Mass spectrometry tools for analysis of intermolecular interactions

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:896:387-98. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3704-8_26.

Abstract

The small quantities of protein required for mass spectrometry (MS) make it a powerful tool to detect binding (protein-protein, protein-small molecule, etc.) of proteins that are difficult to express in large quantities, as is the case for many intrinsically disordered proteins. Chemical cross-linking, proteolysis, and MS analysis, combined, are a powerful tool for the identification of binding domains. Here, we present a traditional approach to determine protein-protein interaction binding sites using heavy water ((18)O) as a label. This technique is relatively inexpensive and can be performed on any mass spectrometer without specialized software.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / pharmacology
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Peptides
  • Proteins