Time-resolved Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Research Articles

Time-resolved ElectroSpray Ionization Hydrogen-deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry for Studying Protein Structure and Dynamics.

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) have long been a challenge to structural biologists due to their lack of stable secondary structure elements. Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange (HDX) measured at rapid time scales is uniquely suited to detect structures and hydrogen bonding networks that are briefly populated, allowing for the characterization of transient conformers in native ensembles. Coupling of HDX to mass spectrometry offers several key advantages, including high sensitivity, low sample consumption and no restriction on protein size. This technique has advanced greatly in the last several decades, including the ability to monitor HDX labeling times on the millisecond time scale. In addition, by incorporating the HDX workflow onto a microfluidic platform housing an acidic protease microreactor, we are able to localize dynamic properties at the peptide level. In this study, Time-Resolved ElectroSpray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TRESI-MS) coupled to HDX was used to provide a detailed picture of residual structure in the tau protein, as well as the conformational shifts induced upon hyperphosphorylation.

Mass spectrometric identification of intermediates in the O2-driven [4Fe-4S] to [2Fe-2S] cluster conversion in FNR

The iron-sulfur cluster containing protein Fumarate and Nitrate Reduction (FNR) is the master regulator for the switch between anaerobic and aerobic respiration in Escherichia coli and many other bacteria. The [4Fe-4S] cluster functions as the sensory module, undergoing reaction with O2 that leads to conversion to a [2Fe-2S] form with loss of high-affinity DNA binding. Here, we report studies of the FNR cluster conversion reaction using time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The data provide insight into the reaction, permitting the detection of cluster conversion intermediates and products, including a [3Fe-3S] cluster and persulfide-coordinated [2Fe-2S] clusters [[2Fe-2S](S) n , where n = 1 or 2]. Analysis of kinetic data revealed a branched mechanism in which cluster sulfide oxidation occurs in parallel with cluster conversion and not as a subsequent, secondary reaction to generate [2Fe-2S](S) n species. This methodology shows great potential for broad application to studies of protein cofactor-small molecule interactions.

Complex solution chemistry behind the simple "one-pot" synthesis of vanadium-substituted polyoxometalates unraveled by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The "one-pot" method is a deceptively simple and straightforward method for synthesis of polyoxometalates (POMs). However, the complex solution chemistry behind the simple method is neither clear nor elucidated thoroughly by a suitable method. In general, POM chemists are more focused on what final products are obtained by deliberately choosing the ingredients used in the "one-pot" process with a limited knowledge of what is actually happening in the reaction solution. Time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was developed to monitor the dynamic solution speciation changes occurred in the reaction mixtures ({SiW12-x } (x=1-3)+NaVO3 ) against reaction time. The reactions were conducted as normal, with 2μL aliquots removed at specific time intervals during the reaction. The aliquots were immediately diluted with 1mL of HPLC grade water and then analyzed by ESI-MS. As a control, solutions of each {SiW12-x } were analyzed alongside the vanadium reactions to corroborate which fragments were due to the lacunary precursors and which were due to the reactions with sodium metavanadate. It was discovered that the reaction solution speciation was sensitively changed with the reaction conditions such as concentration, temperature, and reaction time. Spontaneous transformations from mono- into di- and eventually tri-substituted products ({SiW11 V}→{SiW10 V2 }→{SiW9 V3 }) were observed for the reactions of {SiW11 }+VO3 (-) and {SiW10 }+VO3 (-) , respectively. Higher concentration and temperature definitely accelerate the transformation reaction rates whereas different molar ratios of reactants have minimal effects on changing the solution speciation in the cases studied. Time-resolved ESI-MS is effectively and successfully used in the monitoring of the dynamic speciation changes in the reaction mixtures consisting of lacunary POMs with transition salts. This study will provide guidance for the oriented design and controlled synthesis of POMs with novel structures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

APPLICATION OF ELECTROCHEMICAL AND TIME-RESOLVED ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY WITH HYDROGEN/DEUTERIUM EXCHANGE (TRESI-HDX) METHODS TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF A NOVEL CLASS OF SMALL MOLECULES ON TAU OLIGOMERIZATION

APPLICATION OF ELECTROCHEMICAL AND TIME-RESOLVED ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY WITH HYDROGEN/DEUTERIUM EXCHANGE (TRESI-HDX) METHODS TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF A NOVEL CLASS OF SMALL MOLECULES ON TAU OLIGOMERIZATION

Conformational Dynamics and Allostery in Pyruvate Kinase

Pyruvate kinase catalyzes the final step in glycolysis and is allosterically regulated to control flux through the pathway. Two models are proposed to explain how Escherichia coli pyruvate kinase type 1 is allosterically regulated: the "domain rotation model" suggests that both the domains within the monomer and the monomers within the tetramer reorient with respect to one another; the "rigid body reorientation model" proposes only a reorientation of the monomers within the tetramer causing rigidification of the active site. To test these hypotheses and elucidate the conformational and dynamic changes that drive allostery, we performed time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry coupled to hydrogen-deuterium exchange studies followed by mutagenic analysis to test the activation mechanism. Global exchange experiments, supported by thermostability studies, demonstrate that fructose 1,6-bisphosphate binding to the allosteric domain causes a shift toward a globally more dynamic ensemble of conformations. Mapping deuterium exchange to peptides within the enzyme highlight site-specific regions with altered conformational dynamics, many of which increase in conformational flexibility. Based upon these and mutagenic studies, we propose an allosteric mechanism whereby the binding of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate destabilizes an α-helix that bridges the allosteric and active site domains within the monomeric unit. This destabilizes the β-strands within the (β/α)8-barrel domain and the linked active site loops that are responsible for substrate binding. Our data are consistent with the domain rotation model but inconsistent with the rigid body reorientation model given the increased flexibility at the interdomain interface, and we can for the first time explain how fructose 1,6-bisphosphate affects the active site.

Probing the Self-Assembly Mechanism of Lanthanide-Containing Sandwich-Type Silicotungstates [{Ln(H2O)n}2{Mn4(B-α-SiW9O34)2(H2O)2}](6-) Using Time-Resolved Mass Spectrometry and X-ray Crystallography.

The reaction of [γ-SiW10O36](8-) with Mn(2+) and Ln(3+) in an aqueous solution led to the isolation of a series of new lanthanide-containing sandwich-type polyoxometalates (POMs) [{Ln(H2O)n}2{Mn4(B-α-SiW9O34)2(H2O)2}](6-) (1-5a) (Ln = La (1), Nd (2), Gd (3), Dy (4), Er (5); n = 5, 6), which crystallize in the space groups C2/c with a = 33.0900(2)-32.9838(15) Å, b = 12.8044(10)-12.7526(6) Å, c = 22.8273(17)-22.6368(11) Å, V = 9669.2(12)-9519.7(8) Å(3), Z = 2 (1, 2); P1̅ with a = 11.9502(4)-11.8447(6) Å, b = 13.2203(4)-13.1164(5) Å, c = 15.8291(5)-15.8524(7) Å, V = 2221.25(13)-2189.95(18) Å(3), Z = 1 (3, 4, 5), respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that they consist of two-dimensional networks based on a sandwich-type polyanion [Mn4(B-α-SiW9O34)2(H2O)2](12-) (6a, {Mn4(SiW9)2}) and lanthanide cations (Ln(3+)), which are further connected into three-dimensional frameworks by potassium cations for 3, 4, and 5. The unprecedented combination of time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) studies and X-ray crystallography allows us not only to directly observe the in-solution rearrangement of divant anion [γ-SiW10O36](8-) into the sandwich-type POM 6a via an intermediate species [Mn3(B-β-SiW8O30(OH))(B-β-SiW9O33(OH))(H2O)](12-) (7a, {Mn3(SiW8)(SiW9)}) from ESI-MS results, but also to gain the solid-state structures of intermediate and final product isolated from reaction solutions from X-ray crystallography results, from which the self-assembly mechanism of the lanthanide-containing sandwich-type POMs 1-5a was proposed.

Hyperphosphorylation of intrinsically disordered tau protein induces an amyloidogenic shift in its conformational ensemble.

Tau is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) whose primary physiological role is to stabilize microtubules in neuronal axons at all stages of development. In Alzheimer's and other tauopathies, tau forms intracellular insoluble amyloid aggregates known as neurofibrillary tangles, a process that appears in many cases to be preceded by hyperphosphorylation of tau monomers. Understanding the shift in conformational bias induced by hyperphosphorylation is key to elucidating the structural factors that drive tau pathology, however, as an IDP, tau is not amenable to conventional structural characterization. In this work, we employ a straightforward technique based on Time-Resolved ElectroSpray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TRESI-MS) and Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange (HDX) to provide a detailed picture of residual structure in tau, and the shifts in conformational bias induced by hyperphosphorylation. By comparing the native and hyperphosphorylated ensembles, we are able to define specific conformational biases that can easily be rationalized as enhancing amyloidogenic propensity. Representative structures for the native and hyperphosphorylated tau ensembles were generated by refinement of a broad sample of conformations generated by low-computational complexity modeling, based on agreement with the TRESI-HDX profiles.

Time-resolved electrospray mass spectrometry — a brief history

This review describes the evolution of time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (TRESI-MS), a technology that was developed in large part at Western University. TRESI-MS was initially designed to characterize rapid chemical and biochemical reactions occurring on the millisecond time scale without need for a chromophore. Early TRESI-MS setups usually consisted of continuous-flow rapid mixers with a fixed tee for analysis of a single time point, and later adjustable reaction chamber devices allowing for automatic tracking of the reaction over time. Advances in instrumentation design over the years have resulted in improved time resolution, with microfluidic device implementation allowing for coupling to hydrogen−deuterium exchange (HDX) experiments. Areas of application that will be discussed include the investigation of protein folding intermediates, identification of enzyme−substrate intermediates in the pre-steady state, and the use of time-resolved HDX to study the dynamics of weakly structured protein regions. While some limitations still persist with the method, the continued development of TRESI-MS and related approaches paves the way to a promising future and the study of unexplored application areas.

Characterizing rapid, activity‐linked conformational transitions in proteins via sub‐second hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry

This review outlines the application of time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (TRESI-MS) and hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) to study rapid, activity-linked conformational transitions in proteins. The method is implemented on a microfluidic chip which incorporates all sample-handling steps required for a 'bottom-up' HDX workflow: a capillary mixer for sub-second HDX labeling, a static mixer for HDX quenching, a microreactor for rapid protein digestion, and on-chip electrospray. By combining short HDX labeling pulses with rapid digestion, this approach provides a detailed characterization of the structural transitions that occur during protein folding, ligand binding, post-translational modification and catalytic turnover in enzymes. This broad spectrum of applications in areas largely inaccessible to conventional techniques means that microfluidics-enabled TRESI-MS/HDX is a unique and powerful approach for investigating the dynamic basis of protein function.

Measuring Kinetic Isotope Effects in Enzyme Reactions Using Time-Resolved Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measurements are a powerful tool for studying enzyme mechanisms; they can provide insights into microscopic catalytic processes and even structural constraints for transition states. However, KIEs have not come into widespread use in enzymology, due in large part to the requirement for prohibitively cumbersome experimental procedures and daunting analytical frameworks. In this work, we introduce time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (TRESI-MS) as a straightforward, precise, and inexpensive method for measuring KIEs. Neither radioisotopes nor large amounts of material are needed and kinetic measurements for isotopically "labeled" and "unlabeled" species are acquired simultaneously in a single "competitive" assay. The approach is demonstrated first using a relatively large isotope effect associated with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH) catalyzed oxidation of ethanol. The measured macroscopic KIE of 2.19 ± 0.05 is consistent with comparable measurements in the literature but cannot be interpreted in a way that provides insights into isotope effects in individual microscopic steps. To demonstrate the ability of TRESI-MS to directly measure intrinsic KIEs and to characterize the precision of the technique, we measure a much smaller (12)C/(13)C KIE associated specifically with presteady state acylation of chymotrypsin during hydrolysis of an ester substrate.

Time-Resolved Assembly of Chiral Uranyl Peroxo Cage Clusters Containing Belts of Polyhedra

Two chiral cage clusters built from uranyl polyhedra and (HPO(3))(2-) groups have been synthesized in pure yield and characterized structurally and spectroscopically in the solid state and aqueous solution. Synthesis reactions under ambient conditions in mildly acidic aqueous solutions gave clusters U(22)PO(3) and U(28)PO(3) that contain belts of four uranyl peroxide pentagonal and hexagonal bipyramids, in contrast to earlier reported uranyl peroxide cage clusters that are built from four-, five-, and six-membered rings of uranyl hexagonal bipyramids. U(22)PO(3) and U(28)PO(3) are also the first chiral uranyl-based cage clusters, the first that contain uranyl pentagonal bipyramids that contain no peroxide ligands, and the first that incorporate (HPO(3))(2-) bridges between uranyl ions. They are built from 22 uranyl polyhedra and 20 (HPO(3))(2-) groups, or 28 uranyl polyhedra and 24 (HPO(3))(2-) groups, with the outer and inner surfaces of the cages passivated by the O atoms of uranyl ions. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) profiles demonstrated that U(22)PO(3) clusters formed in solution within 1 h after mixing of reactants, and remained in solution for 2 weeks prior to crystallization. Time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and SAXS demonstrated that U(28)PO(3) clusters formed in solution within 1 h of mixing the reactants, and remained in solution 1 month before crystallization. Crystallization of U(22)PO(3) and U(28)PO(3) is accelerated by addition of KNO(3). Clusters of U(22)PO(3) with and without encapsulated cations exhibit markedly different aqueous solubility, reflecting the importance of cluster surface charge in fostering linkages through counterions to form a stable solid.

Arsenic-metalation of triple-domain human metallothioneins: Support for the evolutionary advantage and interdomain metalation of multiple-metal-binding domains

Metallothionein (MT) is a prominent metal-binding protein and in mammalian systems contains a two-domain betaalpha motif, while in lower life forms MT often consists of only a single-domain structure. There are also unusual MTs from American oysters that consist of multiple domains (from one to four alpha domains). This report details the study of the As(3+)-metalation to two different concatenated triple beta and alpha domain MTs using time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS). Analysis of kinetic ESI MS data show that alphaalphaalpha human MT and betabetabeta human MT bind As(3+) in a noncooperative manner and involves up to 11 sequential bimolecular reactions. We report the complete progress of the reactions for the As(3+)-metalation of both triple-domain MTs from zero and up to 9 (betabetabeta) or 10As(3+) ions (alphaalphaalpha). The rate constants for the As(3+)-metalation are reported for both the betabetabeta and alphaalphaalpha human MT. At room temperature (298K) and pH3.5, the sequential individual rate constants, k(n) (n=1-9) for the As(3+)-metalation of betabetabetahMT starting at k(1betabetabeta) are 40, 36, 37, 26, 27, 17, 12, 6, and 1M(-1)s(-1); while at room temperature (298K) and pH3.5, the sequential individual rate constants, k(n) (n=1-10) for the As(3+)-metalation of alphaalphaalphahMT starting at k(1alphaalphaalpha) are 52, 45, 46, 42, 38, 36, 29, 25, 14, and 6M(-1)s(-1). The trend in the rate constant values reported for these two triple-domain MT proteins supports our previous proposal that the rate constant values are proportionally related to the total number of equivalent binding sites. The rate of binding for the 1st As(3+) is the fastest we have determined for any MT to date. Additionally, we propose that the data show for the first time for any MT species, that interdomain metalation occurs in the binding of the 10th and 11th As(3+) to alphaalphaalphahMT.

Monitoring enzyme catalysis in the multimeric state: Direct observation of Arthrobacter 4-hydroxybenzoyl–coenzyme A thioesterase catalytic complexes using time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The ability to examine real-time reaction kinetics for multimeric enzymes in their native state may offer unique insights into understanding the catalytic mechanism and its interplay with three-dimensional structure. In this study, we have used a time-resolved electrospray mass spectrometry approach to probe the kinetic mechanism of 4-hydroxybenzoyl–coenzyme A (4-HBA–CoA) thioesterase from Arthrobacter sp. strain SU in the millisecond time domain. Intact tetrameric complexes of 4-HBA–CoA thioesterase with up to four natural substrate (4-HBA–CoA) molecules bound were detected at times as early as 6 ms using an online rapid-mixing device directly coupled to an electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Species corresponding to the formation of a folded tetramer of the thioesterase at charge states 16+, 17+, 18+, and 19+ around m/ z 3800 were observed and assigned as individual tetramers of thioesterase and noncovalent complexes of the tetramers with up to four substrate and/or product molecules. Real-time evaluation of the reaction kinetics was accomplished by monitoring change in peak intensity corresponding to the substrate and product complexes of the tetrameric protein. The mass spectral data suggest that product 4-HBA is released from the active site of the enzyme prior to the release of product CoA following catalytic turnover. This study demonstrates the utility of this technique to provide additional molecular details for an understanding of the individual enzyme states during the thioesterase catalysis and ability to observe real-time interactions between enzyme and substrates and/or products in the millisecond time range.

Protein Folding Mechanisms Studied by Time-Resolved Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) owes its remarkable rise as a bioanalytical tool to the development of two “soft” ionization techniques: matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization (MALDI) (1,2) and electrospray ionization (ESI) (3). The salient feature of soft ionization is that a wide range of analytes, from small metabolites to very large biomolecular systems, can be transferred intact into the gas phase, thus making them amenable to mass spectrometric analysis. For MALDI-MS, the sample is embedded into a crystalline matrix prior to analysis. For ESI, in contrast, ionization is initiated directly from the liquid phase by spraying analyte solution from the tip of an electrically charged capillary. The small droplets formed by the ESI emitter undergo rapid evaporation and fi ssion, ultimately releasing the analyte as multiply protonated (or deprotonated) species (4).

Pulsed Hydrogen Exchange and Electrospray Charge-State Distribution as Complementary Probes of Protein Structure in Kinetic Experiments: Implications for Ubiquitin Folding

The possible involvement of "hidden" kinetic intermediates in the apparent two-state folding of some proteins is currently a matter of debate. This study uses time-resolved electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry with on-line pulsed hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) for monitoring the refolding of acid/methanol-denatured ubiquitin. It is demonstrated that the ESI charge-state distribution (CSD) and the extent of HDX represent nonredundant probes of the protein structure in solution. When considered in isolation, the data provided by both of these probes are consistent with a two-state behavior, involving only denatured ubiquitin D and refolded protein F. However, a careful comparison of the CSD and HDX kinetics reveals the presence of an additional species, exhibiting a CSD like the folded protein but showing non-native HDX characteristics. This kinetic intermediate, D*, is in rapid equilibrium with D, such that the overall reaction is consistent with the mechanism D <--> D* --> F. The results of this work suggest that the occurrence of transient intermediates may be more widespread than commonly thought, especially in cases where a cursory analysis indicates two-state behavior.

2003 Fred Beamish Award Lecture — Exploring the Dynamics of Biological Systems by Mass Spectrometry

AbstractFor Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

Probing the role of tightly bound phosphoenolpyruvate in Escherichia coli 3-deoxy- d- manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthase catalysis using quantitative time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the millisecond time range

Escherichia coli 3-deoxy- d- manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate (KDO8P) synthase catalyzes the condensation of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and d-arabinose 5-phosphate (A5P) to produce KDO8P and inorganic phosphate. The enzyme is often isolated with varying amounts of tightly bound PEP substrate. To better understand the role of tightly bound PEP in E. coli KDO8P synthase catalysis, a combination of transient kinetic methodologies including rapid chemical quench and mass spectrometry techniques such as time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS) were used to study the enzyme purified both in the PEP-bound state and in the unbound state. Pre-steady state burst and single-turnover experiments using radiolabeled [1- 14C] and [ 32P]A5P revealed significant kinetic differences between these enzyme preparations. The active sites concentrations for the bound and unbound states of the enzyme were almost the same (∼100%) and the product release for both states of the enzyme was rate limiting. However, the rate constant of product formation for the PEP-bound enzyme (125 s −1) was higher than that of the unbound enzyme (46 s −1). This was further confirmed by single-turnover experiments using radiolabeled [ 32P]A5P. Interestingly, when PEP was removed from the PEP-bound enzyme and external PEP was added before the kinetic experiments, both the pre-steady state burst and the single-turnover kinetic parameters were similar to those of the enzyme purified in the unbound state. The rate constants of product formation were determined as 44 s −1 (burst experiment) and 48 s −1 (single-turnover experiment). The reaction kinetics of the E. coli KDO8P synthase was also followed by time-resolved ESI mass spectrometry. To validate the suitability of this technique for conducting enzyme kinetics, the standard reaction of p-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis by chymotrypsin was analyzed by stopped-flow and time-resolved ESI-TOF MS. The rate constant of p-nitrophenol formation followed by stopped-flow spectrophotometry matched perfectly the rate constant of acetyl–chymotrypsin intermediate formation followed by time-resolved ESI-TOF MS (0.1 s −1). The catalytic properties of the PEP-bound and unbound states of the E. coli KDO8P synthase were then studied on a millisecond time scale. The changes in the intensity of E•PEP, E•KDO8P, and E•intermediate complexes as a function of time were quantified and the reaction kinetics were modeled using KinTekSim simulation software. An analysis of the reaction kinetics established the kinetic competence of the intermediate based upon the rate constants for substrate decay and product formation. The ability of time-resolved ESI-TOF MS to detect and monitor the kinetics for the reaction intermediate constitutes a significant advantage over the traditional rapid chemical quench technique. For all three states of the enzyme (PEP-bound, unbound, and PEP removed from the PEP-bound state) the rate constants obtained by time-resolved ESI-TOF MS matched the pre-steady state rates determined by rapid chemical quench. A comparison of reaction time courses for each state of the enzyme revealed that, in the case of PEP-bound enzyme, the enzymatic reaction reached completion faster than that for the unbound state. In summary, these studies led to the conclusion that bound PEP has an important role in catalysis, maintaining the enzyme in a conformational state optimal for catalytic activity, and established the kinetic competence of the reaction intermediate. This technique has broad applicability for the kinetic analysis of any enzyme system where the substrates, products, or intermediates are eluding the common detection techniques or as a method alternative to the widely used radioactivity assays.

2003 Fred Beamish Award Lecture — Exploring the dynamics of biological systems by mass spectrometry

This review describes the use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in conjunction with on-line rapid mixing techniques. This combination, termed "time-resolved" ESI-MS, provides a powerful approach for studying solution-phase reactions on timescales as short as a few milliseconds. Of particular interest is the application of this technique for monitoring protein folding reactions. Time-resolved ESI-MS can provide detailed information on structural changes of the polypeptide chain, while at the same time probing the occurrence of noncovalent ligand–protein interactions. Especially when used in combination with hydrogen–deuterium pulse labeling, these measurements yield valuable structural information on short-lived folding intermediates. Similar approaches can be used to monitor the dynamics of proteins under equilibrium conditions. Another important application of time-resolved ESI-MS are mechanistic studies on enzyme-catalyzed processes. These reactions can be monitored under presteady-state conditions, without requiring artificial chromophoric substrates or radioactive labeling. We also discuss the use of ESI-MS for monitoring noncovalent ligand–protein interactions by diffusion measurements. In contrast to conventional MS-based techniques, this approach does not rely on the preservation of noncovalent interactions in the gas phase. It appears that diffusion measurements by ESI-MS could become an interesting alternative to existing methods for the high throughput screening of compound libraries in the context of drug discovery.Key words: reaction intermediate, rapid mixing, kinetics, protein conformation, protein function.

A Mass Spectrometry Investigation of the Conformational Changes in Adrenocorticotropic Hormones

Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was employed to study methanol-induced conformational changes in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). ACTH, a 39–residue peptide, is a member of the proopiomelanocortin family of peptides. Charge-state distribution (CSD) and hydrogen–deuterium (H/D) exchange were used to monitor the conformational changes as a function of methanol concentration. The latter experiments were conducted via time-resolved ESI-MS in a continuous-flow apparatus. The CSD and the H/D exchange experimental data both reveal that ACTH exists, presumably in a random coil open structure in aqueous media, but assumes a more compact helical conformation with increased concentration of methanol. The H/D exchange experiments also reveal that 79% of ACTH is present as α-helix in mixed water-methanol solvent media.

Conformational changes in beta-endorphin as studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Because of a wide range of physiological functions, the structure of beta-endorphin (BE) is of great interest. In this study, conformational changes in BE induced by methanol are explored with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Differences in the charge-state distribution (CSD) and the extent of hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange were used to monitor the conformational changes. The latter experiments were conducted via time-resolved ESI-MS in a continuous-flow apparatus. Both these techniques demonstrate that BE exists in a random coil open structure in aqueous media, but it acquires a more compact conformation with increased concentration of methanol. The H/D exchange experiments reveal that BE forms 61% alpha-helix in mixed solvents.