Potential for Using Isotopically Altered Metalloproteins in Species-Specific Isotope Dilution Analysis of Proteins by HPLC Coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

The production and evaluation of an isotopically enriched metalloprotein standard for use as a calibrant in species-specific isotope dilution analysis by HPLC coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is described. Using a model system involving the copper-containing protein rusticyanin (Rc) from the bacterium Acido-thiobacillus ferrooxidans, it was possible to demonstrate the analytical conditions that could be used for the measurement of metalloproteins by on-line IDMS analysis. Rc was chosen because it is a well-characterized protein with an established amino acid sequence and can be produced in suitable quantities using a bacterial recombinant system. Three different forms of the protein were studied by organic and inorganic mass spectrometry:  the native form of the protein containing a natural isotopic profile for copper, an isotopically enriched species containing virtually all of its copper as the 65Cu isotope, and the nonmetalated apo form. Incorporation of the copper isotopes into ...