Monitoring oxidative and nitrative modification of cellular proteins; a paradigm for identifying key disease related markers of oxidative stress

High levels of free radicals produced by the mitochondrial respiratory chain, with subsequent damage to mitochondria have been implicated in a large and growing number of diseases. The underlying pathology of these diseases is oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA, lipids and proteins which accumulate over time to produce a metabolic deficiency. We are developing an antibody based immunocapture array for many important mitochondrial proteins involved in free radical production, detoxification and mitochondrial energy production. Our array is capable of a multi-parameter measurement including enzyme activity, quantity, and oxidative protein modifications. Here we demonstrate the use of this array by analyzing the proteomic differences in OXPHOS (oxidative phosphorylation) enzymes between human heart and liver tissues, cells grown in media promoting aerobic versus anaerobic metabolism, and the catalytic/proteomic effects of mitochondria exposed to oxidative stress. Protein oxidation is identified as carbonyl formation arising from reactive oxygen species and 3-nitrotyrosine as a marker of reactive nitrogen species. Several identified modifications are confirmed by electrophoresis and mass spectrometry of immunocaptured material. We continue to expand this array as antibodies for enzyme isolation and detection become available.