Ion Mobility–Based Enrichment-Free N-Terminomics Analysis Reveals Novel Legumain Substrates in Murine Spleen

Abstract

•FAIMS improves protein and N-termini coverage using microgram amounts of sample.•This method allows for enrichment-free identification of N-terminal cleavage events.•In murine spleen, legumain KO led to altered proteolysis and neutrophil proteins.•119 asparagine-specific cuts were lost in KO mice, revealing legumain substrates.•Substrate profile suggests broad extra-lysosomal functions of legumain. Aberrant levels of the asparaginyl endopeptidase legumain have been linked to inflammation, neurodegeneration and cancer, yet our understanding of this protease is incomplete. Systematic attempts to identify legumain substrates have been previously confined to in vitro studies, which fail to mirror physiological conditions and obscure biologically relevant cleavage events. Using high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), we developed a streamlined approach for proteome and N-terminome analyses without the need for N-termini enrichment. Compared to unfractionated proteomic analysis, we demonstrate FAIMS fractionation improves N-termini identification by >2.5 fold, resulting in identification of >2,882 unique N-termini from limited sample amounts. In murine spleens, this approach identifies 6,366 proteins and 2,528 unique N-termini, with 235 cleavage events enriched in wild-type compared to legumain-deficient spleens. Among these, 119 neo-N-termini arose from asparaginyl endopeptidase activities, representing novel putative physiological legumain substrates. The direct cleavage of selected substrates by legumain was confirmed using in vitro assays, providing support for the existence of physiologically relevant extra-lysosomal legumain activity. Combined, these data shed critical light on the functions of legumain and demonstrate the utility of FAIMS as an accessible method to improve depth and quality of N-terminomics studies. Aberrant levels of the asparaginyl endopeptidase legumain have been linked to inflammation, neurodegeneration and cancer, yet our understanding of this protease is incomplete. Systematic attempts to identify legumain substrates have been previously confined to in vitro studies, which fail to mirror physiological conditions and obscure biologically relevant cleavage events. Using high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), we developed a streamlined approach for proteome and N-terminome analyses without the need for N-termini enrichment. Compared to unfractionated proteomic analysis, we demonstrate FAIMS fractionation improves N-termini identification by >2.5 fold, resulting in identification of >2,882 unique N-termini from limited sample amounts. In murine spleens, this approach identifies 6,366 proteins and 2,528 unique N-termini, with 235 cleavage events enriched in wild-type compared to legumain-deficient spleens. Among these, 119 neo-N-termini arose from asparaginyl endopeptidase activities, representing novel putative physiological legumain substrates. The direct cleavage of selected substrates by legumain was confirmed using in vitro assays, providing support for the existence of physiologically relevant extra-lysosomal legumain activity. Combined, these data shed critical light on the functions of legumain and demonstrate the utility of FAIMS as an accessible method to improve depth and quality of N-terminomics studies.

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