System for Detection of S-Nitrosoproteins

Abstract

The present invention describes a novel, simplified method for detecting and monitoring the presence of nitrosylated proteins, such as S-nitrosoproteins, in a biological sample using fluorescence detection. The present invention further describes a method which can both quantify and identify the nature of nitrosylated proteins, which method is useful for monitoring both normal and disease states, in the development and screening of potential therapeutic drug species.

1 . A method for detecting the presence of nitrosylated species in a biological sample comprising one or more amino acid-based species, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) separating the amino acid-based species in the sample;   (b) contacting the separated species with developing reagents comprising a fluorescence-developing agent that produces a detectable signal in the presence of nitric oxide;   (c) contacting the separated species with a molecular species bearing a thiol moiety capable of transnitrosylation;   (d) exposing the separated species to excitation radiation; and   (e) detecting emitted fluorescence from the fluorescence-developing agent, wherein the emitted fluorescence indicates the presence of a nitrosylated species in the sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrosylated species comprises an adduct between NO and an amino acid-based species, and wherein the adduct is formed between NO and an atom on the amino acid-based species selected from the group consisting of sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adduct comprises a nitrosylated protein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorescence-developing agent comprises a dihydrorhodamine derivative. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the developing reagents further comprise a saturated solution of copper (I) chloride. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorescence-developing agent comprises 4,5-diaminofluoroscein (DAF-2). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the method is further capable of quantitating an amount of nitrosylated species detected in the biological sample. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the additional step of incubating the separated species to which has been added the fluorescence-developing agent at an elevated temperature, in the presence of ascorbate and 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolin-1-oxyl 3-oxide (carboxyPTIO). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological sample is derived from mammalian cells in the absence of metal chelators. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the additional step of transferring the separated species to a solid support material capable of binding the species, prior to contacting the species with the developing reagents. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrosylated species comprises an adduct between NO and an amino acid-based species, and wherein the adduct forms between NO and an atom on the amino acid-based species selected from the group consisting of sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the adduct comprises a nitrosylated protein. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is further capable of quantifying an amount of nitrosylated species detected in the biological sample. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological sample comprises a mixture of proteins derived from eukaryotic cells. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the additional step of transferring the separated species to a solid support material capable of binding the species, prior to contacting the species with the developing reagents. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the separation is achieved by a method selected from the group consisting of agarose gel electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and preparative chromatography. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the additional step of determining the chemical identity of one or more individual nitrosylated species from the biological sample. 
     
     
         18 . A kit for detecting nitrosylated species in a biological sample, the kit comprising a fluorescence-developing agent that produces a detectable signal in the presence of nitric oxide, a molecular species bearing a thiol moiety capable of nitrosylation, and a saturated solution of copper (I) chloride. 
     
     
         19 . A method for identifying nitrosylated species in a biological sample using the kit of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         20 . A method for quantifying the amount of nitrosylated species in a biological sample using the kit of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the fluorescence-developing agent comprises a dihydrorhodamine derivative. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the fluorescence-developing agent comprises 4,5-diaminofluoroscein (DAF-2).