage of proteins being analyzed through mass accuracy and deconvolution of overlapping ion signals. As previously demonstrated, however, the data analysis workflow for HDX-MS data with resolved isotopic fine structure is distinct. QUDeX-MS we hope will aid in the adoption of isotopic fine structure HDX-MS by providing an intuitive workflow and interface for data analysis.

Background

Incubation of molecules in deuterium oxide and measurement of exchange between hydrogen and deuterium (i.e. hydrogen/deuterium exchange, abbreviated as HDX) is a versatile technique for characterizing molecular structure and reactivity. Coupled with mass spectrometry (HDX MS), the development and application of HDX MS to the study of proteins has led to a diverse range of methodologies for the characterization of protein structural dynamics, stability, and molecular interactions. The versatility of HDX MS has been demonstrated through a range of analytical applications including studying folding/unfolding [1]-[3] and oligomerization [4]-[8]; how mutation [9]-[12], posttranslational modification [13]-[17], and interaction with other molecules affect protein structures [18]-[25]; and the quality of biopharmaceuticals [26]-[28]. In contrast to other techniques capable of mapping protein dynamics in solution such as nuclear magnetic resonance, HDX MS consumes far less sample, requires lower concentrations, and can analyze larger protein complexes. In a typical HDX MS workflow examining protein structure, proteins are labeled with deuterium oxide around physiological pH for a range of periods of time (from seconds to days), followed by a reaction quenching including a drop to acidic pH (~2.5) and lowered temperature (0°C) [29]. To map deuterium incorporation, and in turn, map extent of solvent exposure of residues, a bottom-up strategy is often adopted whereby proteases (capable of digesting proteins under the acidic quench conditions) break down proteins prior to MS analysis. MS analysis is often performed by electrospray ionization (ESI), although matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) can also be beneficial [30],[31]. Liquid chromatography (LC) is often utilized prior to MS to separate digest peptides and increase protein coverage. A number of computational utilities have been introduced to streamline the analysis of HDX MS data, including HDX-Analyzer [32], HX-Express [33], Deuterator [34], HD Desktop [35], DEX [36], Hydra [37], TOF2H [38], and Hexicon [39],[40].

One caveat of HDX MS data analysis is that at typical resolving powers (including relatively high resolving powers routinely obtained on FT-Orbitrap instruments), peptide deuteration is detected as a convolution of deuterated peaks with peaks corresponding to the natural abundance distribution of heavy isotopes (i.e. ¹³C, ¹⁵ N, ¹⁸O, and ³⁴S/³⁶S). Thus, in order to estimate the distribution of deuterium incorporation, typical HDX analysis determines the mass centroid shift between the deuterated and the native isotope pattern of a peptide to measure average deuterium incorporation. Methods for estimating the full distribution of deuterium exchange, to detect potential bimodal exchange behaviors, have also be devised [39],[40], although these methods are dependent upon sequence information and/or the undeuterated isotope distribution. To minimize back-exchange during chromatography, fast gradients are necessary, increasing the potential for overlapping peak distributions in spectra. High mass resolution can help to alleviate this problem, and algorithms have been developed to estimate accurate deuterium content in spectra with overlapping distributions at low signal-to-noise [41]. At sufficiently high resolving powers (m/∆m _50% ≥ 100,000), elemental compositions of peptides can be used to reliably assign overlapping distributions in a rapid and automated procedure [42]. However, as resolving power increases, the mass defect associated with different atomic nuclei binding energies leads to the detection to the isotopic fine structure. Indeed, at ultrahigh resolving powers (Figure 1A) deuterium exchange-associated peaks become distinct from natural abundance heavy isotopic species, enabling a more direct detection of the distribution of deuterium incorporation [43].

Figure 1

Resolving power and acquisition time required to observe deuterium-associated isotopic fine structure is charge state dependent. A. In order to resolve deuterium-associated peaks, it is necessary to detect a mass difference m _HDX of ~2.922 mDa, where m _HDX is the mass difference between ²H and ¹H minus the mass difference between ¹³C and ¹²C. Increasing charge states require higher resolving power at a given m/z. Plotted are the resolving powers (m/∆m _50% where ∆m_50% is the full width at half-maximum peak height) required to observe deuterium-associated isotopic fine structure for z = 1, 2, and 3 (Eq. 2). ∆m_50% was calculated assuming two peaks separated by m _HDX/z of equal height and Lorentzian peak shape are resolved with a valley between them reaches half-maximum height for either peak (Eq. 3). Also plotted (in black diamonds) are the resolving powers required to observed various peptide ions we previously monitored in a HDX experiment [9] to help illustrate the range of resolving powers necessary for one representative set of data. B. Theoretical minimum acquisition time required in order to resolve deuterium-associated isotopic fine structure as a function of absolute mass for various charge states. For a 9.4 T FTICR-MS operating in absorption mode, we assumed a conservative ~1.45-fold improvement in resolving power over the magnitude mode low-pressure limit (Eq. 1, effective field B ₀ = 13.6 T [47]). For the 12 T FTICR-MS operating in absorption mode, we assumed the maximum 2-fold improvement in resolving power over the magnitude mode low-pressure limit, which can be valid for acquisition times of less than a few seconds [46],[47]. Again plotted (in black diamonds) are peptide ions monitored from an actual HDX experiment [9] to help illustrate the range of acquisition times that would be necessary without further optimization.

In the case of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometers operating at low-pressure, resolving power m/∆m _50% (where ∆m _50% is the full width at half-maximum peak height) at a particular m/z is limited in magnitude mode by the strength of the magnetic field (B ₀) and the time-domain ICR signal acquisition period (T _acq) [44],[45]:

$${\frac{m}{∆m}}_{50\%}=\frac{1.274\times {10}^{7}z{B}_0{T}_{acq}}{m}$$

(1)

While long acquisition periods can be used to produce spectra of sufficient quality to resolve deuterium exchange-associated peaks, limiting the acquisition period is necessary in order to accurately detect these peaks on the fast LC-time scale used during HDX experiments. Increasingly powerful magnetic fields provide one means of lowering acquisition time, with fields now up to 21 T [46], although this involves substantial investment. Solving the phase of the Fourier transform spectrum in absorption mode can further increase resolving power up to 2-fold beyond the magnitude mode limit [47]-[50]. As deuterium-associated peaks at a given charge state are separated by a constant m _HDX/z, where m _HDX is the mass difference between ²H and ¹H minus the mass difference between ¹³C and ¹²C, the acquisition period necessary to resolve deuterium-associated peaks of a given absolute mass M can be estimated using:

$$T_{acq}=\frac{{\left[M+z{m}_{\mathit{adduct}}\right]}^2}{1.274\times {10}^7∆m_{50\%}{z}^2{\overline{B}}_0}$$

(2)

where ${\overline{B}}_0$ is the effective field strength in absorption mode, m _adduct is the ionization adduct mass (typically proton mass = ~1.00728 Da) and

$$∆m_{50\%}=\frac{m_{HDX}}{z}\frac{\sqrt{\sqrt{33}-5}}{\sqrt{2}}$$

(3)

is the peak full-width at half height necessary to resolve Lorentzian-shaped peaks of equal height separated by m _HDX/z with valley between peaks of 50% maximum height. Thus, in absorption mode at 21 T, <1 sec acquisition periods are required to resolve deuterium exchange-associated peaks on digest peptides less than 1 kDa (Figure 1B). Indeed, for peptides less than 1 kDa, depending on charge state, absorption mode can also yield improvements significant enough to make deuterium-exchange associated peaks resolvable on the more common 9.4 T FTICR with acquisition periods of <1 sec. On high performing Orbitrap instruments, resolving powers in excess of 1 M can be achieved under certain conditions with acquisition times on the time scale of a few seconds [51], with resolving powers ~240,000 at m/z 400 sufficient to resolve small enough peptides with less than one second acquisition times [52]. Thus, with small enough digest fragments, HDX can be monitored based on resolved isotopic fine structure on a UPLC-time scale. However, in monitoring deuterium incorporation in this fashion, a novel data analysis workflow is necessary to take maximum advantage of this ultrahigh mass resolution data. As yet, no computational utility for this workflow exists.

Here, we present QUDeX-MS (quick ultrahigh-resolution hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry), which was developed in order to facilitate the analysis of isotopic fine structure-resolved HDX MS data. The graphical interface, launched either as a stand-alone program or within MATLAB, guides users through the process of interpreting spectra obtained from peptides, proteins, and other molecules, providing the user with the distribution of deuterium incorporated as output.

Implementation

For a given charge state of an ion, the distance between deuterium exchange-associated peaks in an isotopically resolved distribution is constant (the mass difference between ²H and ¹H divided by charge). Thus, starting from the monoisotopic m/z, the m/z’s associated with deuterium-incorporated forms of the natural abundance monoisotopic molecule, the “pseudomonoisotopic peaks” [43], can be calculated. For example, in the case of human substance P (C-terminally amidated RPKPQQFFGLM), the monoisotopic [M + 2H]²⁺ is found at m/z 674.3713 and the pseudomonoisotopic m/z’s corresponding to incorporation of 1, 2, or 3 deuterium are m/z 674.8745, m/z 675.3776, and m/z 675.8808, respectively (Figure 2A). In isotopic distributions where fine structure is resolved, these deuterium-associated peaks are distinct from the peaks corresponding to the presence of natural abundance isotopes such as the [M + 2H]²⁺ of substance P with exactly two 13C at m/z 675.3747, substance P with exactly one ¹³C and one deuterium at m/z 675.3762, and substance P with exact two deuterium at m/z 675.3776 (Figure 2B-C).

Figure 2

Traditional versus isotopic fine structure HDX-MS of the [M + 2H] ²⁺of substance P. A. Isotope distributions of deuterated peptides (right) are shifted to heavier masses relative to the non-deuterated peptide (left). The monoisotopic isotopomer (green stars) appears depleted in the deuterated spectrum as it becomes labeled and consequently redistributed throughout the distribution. At typical resolving powers, natural abundance isotopomers and the isotopomers resulting from HDX that share the same nominal mass are not distinguished. B, C. In isotopic distributions where fine structure is resolved, deuterium-associated peaks (“pseudomonoisotopic” m/z’s corresponding to incorporation of 1, 2, or 3 deuterium are thus m/z 674.8745, m/z 675.3776, and m/z 675.8808, respectively) are distinct from the peaks corresponding to the presence of natural abundance isotopes such as the [M + 2H]²⁺ of substance P with exactly two ¹³C, which is present at m/z 675.3747.

QUDeX-MS determines deuterium incorporation by first finding the percent contribution each pseudomonoisotopic peak has relative to the sum of all the pseudomonoisotopic peaks plus the monoisotopic peak (Figure 3). The average number of deuterium is then determined by multiplying these percentages by the corresponding number of deuterium incorporated for each pseudomonoisotopic m/z. For each of these peaks, the relative distribution of deuterium-associated peak intensities is found, and from that the mean number of deuteriums incorporated is calculated [43]. In addition to estimating the number of deuterium incorporated into the natural abundance monoisotopic species, this process is repeated for each natural abundance isotopomer that consists of all the most abundant naturally occurring stable isotopes (i.e. ¹⁴ N, ¹⁶O, and ³²S) except for an increasing number of ¹³C (i.e. the isotopomers corresponding to one, two, etc. ¹³C and no other heavy atoms). A final estimated mean number of deuterium incorporated is calculated based on the most abundant of the ¹³C-associated isotopomer distributions, which is often the monoisotopic (¹³C = 0) species for smaller peptides.

Figure 3

Example calculation of deuterium incorporation based on deuterated substance P. The [M + 2H]²⁺ of substance P is shown on the left, with each inset showing a zoomed view of the isotopic fine structure detected for each peak that is typically convoluted at lower resolving powers. QUDeX-MS determines deuterium incorporation by first finding the percent contribution each pseudomonoisotopic peak has relative to the sum of all the pseudomonoisotopic peaks plus the monoisotopic peak (green star). The average number of deuterium is then determined by multiplying these percentages by the corresponding number of deuterium incorporated for each peak. As a deuterium nuclei is approximately 0.003 Da heavier than a ¹³C nuclei, the pseudomonoisotopic peak (that is, the peak associated with deuterium being the only heavy isotope in an ion) is seen to be the rightmost peak within a fine isotopic distribution for a given nominal mass. A major contribution to the intensity of the peaks to the left of the pseudomonoisotopic peak (seen spaced 0.0015 m/z apart in this example, as the [M + 2H]²⁺ of substance P is shown) are the isotopomers consisting of increasing number of ¹³C and decreasing number of deuterium.

In order to calculate the distribution of deuterium incorporated in a given molecule such as a peptide or protein, a spectrum to be analyzed can be loaded in QUDeX-MS. To demonstrate usage of QUDeX-MS, a spectrum of deuterated substance P is provided as sample data with the installation package. Spectra to be analyzed should be formatted as a two-column (m/z and corresponding intensity) ASCII file with no headers and standard column delimiters (i.e. whitespace or commas). Spectra can be denoised using wavelets [53]-[55] and baseline subtracted within QUDeX-MS if necessary using the included Preprocessing Tool. Adjustments can be made to slide the m/z alignment within QUDeX-MS, but if proper assignments are to be made to a reference sequence or formula, it is necessary the spectra be well-calibrated beforehand. If necessary, a table of deuterium-associated m/z’s (based on a specified monoisotopic mass and charge state) can be exported from QUDeX and used to calibrate spectra in another program prior to loading into QUDeX.

After loading an experimental spectrum to analyze, several routes can be chosen for estimating deuterium incorporation of ion signals in the spectrum (Figure 4). If the exact elemental formula (or amino acid sequence) of the ion signal to be analyzed is known, this can be provided to QUDeX-MS. If the elemental composition of an ion signal being analyzed is not known, or if the user does not want to specify it a priori, deuterium incorporation can be estimated by detecting isotopically resolved ion signals in the spectrum within QUDeX-MS, or by simply specifying a monoisotopic mass from which to calculate a deuterium-associated m/z distribution.

Figure 4

Overview of QUDeX-MS possible workflows. QUDeX-MS can be launched either from MATLAB or as a standalone executable. Once loaded, a Command Window (top right) and Spectrum View window (bottom) appear. Spectra can be loaded one at a time, with all loaded spectra managed in the Loaded Spectra listbox. The active spectrum selected in the Loaded Spectra listbox will be displayed in the Spectrum Viewer window. After loading a spectrum to analyze, several routes can be chosen for estimating deuterium incorporation of ion signals in the spectrum. An ion can be selected for analysis either by specifying a formula (or peptide sequence), locating a distribution in the spectrum, or specifying a monoisotopic m/z. Once an ion is loaded, it is displayed in the Loaded Ion listbox, and a deuterium incorporation distribution can be determined from the selected spectrum by selecting Calculate Exchange. Specific deuterium-associated peaks can be selected from the Command Window to quickly navigate to a zoomed view of their region of the spectrum in the Spectrum Viewer. If the elemental formula has been specified, the distribution of deuterium incorporation can then be used to calculate a theoretical spectrum by selecting Model Spectrum. A calculated isotopic fine structure line spectrum will then be displayed over the loaded spectrum in the Spectrum Viewer window.

The precise location of the deuterium-associated peaks for a given natural abundance isotopomer are then projected on the spectrum. The m/z alignment (mass calibration) of the spectrum can be adjusted, if necessary, to better fit with the calculated deuterium-associated peaks. Once the user is satisfied with the alignment, the distribution of deuterium incorporation can be determined from the spectrum by QUDeX-MS. If the elemental formula has been specified, the distribution of deuterium incorporation can then be used to calculate a theoretical line spectrum, which is projected onto the loaded spectrum. Calculated theoretical spectra based on estimated deuterium incorporation can also be exported as two-column ASCII files for additional analyses.

For automated processing, spectra can be batched loaded using a simple configuration file (sample file and instructions included with QUDeX-MS releases). If the sequences or formulas are known for spectra being loaded in batch, this can also be specified in the configuration file, and spectra will be processed automatically. A digest tool is provided with QUDeX-MS that can be used to determine potential cleavage fragments from a protein sequence (with or without specifying a protease-specific cleavage rule) that can be used to assign ions in a spectrum or set of spectra loaded into QUDeX-MS. Digest results from QUDeX can be exported and formatted (including adding assignments from tandem MS) to assess sequence coverage using an external tool such as MSTools [56]. Likewise, the estimated deuterium incorporation for analyzed ions in any of the proposed workflows can be exported in a report that includes the estimated mean and standard deviation of incorporation for each ion and the root-mean-squared error determined by comparing the experimental mass of detected peaks in the spectrum with their theoretical values.

For LC-MS experiments, QUDeX-MS will only calculate the deuterium uptake within a given spectrum. Given the acquisition times necessary to achieve isotopic fine structure-quality spectra (and the fast peptide elution times necessary in a bottom-up HDX experiment to prevent back-exchange), the number of scans a given peptide will be in is limited. The user can average scans of ions detected in an LC-MS run and load that as a single spectrum to calculate deuterium uptake. Given the considerable file sizes associated with LC-MS runs at this resolving power, we recommend limiting the m/z range of the resulting averaged spectrum to only include a particular ion’s distribution before loading into QUDeX-MS. Alternatively, the user can process individual (i.e. not averaged) scans, including full scans (although we recommend only loading individual isotopic distributions, if possible), across an LC-MS run and interpret scan-to-scan variability in deuterium uptake calculated for a given ion appropriately.

Results and discussion

Calculation of deuterium exchange of a molecule of known composition

An early step in a typical workflow for HDX MS experiments includes performing tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) on a (non-deuterated) digested protein sample in order to identify peptides that will be monitored in later HDX experiments. In this case, where sequence and modification state of peptides has been determined, spectra imported into QUDeX-MS can be analyzed by inputting these known characteristics to determine deuterium exchange (Figure 5A). In example spectra provided with QUDeX-MS, substance P spectra have been acquired both with and without deuterium exchange. The default sequence when loading ions by sequence or formula is set to substance P to help when first learning how to use QUDeX-MS. The substance P analyzed for the example spectra was amidated and the appropriate modification (addition of hydrogen and nitrogen atoms and removal of one oxygen) is also provided as default. A specific charge state must also be chosen, which should correspond to a charge state observed in the mass spectrum to be analyzed. By default, QUDeX-MS assumes the user would like to analyze the protonated form of the input molecule, and thus will adjust the elemental formula by adding the appropriate number of protons (depending on charge state). However, this automatic addition of protons can be disabled, allowing the user to add alternative adducts (such as Na⁺ or K⁺) directly into the elemental formula. Additional modification to a peptide sequence can be performed this way as well.

Figure 5

Determining deuterium incorporation from a molecule of known elemental composition and simulating a theoretical spectrum from calculated deuterium exchange. A. If the exact elemental formula (or amino acid sequence) of the ion signal to be analyzed is known, this can be provided to QUDeX-MS. If a peptide or protein is being analyzed, in addition to providing an amino acid sequence, the user can specify posttranslational modifications to the amino acid sequence (input as additions and subtractions of elemental atoms), from which the final elemental formula is determined. A specific charge state must also be chosen, which should correspond to a charge state observed in the mass spectrum to be analyzed. B. QUDeX-MS Spectrum Viewer before and after loading pseudomonoisotopic peak locations (appears as black lines when zoomed out). C. Zoomed in view at two fine isotope distributions corresponding to different nominal masses, with the pseudomonoisotopic peak for each distribution highlighted in cyan (black lines in B) and calculated theoretical isotopic fine structure based on estimated deuterium incorporation and the specified elemental formula shown as a line spectrum (vertical black lines in C). In the analysis of the example spectrum of deuterated substance P, the three major peaks within a fine structure distribution starting from the right moving leftwards are generally the deuterium-associated peaks corresponding to substance P with exactly 0, 1, or 2 ¹³C (and no other natural abundance heavy isotopes) and decreasing number of deuterium, as specified in the panel for the M + 7.

Once specification of the desired ion to be analyzed is completed, the distribution of m/z values corresponding to the deuterium-incorporated forms of the natural abundance monoisotopic molecule are calculated and projected onto the spectrum (Figure 5B). Now that the ion to be analyzed is loaded, the deuterium incorporation can be calculated automatically. In the example of substance P, we see the mean number of incorporated deuterium is estimated from the spectrum to be 5.21 based on the distribution of intensities observed from the deuterium peaks associated with the natural abundance monoisotopic substance P. This was consistent with the value calculated previously using manual annotation of the spectrum [43].

Modeling theoretical spectrum from calculated deuterium exchange

Included within QUDeX-MS is a method for simulating an isotopic fine structure line spectrum based on the estimated deuterium incorporation distribution and the specified elemental formula. Using the percent contributions of the pseudomonoisotopic peaks, a set of isotopic fine structure spectra are simulated [57] using a set of isotope abundance parameters with a fixed number of deuterium corresponding to the particular pseudomonoisotopic peak. That is, given that the elemental formula for amidated substance P is C₆₃H₉₈N₁₈O₁₃S, the [M + 2H]²⁺ distribution based on the population of substance P with no deuterium exchange is modeled using the formula C₆₃H₁₀₀N₁₈O₁₃S and accepted natural isotope abundances. In turn, the [M + 2H]²⁺ distributions for substance P with exactly 1, 2, and 3 deuterium exchanged are modeled using the formulae C₆₃DH₉₉N₁₈O₁₃S, C₆₃D₂H₉₈N₁₈O₁₃S, and C₆₃D₃H₉₇N₁₈O₁₃S, and so forth. These distributions are then added together, weighted relative to one another based on their percent contribution estimated from the experimental spectrum. This composite spectrum is projected onto the experimental spectrum (Figure 5C). In the analysis of the example spectrum of deuterated substance P, the three major peaks in fine structure distributions starting from the right moving leftwards are generally the deuterium-associated peaks corresponding to substance P with exactly 0, 1, or 2 ¹³C (and no other natural abundance heavy isotopes).

Calculation of deuterium exchange from spectra without specifying chemical formula a priori

Assuming i) a charge state can be determined from an ion signal and ii) the monoisotopic peak in a particular isotopic distribution can be accurately assigned, the m/z’s of the deuterium-associated pseudomonoisotopic peaks can be calculated as these are offset by a constant distance determined by the charge and the mass of deuterium. Thus, deuterium incorporation can be estimated for many molecules without a priori knowledge of formula or the spectrum of the undeuterated species. The user can directly specify a monoisotopic m/z and charge state to examine, or all isotopically resolved distributions detectable in the spectra can be analyzed (Figure 6). This could be applied to estimating exchange of ions in complex samples of unidentified material such as natural organic matter, as well as studying proteins with unspecified posttranslational modifications or sequence variations. However, it is important to make sure the monoisotopic m/z, even if it is not detected, is properly specified in order to correctly estimate deuterium exchange.

Figure 6

Determining deuterium incorporation from a molecule of unknown composition. If the elemental composition of an ion signal being analyzed is not known, or if the user does not want to specify it a priori, deuterium incorporation can be estimated by detecting isotopically resolved ion signals in the spectrum within QUDeX-MS, or by simply specifying a monoisotopic mass from which to calculate a deuterium-associated m/z distribution.

Identification of digest peptides in a deuterated sample from a reference protein sequence

In bottom-up HDX experiments studying protein conformation, a proteolytic enzyme is used to digest the protein after the deuterium exchange reaction has been quenched by low pH. To help facilitate use of QUDeX-MS in the context of a typical HDX MS experiment, we have incorporated a “Digest Tool” within the program that allows the user to specify a protein and digest it in silico. The protein can be digested using a specified enzyme definition. However, HDX experiments require enzymes such as pepsin that are active at low pH but often cleave with broad specificity, leading to a wide variety of peptides with difficult to predict cleavage sites. High mass accuracy can be particularly useful in this case to help in the accurate assignment of peptide fragments [58],[59], although some ambiguities will inevitably remain (such as peptides flanked by the same amino acid on either side). Thus, the QUDeX-MS Digest Tool also allows determining all possible digest fragments of a certain length. Digest peptides can be imported directly into the Command Window, edited further to add modifications, or the digest fragments can be matched to peaks found in one or all loaded spectra (Figure 7). We also specifically incorporate the ability to match digest fragments against a deuterated spectrum in the case where the monoisotopic peak is not detected. Digest sequences can be matched against detected isotopic envelopes in a spectrum (even when they are missing a detectable monoisotopic peak) using a combination of (high mass accuracy) mass defect and information regarding the number of exchange sites. This results in the monoisotopic peak being “assigned” (based on the theoretical mass of the peptide) even though it is not detectable in the spectrum. Included with QUDeX-MS is a simulated set of spectra (with resolving power = 1.5 M) from a pepsin digest of deuterated SOD1 based on results we previously observed [9] in order to illustrate how to use the Digest Tool within QUDeX-MS to process fine structure HDX MS data.

Figure 7

Digest Tool for automated detection of digest peptides in spectra. A protein sequence can be loaded and digested in silico in QUDeX-MS, and digest fragments can be matched against ions detected in spectra in order to better automate data analysis in a typical HDX experiment. Protein sequences can be pasted into the Protein Sequence field, loaded from a fasta file, or retrieved from NCBI using an appropriate accession. Cleavage specifities for many common proteolytical enzymes are included in QUDeX-MS. Custom cleavage definitions can also be specified, or all possible peptide fragments can be generated for a specified range of peptide lengths. Digest peptides can be added directly to the Command Window, further edited individually to add modifications, or can be searched against single or multiple spectra before adding to the Command Window. Digest peptides detected in loaded spectra are displayed in a results window (bottom panel). The mass error tolerance can be adjusted in this window, which will update match results automatically. Matching of digest peptides to ions detected in spectra is initially performed based on proper assignment of the monoisotopic mass. However, digest peptides can also be matched against distributions lacking a detectable monoisotopic peak by selecting the “Consider monoisotopic m/z not detectable?” check box. Peptides are then matched to isotopic distributions that fall within m/z bins associated with deuterium exchange-associated m/z’s within a reasonable distance from the monoisotopic mass (determined by the total number of deuterium exchangeable sites).

Directions for future development

Currently, QUDeX-MS is specialized for the estimation of deuterium incorporation in the limit where isotopic fine structure is well-resolved, which can be challenging to achieve experimentally. Without well-resolved fine structure, the ultrahigh mass accuracy of FT-ICR instruments can be useful in increasing the number of unambiguous peptide assignments [60]. Indeed, automated and robust procedures have been developed to leverage the ability to resolve closely overlapping distributions (on the order of a few milliDaltons) that can be resolved on FT-ICR instruments [42]. QUDeX-MS offers the opportunity to analyze deuterium-exchange peaks directly, but requires these peaks be resolved in order to function accurately. While resolution of deuterium-associated fine structure is not yet routine, being able to work interchangeably between the resolving power regimes where these peaks are resolved and when they are not would be useful in order to fully utilize datasets.

Applications already available for analyzing and managing data from HDX MS experiments already have many features that enable the visualization and statistical analysis of HDX MS data. Further incorporation of features from these programs would help further bridging the gap between the already existing capabilities of traditional HDX MS and isotopic fine structure HDX MS. Likewise, high mass accuracy afforded on this instrumentation platform can also aid in the unambiguous assignment of peptides, including in the case where only the deuterium-exchanged sample is analyzed, as described here. Both the high mass accuracy and ability to resolve isotopic composition could also be used, combined with HDX data, for the unambiguous identification of the elemental composition of small molecules, as well as their structural elucidation, particularly in complex mixtures such as in natural organic matter or during metabolite profiling. Combining tools used for elemental composition prediction [61]-[64] with the ability for QUDeX-MS to estimate deuterium incorporation would provide an integrated data analysis environment for data of this type. Indeed, if elemental composition could be determined from accurate mass and/or isotopic composition, small molecule structure prediction combined with HDX data could be used to potentially assign structure as well.

Conclusions

Isotopic fine structure HDX-MS offers the potential to further increase sequence coverage of proteins being analyzed through high mass accuracy and deconvolution of overlapping ion signals. Many recent advancements in mass spectrometers, including the commercialization of the dynamically harmonized Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance cell by Ivan Boldin and Eugene Nikolaev [65], have further helped researchers to routinely resolve isotopic fine structure of peptides. Isotopic fine structure HDX-MS has also been demonstrated to be useful in the characterization of molecules in complex mixtures of natural organic matter [66],[67]. As previously demonstrated, however, the data analysis workflow for HDX-MS data with resolved isotopic fine structure is distinct. QUDeX-MS we hope will help facilitate the adoption of this technique via streamlining the data analysis process for researchers.

Availability and requirements

Project name: QUDeX-MS

Project home page: qudex-ms.sourceforge.net, www.agarlabs.com

Operating system(s): Precompiled versions available for PC (32- and 64-bit) and OSX

Programming language: MATLAB

Other requirements: None

License: FreeBSD

Any restrictions to use by non-academics: None