SEC-MX: an approach to systematically study the interplay between protein assembly states and phosphorylation

Abstract A protein’s molecular interactions and post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as phosphorylation, can be co-dependent and reciprocally co-regulate each other. Although this interplay is central for many biological processes, a systematic method to simultaneously study assembly states...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ella Doron-Mandel, Benjamin J. Bokor, Yanzhe Ma, Lena A. Street, Lauren C. Tang, Ahmed A. Abdou, Neel H. Shah, George Rosenberger, Marko Jovanovic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56303-0
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Summary:Abstract A protein’s molecular interactions and post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as phosphorylation, can be co-dependent and reciprocally co-regulate each other. Although this interplay is central for many biological processes, a systematic method to simultaneously study assembly states and PTMs from the same sample is critically missing. Here, we introduce SEC-MX (Size Exclusion Chromatography fractions MultipleXed), a global quantitative method combining Size Exclusion Chromatography and PTM-enrichment for simultaneous characterization of PTMs and assembly states. SEC-MX enhances throughput, allows phosphopeptide enrichment, and facilitates quantitative differential comparisons between biological conditions. Conducting SEC-MX on HEK293 and HCT116 cells, we generate a proof-of-concept dataset, mapping thousands of phosphopeptides and their assembly states. Our analysis reveals intricate relationships between phosphorylation events and assembly states and generates testable hypotheses for follow-up studies. Overall, we establish SEC-MX as a valuable tool for exploring protein functions and regulation beyond abundance changes.
ISSN:2041-1723