Multiplexed temporal quantification of the exercise-regulated plasma peptidome

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Exercise is extremely beneficial to whole body health reducing the risk of a number of chronic human diseases. Some of these physiological benefits appear to be mediated via the secretion of peptide/protein hormones into the blood stream. The plasma peptidome contains the entire complement of low molecular weight endogenous peptides derived from secretion, protease activity and PTMs, and is a rich source of hormones. In the current study we have quantified the effects of intense exercise on the plasma peptidome to identify novel exercise regulated secretory factors in humans. We developed an optimised 2D-LC-MS/MS method and used multiple fragmentation methods including HCD and EThcD to analyse endogenous peptides. This resulted in quantification of 5,548 unique peptides during a time course of exercise and recovery. The plasma peptidome underwent dynamic and large changes during exercise on a time-scale of minutes with many rapidly reversible following exercise cessation. Among acutely regulated peptides, many were known hormones including insulin, glucagon, ghrelin, bradykinin, cholecystokinin and secretogranins validating the method. Prediction of bioactive peptides regulated with exercise identified C-terminal peptides from Transgelins, which were increased in plasma during exercise. In vitro experiments using synthetic peptides identified a role for transgelin peptides on the regulation of cell-cycle, extracellular matrix remodelling and cell migration. We investigated the effects of exercise on the regulation of PTMs and proteolytic processing by building a site-specific network of protease:substrate activity. Collectively, our deep peptidomic analysis of plasma revealed that exercise rapidly modulates the circulation of hundreds of bioactive peptides through a network of proteases and PTMs. These findings illustrate that peptidomics is an ideal method for quantifying changes in circulating factors on a global scale in response to physiological perturbations such as exercise. This will likely be a key method for pinpointing exercise regulated factors that generate health benefits.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMolecular and Cellular Proteomics
Volume16
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)2055-2068
Number of pages14
ISSN1535-9484
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Research areas

  • Exercise, Peptide hormone, EThcD, Mass spectrometry, Peptidomics, Physiology, Plasma or serum analysis, Proteases

ID: 184391740