In both normal and pathological states, cells respond rapidly to environmental cues by synthesizing new proteins. The selective identification of a newly synthesized proteome has been hindered by the basic fact that all proteins, new and old, share the same pool of amino acids and thus are chemically indistinguishable. We describe here a technology, based on the cotranslational introduction of azide groups into proteins and the chemoselective tagging of azide-labeled proteins with an alkyne affinity tag, to separate and identify, specifically, the newly synthesized proteins in mammalian cells. Incorporation of the azide-bearing amino acid azidohomoalanine is unbiased, not toxic, and does not increase protein degradation. As a first demonstration of the method, we report the selective purification and identification of 195 metabolically labeled proteins with multidimensional liquid chromatography in-line with tandem MS. Furthermore, in combination with leucine-based mass tagging, candidates were immediately validated as newly synthesized proteins. The identified proteins, synthesized in a 2-h window, possess a broad range of biochemical properties and span most functional gene ontology categories. This technology makes it possible to address the temporal and spatial characteristics of newly synthesized proteomes in any cell type.chemical reporter ͉ protein synthesis ͉ proteomics

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with intermediate phenotypes, like changes in metabolite and protein levels, provide functional evidence to map disease associations and translate them into clinical applications. However, although hundreds of genetic variants have been associated with complex disorders, the underlying molecular pathways often remain elusive. Associations with intermediate traits are key in establishing functional links between GWAS-identified risk-variants and disease end points. Here we describe a GWAS using a highly multiplexed aptamer-based affinity proteomics platform. We quantify 539 associations between protein levels and gene variants (pQTLs) in a German cohort and replicate over half of them in an Arab and Asian cohort. Fifty-five of the replicated pQTLs are located in trans. Our associations overlap with 57 genetic risk loci for 42 unique disease end points. We integrate this information into a genome-proteome network and provide an interactive web-tool for interrogations. Our results provide a basis for novel approaches to pharmaceutical and diagnostic applications.

Recruitment of ubiquitinated proteins to the 26S proteasome lies at the heart of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Genetic studies suggest a role for the multiubiquitin chain binding proteins (MCBPs) Rad23 and Rpn10 in recruitment, but biochemical studies implicate the Rpt5 ATPase. We addressed this issue by analyzing degradation of the ubiquitinated Cdk inhibitor Sic1 (UbSic1) in vitro. Mutant rpn10Delta and rad23Delta proteasomes failed to bind or degrade UbSic1. Although Rpn10 or Rad23 restored UbSic1 recruitment to either mutant, rescue of degradation by Rad23 uncovered a requirement for the VWA domain of Rpn10. In vivo analyses confirmed that Rad23 and the multiubiquitin binding domain of Rpn10 contribute to Sic1 degradation. Turnover studies of multiple UPS substrates uncovered an unexpected degree of specificity in their requirements for MCBPs. We propose that recruitment of substrates to the proteasome by MCBPs provides an additional layer of substrate selectivity in the UPS.

p97 is an ATP-dependent chaperone that plays an important role in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation but whose connections to turnover of soluble proteins remain sparse. Binding of p97 to substrates is mediated by cofactors that contain ubiquitin-binding domains. We employed "network proteomics" to show that p97 assembles with all of the 13 mammalian UBX-domain proteins. The UBX proteins that bind ubiquitin conjugates also interact with dozens of E3 ubiquitin ligases, only one of which had been previously linked to p97. In particular, UBXD7 links p97 to the ubiquitin ligase CUL2/VHL and its substrate hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF1alpha). Depletion of p97 leads to accumulation of endogenous HIF1alpha and increased expression of a HIF1alpha target gene. The large number of ubiquitin ligases found associated with UBX proteins suggests that p97 plays a far broader role than previously anticipated in the global regulation of protein turnover.