MITF regulates IDH1 and NNT and drives a transcriptional program protecting cutaneous melanoma from reactive oxygen species.

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) plays pivotal roles in melanocyte development, function, and melanoma pathogenesis. MITF amplification occurs in melanoma and has been associated with resistance to targeted therapies. Here, we show that MITF regulates a global antioxidant program that increases survival of melanoma cell lines by protecting the cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage. In addition, this redox program is correlated with MITF expression in human melanoma cell lines and patient-derived melanoma samples. Using a zebrafish melanoma model, we show that MITF decreases ROS-mediated DNA damage in vivo . Some of the MITF target genes involved, such as IDH1 and NNT , are regulated through direct MITF binding to canonical enhancer box (E-BOX) sequences proximal to their promoters. Utilizing functional experiments, we demonstrate the role of MITF and its target genes in reducing cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS. Collectively, our data identify MITF as a significant driver of the cellular antioxidant state. One Sentence Summary: MITF promote melanoma survival via increasing ROS tolerance.

A high-specificity aniline-based mass tag for aldehyde detection.

RATIONALE: We studied an aldehyde-labeling reagent, N-{2-[(4-aminophenoxy)methyl]benzyl}-N,N-diethylethanaminium bromide (CAX-A), containing an aniline functional group for the detection of aldehydes with high specificity. METHODS: Six standard aldehydes were labeled by CAX-A and analyzed using LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS. The aldehydes (each 40 nmol) were derivatized with CAX-A in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride at room temperature overnight. The labeling reaction was applied to two urine samples for the detection of putative aldehydes. RESULTS: All six standard CAX-aldehyde derivatives were detected as precursor ions by dilution to 830 fmol/injection (signal-to-noise [S/N] ratio 587-1573). A total of 2184 MS1 features were detected overall in urine and blanks, of which 14 were putative aldehydes found only in urine. CONCLUSIONS: CAX-A can provide three levels of specificity for aldehyde detection. First is the known labeling specificity of the aniline functional group for aldehydes, which we confirmed here by observing a significant peak only from the aldehyde (S/N = 3388) when a mixture of an aldehyde, a ketone (no peak), and a quinone (S/N = 2.3) was tested. Second is the ease of formation of an analyte-characteristic first product ion (via anchimeric-assisted loss of triethylamine as a neutral) in MS2 from a CAX-labeled analyte. Third is the formation of a characteristic second product ion via loss of CO in MS3. CAX-A enables the specific, convenient detection of putative aldehydes in urine.

DNA Adductomics by mass tag prelabeling.

RATIONALE: As a new approach to DNA adductomics, we directly reacted intact, double-stranded (ds)-DNA under warm conditions with an alkylating mass tag followed by analysis by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. This method is based on the tendency of adducted nucleobases to locally disrupt the DNA structure (forming a "DNA bubble") potentially increasing exposure of their nucleophilic (including active hydrogen) sites for preferential alkylation. Also encouraging this strategy is that the scope of nucleotide excision repair is very broad, and this system primarily recognizes DNA bubbles. METHODS: A cationic xylyl (CAX) mass tag with limited nonpolarity was selected to increase the retention of polar adducts in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for more detectability while maintaining resolution. We thereby detected a diversity of DNA adducts (mostly polar) by the following sequence of steps: (1) react DNA at 45°C for 2 h under aqueous conditions with CAX-B (has a benzyl bromide functional group to label active hydrogen sites) in the presence of triethylamine; (2) remove residual reagents by precipitating and washing the DNA (a convenient step); (3) digest the DNA enzymatically to nucleotides and remove unlabeled nucleotides by nonpolar solid-phase extraction (also a convenient step); and (4) detect CAX-labeled, adducted nucleotides by LC/MS2 or a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MS technique. RESULTS: Examples of the 42 DNA or RNA adducts detected, or tentatively so based on accurate mass and fragmentation data, are as follows: 8-oxo-dGMP, ethyl-dGMP, hydroxyethyl-dGMP (four isomers, all HPLC-resolved), uracil-glycol, apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, benzo[a]pyrene-dGMP, and, for the first time, benzoquinone-hydroxymethyl-dCMP. Importantly, these adducts are detected in a single procedure under a single set of conditions. Sensitivity, however, is only defined in a preliminary way, namely the latter adduct seems to be detected at a level of about 4 adducts in 109 nucleotides (S/N ~30). CONCLUSIONS: CAX-Prelabeling is an emerging new technique for DNA adductomics, providing polar DNA adductomics in a practical way for the first time. Further study of the method is encouraged to better characterize and extend its performance, especially in scope and sensitivity.

Jettison-MS of Nucleic Acid Species.

While MALDI-MS of intact genomic DNA is unheard of, actually many DNA adducts can be detected in this way under certain MALDI conditions: relatively high molar ratio of DNA nucleobases to matrix (0.01 to 0.3), hot matrix (CCA), and high laser fluence. This is because many DNA adducts create "bubbles" on dsDNA (disruption of base pairing), making it easier for these adducts as modified nucleobases to be jettisoned by the laser-derived energy of MALDI (jettison mass spectrometry or JeMS). The method also works for other nucleic acid species, namely nucleobases, nucleosides, nucleotides, and RNA. Examples of what we have detected in this way are as follows: methyladenine in E. coli DNA, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in human brain DNA, melphalan-adenine in leukocyte DNA from patients on corresponding chemotherapy, wybutosine in tRNA, benzyl DNA adducts in E. coli cell culture treated with benzyl bromide, and various DNA adducts formed in test tube exposure experiments with calf thymus DNA. Noteworthy, in the chemotherapy study, principle component analysis of the data encourages the hypothesis that patient DNA undergoes much more damage than just melphalan adducts. Overall, our work leads to the preliminary generalization that about 5 fmol of a nucleobase deficient in base pairing, and present in a MALDI spot, will be detected by JeMS (on the equipment that we used), irrespective of the type of nucleic acid species which houses it, as long as the nucleobase is relatively basic such as A, C, or G.

Recommendations for quantitative analysis of small molecules by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been used for quantitative analysis of small molecules for many years. It is usually preceded by an LC separation step when complex samples are tested. With the development several years ago of "modern MALDI" (automation, high repetition laser, high resolution peaks), the ease of use and performance of MALDI as a quantitative technique greatly increased. This review focuses on practical aspects of modern MALDI for quantitation of small molecules conducted in an ordinary way (no special reagents, devices or techniques for the spotting step of MALDI), and includes our ordinary, preferred methods The review is organized as 18 recommendations with accompanying explanations, criticisms and exceptions.

Nontargeted analysis of the urine nonpolar sulfateome: a pathway to the nonpolar xenobiotic exposome.

RATIONALE: Testing the urine nonpolar sulfateome can enable discovery of xenobiotics that are most likely to be bioactive. This is based on the fact that nonpolar xenobiotics are more likely to enter cells where they tend to undergo metabolism, in part, to sulfates that are then largely excreted into the urine. METHODS: The following sequence of steps, with conditions that achieve high reproducibility, was applied to large human urine samples: (1) competitive nonpolar extraction with a porous extraction paddle; (2) weak anion-exchange extraction with strong organic washing; and (3) ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)/negative ion matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometery (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS) with recording of ions with signal-to-noise (S/N) ≥ 20 that yielded M-1-80 (loss of SO3 ) or m/z 97 (HSO4- ) upon fragmentation. RESULTS: From a collection of urine samples from six pregnant women, the masses of 1129 putative sulfates were measured. Three lists of candidate compounds (preliminary hits) from these masses were formed by searching METLIN, especially via MATLAB, yielding putative xenobiotic contaminants (35 compounds), steroids (122), and flavonoids (1582). CONCLUSIONS: A new way to reveal some of the nonpolar xenobiotic exposome has been developed that applies to urine samples. The value of the method is to suggest xenobiotics for subsequent targeted analysis in the population of people under study, in order to relate the environment to health and disease. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cationic Xylene Tag for Increasing Sensitivity in Mass Spectrometry.

N-(2-(Bromomethyl)benzyl)-N,N-diethylethanaminium bromide, that we designate as CAX-B (cationic xylyl-bromide), is presented as a derivatization reagent for increasing sensitivity in mass spectrometry. Because of its aryl bromomethyl moiety, CAX-B readily labels compounds having an active hydrogen. In part, a CAX-tagged analyte (CAX-analyte) can be very sensitive especially in a tandem mass spectrometer (both ESI and MALDI). This is because of facile formation of an analyte-characteristic first product ion (as a xylyl-based cation) from favorable loss of triethylamine as a neutral from the precursor ion. This loss is enhanced both by resonance stabilization of the xylyl cation, and by anchimeric assistance from the ortho hetero atom of the attached analyte. High intensity of a first product ion opens up the opportunity for a CAX-analyte to be additionally sensitive when it is prone to a secondary neutral loss from the analyte part. For example, we have derivatized and detected 160 amol of thymidine by CAX-tagging/LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS in this way, where the two neutral losses are triethylamine and deoxyribose. Other analytes detected at the amol level as CAX derivatives (as diluted standards) include estradiol and some nucleobases. The tendency for analytes with multiple active hydrogens to label just once with CAX (an advantage) is illustrated by the conversion of bisphenol A to a single product even when excess CAX-B is present. A family of analogous reagents with a variety of reactivity groups is anticipated as a consequence of replacing the bromine atom of CAX-B with various functional groups.

Big Data Analysis on Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats.

In this paper, we present the use of Principal Component Analysis and customized software, to accelerate the spectral analysis of biological samples. The work is part of the mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences sponsored Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats Center, establishing linkages between environmental pollutants and preterm birth. This paper provides an overview of the data repository developed for the Center, and presents a use case analysis of biological sample data maintained in the database system.

Evaporative derivatization of phenols with 2-sulfobenzoic anhydride for detection by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Phenols are an important class of analytes, for example as bioactive environmental contaminants. Towards a goal of improving their detection by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) or MALDI-tandem time-of-flight (TOF/TOF)-MS, we studied their derivatization with 2-sulfobenzoic anhydride (SBA). We chose SBA for this purpose since it is commercially available, inexpensive, and forms an anionic derivative. METHODS: Under the selected conditions developed here for phenols, a reaction mixture of one or more of such compounds in acetonitrile containing SBA and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) is evaporated to a solid, heated at 60 °C for 1 h, redissolved in 50% acetonitrile containing matrix, spotted onto a MALDI target, and subjected to negative ion MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. RESULTS: While conventional (solution-phase) reaction of 4-phenylphenol (model analyte) with SBA and DMAP only gave a 47% yield of SBA-tagged 4-phenylphenol, evaporative derivatization as above gave a 96% yield, and 25 pmol (4.3 ng) of 4-phenylphenol could be detected in this way by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS at signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) = 260, whereas even 1 nmol of the nonderivatized phenol was not detected in the absence of derivatization. A wide range of responses was observed when a mixture of 15 phenols was derivatized, with the higher responses coming from phenols with a pKa value above 9. Without derivatization, phenols with pKa values below 5 were the most readily detected. CONCLUSIONS: Evaporative derivatization with SBA (a convenient reagent) can improve the detection of phenols with relatively high pKa values (above 9) by negative ion MALDI-TOF-MS, and accomplish this in the absence of post-derivatization reaction cleanup.

Nuclear magnetic resonance at the picomole level of a DNA adduct.

We investigate the limit of detection for obtaining NMR data of a DNA adduct using modern microscale NMR instrumentation, once the adduct has been isolated at the picomole level. Eighty nanograms (130 pmol) of a DNA adduct standard, N-(2'-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene 5'-monophosphate (AAF-dGMP), in 1.5 µL of D2O with 10% methanol-d4, in a vial, was completely picked up as a droplet suspended in a fluorocarbon liquid and loaded efficiently into a microcoil probe. This work demonstrates a practical manual method of droplet microfluidic sample loading, previously demonstrated using automated equipment, which provides a severalfold advantage over conventional flow injection. Eliminating dilution during injection and confining the sample to the observed volume produce the full theoretical mass sensitivity of a microcoil, comparable to that of a microcryo probe. With 80 ng, an NMR spectrum acquired over 40 h showed all of the resonances seen in a standard spectrum of AAF-dGMP, with a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 10, despite broadening due to previously noted effects of conformational exchange. Even with this broadening to 5 Hz, a two-dimensional total correlation spectroscopy spectrum was acquired on 1.6 µg in 18 h. This work helps to define the utility of NMR in combination with other analytical methods for the structural characterization of a small amount of a DNA adduct.

Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate induces oxidative stress responses in human placental cells in vitro.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is an environmental contaminant commonly used as a plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride products. Exposure to DEHP has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes in humans including preterm birth, low birth-weight, and pregnancy loss. Although oxidative stress is linked to the pathology of adverse pregnancy outcomes, effects of DEHP metabolites, including the active metabolite, mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), on oxidative stress responses in placental cells have not been previously evaluated. The objective of the current study is to identify MEHP-stimulated oxidative stress responses in human placental cells. We treated a human placental cell line, HTR-8/SVneo, with MEHP and then measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using the dichlorofluorescein assay, oxidized thymine with mass-spectrometry, redox-sensitive gene expression with qRT-PCR, and apoptosis using a luminescence assay for caspase 3/7 activity. Treatment of HTR-8 cells with 180µM MEHP increased ROS generation, oxidative DNA damage, and caspase 3/7 activity, and resulted in differential expression of redox-sensitive genes. Notably, 90 and 180µM MEHP significantly induced mRNA expression of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), an enzyme important for synthesis of prostaglandins implicated in initiation of labor. The results from the present study are the first to demonstrate that MEHP stimulates oxidative stress responses in placental cells. Furthermore, the MEHP concentrations used were within an order of magnitude of the highest concentrations measured previously in human umbilical cord or maternal serum. The findings from the current study warrant future mechanistic studies of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and prostaglandins as molecular mediators of DEHP/MEHP-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Nontargeted analysis of DNA adducts by mass-tag MS: reaction of p-benzoquinone with DNA.

Using a method in which DNA adducts are discovered based on their conversion in a nucleotide form to phosphorimidazolides with isotopologue benzoylhistamines (or p-bromobenzoylhistamine) prior to detection by MALDI-TOF-MS, we have profiled the adducts that form when calf thymus DNA is reacted in vitro with p-benzoquinone (BQ). We find, as relative values normalized to 100% of adducts observed, 79% BQ-dCMP, 21% BQ-methyl-dCMP (a new DNA adduct), and trace amounts of BQ-dAMP and BQ-dGMP. Because mC is 5% of C in this DNA, the reaction of BQ with DNA in vitro is about five times faster at methyl-C than C. When equal amounts of dCMP and methyl-dCMP are reacted with BQ, equal amounts of the corresponding adducts are observed. Thus, the microenvironment of methyl-C in DNA enhances its reactivity relative to C with BQ. In a prior, similar study, but based on analysis by (32)P-postlabeling, the second most abundant adduct was assigned to BQ-A, apparently because of comigration of the BQ-A and BQ-methyl-C adducts (as bisphosphates) in the chromatographic step. Because the calf thymus DNA (used as received) was contaminated with RNA, we also detected the ribonucleotide adduct, BQ-CMP.

Nontargeted nucleotide analysis based on benzoylhistamine labeling-MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS: discovery of putative 6-oxo-thymine in DNA.

A method for nontargeted analysis of modified nucleotides in DNA (and RNA) is reported based on labeling with benzoylhistamine (BH) followed by MALDI-MS. The method provides deoxynucleotide-specific detection, accurate measurement of molecular ions, high sensitivity, semiquantitation, and, to the extent studied to date, normalization of response within a factor of <3.

Malondialdehyde-deoxyguanosine adduct formation in workers of pathology wards: the role of air formaldehyde exposure.

Formaldehyde is an ubiquitous pollutant to which humans are exposed. Pathologists can experience high formaldehyde exposure levels. Formaldehyde-among other properties-induce oxidative stress and free radicals, which react with DNA and lipids, leading to oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, respectively. We measured the levels of air-formaldehyde exposure in a group of Italian pathologists and controls. We analyzed the effect of formaldehyde exposure on leukocyte malondialdehyde-deoxyguanosine adducts (M(1)-dG), a biomarker of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. We studied the relationship between air-formaldehyde and M(1)-dG adducts. Air-formaldehyde levels were measured by personal air samplers. M(1)-dG adducts were analyzed by a (32)P-postlabeling assay. Reduction room pathologists were significantly exposed to air-formaldehyde with respect to controls and to the pathologists working in other laboratory areas (p < 0.001). A significant difference for M(1)-dG adducts between exposed pathologists and controls was found (p = 0.045). The effect becomes stronger when the evaluation of air-formaldehyde exposure was based on personal samplers (p = 0.018). Increased M(1)dG adduct levels were only found in individuals exposed to air-formaldehyde concentrations higher than 66 microg/m(3). When the exposed workers and controls were subgrouped according to smoking, M(1)-dG tended to increase in all of the subjects, but a significant association between M(1)-dG and air-formaldehyde was only found in nonsmokers (p = 0.009). Air-formaldehyde played a role positive but not significant (r = 0.355, p = 0.075, Pearson correlation) in the formation of M(1)-dG, only in nonsmokers. Working in the reduction rooms and exposure to air-formaldehyde concentrations higher than 66 microg/m(3) are associated with increased levels of M(1)-dG adducts.

Xanthamide fluorescent dyes.

Two derivatives of fluorescein, termed "xanthamides," were prepared from fluorescein, an inexpensive dye. Relative to fluorescein, which contains a 6-phenolic OH and a 2'-carboxyl, the first derivative (5) contains a carboxymethyl ether at the 6-position and a secondary amide of dimethylamine at the 2'-position. The second derivative (8) contains a corresponding 6-methyl ether and a secondary amide of isonipecotic acid at the 2'-position. Thus, both derivatives contain a single carboxyl group, making them monofunctional. Especially 8 is much more photostable (about 10 times) than either fluorescein or BODIPY FL dye when exposed to ordinary light (tungsten light bulb). When tested for relative response in a capillary electrophoresis instrument fitted with an argon ion laser detector (488 nm) and a broad band emission filter, 8 was found to be 4-fold less bright than fluorescein. Both xanthamides, consistent with prior literature on 6-O-alkylated fluorescein, exhibit relatively pH-independent fluorescence (pH 4-10 was tested here). Because they possess two absorbance maximums, the xanthamides can be excited over a broader wavelength range than fluorescein or BODIPY. These collective properties of the xanthamides will make them advantageous over fluorescein and BODIPY dyes for some applications.