Premium
Studying noncovalent protein complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Loo Joseph A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
mass spectrometry reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1098-2787
pISSN - 0277-7037
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2787(1997)16:1<1::aid-mas1>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - chemistry , electrospray ionization , mass spectrometry , non covalent interactions , electrospray , protein quaternary structure , protein mass spectrometry , chromatography , mass spectrum , analytical chemistry (journal) , computational chemistry , protein subunit , molecule , organic chemistry , hydrogen bond , biochemistry , gene
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has been used to study protein interactions driven by noncovalent forces. The gentleness of the electrospray ionization process allows intact protein complexes to be directly detected by mass spectrometry. Evidence from the growing body of literature suggests that the ESI‐MS observations for these weakly bound systems reflect, to some extent, the nature of the interaction found in the condensed phase. Stoichiometry of the complex can be easily obtained from the resulting mass spectrum because the molecular weight of the complex is directly measured. For the study of protein interactions, ESI‐MS is complementary to other biophysical methods, such as NMR and analytical ultracentrifugation. However, mass spectrometry offers advantages in speed and sensitivity. The experimental variables that play a role in the outcome of ESI‐MS studies of noncovalently bound complexes are reviewed. Several applications of ESI‐MS are discussed, including protein interactions with metal ions and nucleic acids and subunit protein structures (quaternary structure). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Mass Spectrom Rev 16(1), 25–49, 1997