Open AccessLaser-free Hydroxyl Radical Protein Footprinting to Perform Higher Order Structural Analysis of Proteins
Author(s) -
Scot R. Weinberger,
Emily E. Chea,
Joshua S. Sharp,
Sandeep K. Misra
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of visualized experiments
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 91
ISSN - 1940-087X
DOI - 10.3791/61861
Subject(s) - footprinting , dna footprinting , chemistry , radical , order (exchange) , biophysics , biochemistry , computational biology , dna binding protein , biology , gene , base sequence , business , finance , transcription factor
Hydroxyl Radical Protein Footprinting (HRPF) is an emerging and promising higher order structural analysis technique that provides information on changes in protein structure, protein-protein interactions, or protein-ligand interactions. HRPF utilizes hydroxyl radicals ( ▪ OH) to irreversibly label a protein's solvent accessible surface. The inherent complexity, cost, and hazardous nature of performing HRPF have substantially limited broad-based adoption in biopharma. These factors include: 1) the use of complicated, dangerous, and expensive lasers that demand substantial safety precautions; and 2) the irreproducibility of HRPF caused by background scavenging of ▪ OH that limit comparative studies. This publication provides a protocol for operation of a laser-free HRPF system. This laser-free HRPF system utilizes a high energy, high-pressure plasma light source flash oxidation technology with in-line radical dosimetry. The plasma light source is safer, easier to use, and more efficient in generating hydroxyl radicals than laser-based HRPF systems, and the in-line radical dosimeter increases the reproducibility of studies. Combined, the laser-free HRPF system addresses and surmounts the mentioned shortcomings and limitations of laser-based techniques.