High resolution mass spectrometry characterization of the oxidation pattern of methionine and cysteine residues in rat liver mitochondria voltage-dependent anion selective channel 3 (VDAC3)

Rosaria Saletti, Simona Reina, Maria G.G. Pittalà, Ramona Belfiore, Vincenzo Cunsolo, Angela Messina, Vito De Pinto, Salvatore Foti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Voltage-dependent anion selective channels (VDACs) are integral membrane proteins found in the mitochondrial outer membrane. In comparison with the most abundant isoform VDAC1, there is little knowledge about the functional role of VDAC3. Unlikely VDAC1, cysteine residues are particularly abundant in VDAC3. Since the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS) has an oxidative potential we questioned whether the redox state of VDAC3 can be modified. By means of SDS-PAGE separation, tryptic and chymotryptic proteolysis and UHPLC/High Resolution ESI-MS/MS analysis we investigated the oxidation state of cysteine and methionine residues of rat liver VDAC3. Our results demonstrate that the mitochondrial VDAC3, in physiological state, contains methionines oxidized to methionine sulfoxide. Furthermore, cysteine residues 36, 65, and 165 are oxidized to a remarkable extend to sulfonic acid. Cysteines 2 and 8 are observed exclusively in the carboxyamidomethylated form. Cys229 is detected exclusively in the oxidized form of sulfonic acid, whereas the oxidation state of Cys122 could not be determined because peptides containing this residue were not detected. Control experiments ruled out the possibility that over-oxidation of cysteines might be due to artefactual reasons. The peculiar behavior of Met and Cys residues of VDAC3 may be related with the accessibility of the protein to a strongly oxidizing environment and may be connected with the regulation of the activity of this trans-membrane pore protein.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-311
Number of pages11
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
Volume1859
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Amino acid redox state
  • Cysteine
  • Mitochondrial intermembrane space
  • Mitochondrial outer membrane
  • Orbitrap tribrid mass spectrometer
  • Voltage dependent anion selective channel isoform 3 (VDAC3)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'High resolution mass spectrometry characterization of the oxidation pattern of methionine and cysteine residues in rat liver mitochondria voltage-dependent anion selective channel 3 (VDAC3)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this