Proximity‐Induced Transfer of a Mass Tag Enables Direct Profiling of Active Matrix Metalloproteases

L Lomane Berthy (CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France) U Ugo Pasco (IBMM, Univ. Montpellier, ENSCM CNRS Montpellier France) M Mylene Sejalon‐Cipolla (IBMM, Univ. Montpellier, ENSCM CNRS Montpellier France) P Pierrick Bruyat (CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France) M Monika Kaminska C Carole Malgorn (CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France) F Fabrice Beau (CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France) M Manca Osolin (National Institute of Biology Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, 121 Večna pot Ljubljana Slovenia) M Metka Novak (National Institute of Biology Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, 121 Večna pot Ljubljana Slovenia) B Barbara Breznik (National Institute of Biology Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, 121 Večna pot Ljubljana Slovenia) D Dimitris Georgiadis (Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou Athens Greece) I Isabelle Correia (Sorbonne Université, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS Chimie Physique et Chimie du Vivant CPCV Paris France) E Emeline Groult (IRMB, University of Montpellier INSERM, CHU Montpellier Montpellier France) O Olivier Lequin S Sarah Bregant (CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France) Y Yves‐Marie Pers (University of Ljubljana Biotechnical Faculty Ljubljana Slovenia) D Daniele Noel (University of Ljubljana Biotechnical Faculty Ljubljana Slovenia) R Robert Thai (Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (MTS), SIMoS) G Gilles Subra (IBMM, Univ. Montpellier, ENSCM CNRS Montpellier France) S Sonia Cantel (IBMM, Univ. Montpellier, ENSCM CNRS Montpellier France) L Laurent Devel

Abstract

ABSTRACT Conventional activity‐based probes in activity‐based protein profiling (ABPP) require enrichment or reporter tags for detection, which limits sensitivity and multiplexing. Here, we present an enrichment‐free chemoproteomic approach that enables direct mass spectrometric detection by Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) of active proteases. An active‐site–directed affinity probe transfers, through a proximity‐induced reaction, a MALDI‐detectable α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) tag exclusively to catalytically active forms of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). The CHCA label enhances ionization efficiency and markedly improves signal‐to‐noise ratios, allowing confident identification of CHCA‐labelled peptides under discriminating analytical conditions. Each active metalloprotease is thereby, associated with a distinct set of CHCA signature peptides, defining its activity fingerprint. This workflow achieves multiplexed and quantitative activity profiling of MMPs, directly in complex proteomes. This design expands ABPP into the mass spectrometry domain and establishes a robust platform for activity‐based enzyme detection.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 24
Published June 08, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (21)

L

Lomane Berthy

CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France

U

Ugo Pasco

IBMM, Univ. Montpellier, ENSCM CNRS Montpellier France

M

Mylene Sejalon‐Cipolla

IBMM, Univ. Montpellier, ENSCM CNRS Montpellier France

P

Pierrick Bruyat

CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France

M

Monika Kaminska

C

Carole Malgorn

CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France

F

Fabrice Beau

CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France

M

Manca Osolin

National Institute of Biology Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, 121 Večna pot Ljubljana Slovenia

M

Metka Novak

National Institute of Biology Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, 121 Večna pot Ljubljana Slovenia

B

Barbara Breznik

National Institute of Biology Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, 121 Večna pot Ljubljana Slovenia

D

Dimitris Georgiadis

Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou Athens Greece

I

Isabelle Correia

Sorbonne Université, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS Chimie Physique et Chimie du Vivant CPCV Paris France

E

Emeline Groult

IRMB, University of Montpellier INSERM, CHU Montpellier Montpellier France

O

Olivier Lequin

S

Sarah Bregant

CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (MTS), SIMoS Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France

Y

Yves‐Marie Pers

University of Ljubljana Biotechnical Faculty Ljubljana Slovenia

D

Daniele Noel

University of Ljubljana Biotechnical Faculty Ljubljana Slovenia

R

Robert Thai

Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (MTS), SIMoS

G

Gilles Subra

IBMM, Univ. Montpellier, ENSCM CNRS Montpellier France

S

Sonia Cantel

IBMM, Univ. Montpellier, ENSCM CNRS Montpellier France

L

Laurent Devel