Biology subjects

Furtwangler, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Furtwangler, B..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Evaluating the capabilities of the Astral mass analyzer for single-cell proteomics

The complexity of human physiology arises from well-orchestrated interactions between trillions of single cells in the body. While single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enhanced our understanding of cell diversity, gene expression alone does not fully characterize cell phenotypes. Additional molecular dimensions, such as proteins, are needed to define cellular states accurately. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has emerged as a powerful tool for comprehensive protein analysis, including single-cell applications. However, challenges remain in terms of throughput and proteomic depth, in order to maximize the biological impact of single-cell proteomics by Mass Spectrometry (scp-MS) workflows. This study leverages a novel high-resolution, accurate mass (HRAM) instrument platform, consisting of both an Orbitrap and an innovative HRAM Asymmetric Track Lossless (Astral) analyzer. The Astral analyzer offers high sensitivity and resolution through lossless ion transfer and a unique flight track design. We evaluate the performance of the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral MS using Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA) and assess proteome depth and quantitative precision for ultra-low input samples. Optimal DIA method parameters for single-cell proteomics are identified, and we demonstrate the ability of the instrument to study cell cycle dynamics in Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK293) cells, and cancer cell heterogeneity in a primary Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) culture model.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Enhancing single-cell proteomics through tailored Data-Independent Acquisition and micropillar array-based chromatography

Single-cell resolution analysis of complex biological tissues is fundamental to capture cell-state heterogeneity and distinct cellular signaling patterns that remain obscured with population-based techniques. The limited amount of material encapsulated in a single cell however, raises significant technical challenges to molecular profiling. Due to extensive optimization efforts, mass spectrometry-based single-cell proteomics (scp-MS) has emerged as a powerful tool to facilitate proteome profiling from ultra-low amounts of input, although further development is needed to realize its full potential. To this end, we carried out comprehensive analysis of orbitrap-based data independent acquisition (DIA) for limited material proteomics. Notably, we found a fundamental difference between optimal DIA methods for high- and low-load samples. We further improved our low-input DIA method by relying on high-resolution MS1 quantification, thus more efficiently utilizing available mass analyzer time. With our ultra-low input tailored DIA method, we were able to accommodate long injection times and high resolution, while keeping the scan cycle time low enough to ensure robust quantification. Finally, we establish a complete experimental scp-MS workflow, combining DIA with accessible single-cell sample preparation and the latest chromatographic and computational advances and showcase our developments by profiling real single cells.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Mapping physiological ADP-ribosylation using Activated Ion Electron Transfer Dissociation (AI-ETD)

ADP-ribosylation (ADPr) is a post-translational modification that plays pivotal roles in a wide range of cellular processes. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis of ADPr under physiological conditions, without relying on genetic or chemical perturbation, has been hindered by technical limitations. Here, we describe the applicability of Activated Ion Electron Transfer Dissociation (AI-ETD) for MS-based proteomics analysis of physiological ADPr using our unbiased Af1521 enrichment strategy. To benchmark AI-ETD, we profiled 9,000 ADPr peptides mapping to >5,000 unique ADPr sites from a limited number of cells exposed to oxidative stress, corresponding to 120% and 28% more ADPr peptides compared to contemporary strategies using ETD and EThcD, respectively. Under physiological conditions AI-ETD identified 450 ADPr sites on low-abundant proteins, including in vivo cysteine auto-modifications on PARP8 and tyrosine auto-modifications on PARP14, hinting at specialist enzymatic functions for these enzymes. Collectively, our data provides new insights into the physiological regulation of ADP-ribosylation.

molecular biology↗