title: Detection and characterization of large-scale protein conformational transitions in solution using charge-state distribution analysis in ESI-MS.
abstract: Ion charge-state distribution analysis in electro-spray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is a robust and fast technique for direct detection and characterization of coexisting protein conformations in solution. Compact folded proteins give rise to ESI-generated ions carrying a relatively small number of charges, whereas less compact conformers accommodate upon ESI a larger number of charges depending on the extent of their unfolding. A chemometric approach [1] based upon factor analysis is applied to determine contributions from individual conformers to the overall CSD. Here we present basic guidelines for the use of this MS-based technique: from the preparation of suitable solutions for ESI-MS to the acquisition of reliable MS data and their subsequent analysis.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
authors: Rinat R
authors: RR
authors: Abzalimov
authors: Agya K
authors: AK
authors: Frimpong
authors: Igor A
authors: IA
authors: Kaltashov
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D012996:Solutions; D051844:alpha-Synuclein