chemistry colloquia

New Approaches for Structure Determination of Protein Complexes by Mass Spectrometry

Characterization of the overall topology and inter-subunit contacts of protein complexes, and their assembly/disassembly and unfolding pathways, is critical because protein complexes regulate key biological processes, including processes important in understanding and controlling disease. Tools to address structural biology problems continue to improve. Native mass spectrometry (nMS) and associated technologies such as ion mobility are becoming an increasingly important component of the structural biology toolbox. When the mass spectrometry approach is used early or mid-course in a structural characterization project, it can provide answers quickly using small sample amounts and samples that are not fully purified. Integration of sample preparation/purification with effective dissociation methods (e.g., surface-induced dissociation), ion mobility, and computational approaches provide a MS workflow that can be enabling in biochemical, synthetic biology, and systems biology approaches. Native MS can determine whether the complex of interest exists in a single or in multiple oligomeric states and can provide characterization of topology/intersubunit connectivity, and other structural features. Beyond its strengths as a stand-alone tool, nMS can also guide and/or be integrated with other structural biology approaches such as NMR, X-ray crystallography, and cryoEM. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University Columbus, OH

Chemistry colloquium

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

2020 G.M.J. SCHMIDT MEMORIAL LECTURE

University of Strasbourg, France