Peptide microarrays for profiling of modification state-specific antibodies.

The reversible phosphorylation of serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues is one of the most important intracellular post-translational modifications regulating enzymatic activities and protein/protein interaction in eukaryotic cells. Tools for determining phosphorylation status of proteins and peptides play a prominent role in signal transduction research and proteomics. Pan-specific antibodies claimed to recognize modified amino acid residues independent on the nature of surrounding residues in peptides and proteins are widely used. We used high-content phosphopeptide microarrays and microarrays displaying acetyllysine-containing peptides for comprehensive characterization of commercially available generic anti-phosphopeptide and anti-acetyllysine antibodies. We were able to demonstrate distinct subsite specificity and cross-reactivity for such antibodies.