MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry for studying noncovalent complexes of biomolecules.

Stefanie Mädler, Elisabetta Boeri Erba, Renato Zenobi

Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.

Topics in current chemistry 2013

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Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been demonstrated to be a valuable tool to investigate noncovalent interactions of biomolecules. The direct detection of noncovalent assemblies is often more troublesome than with electrospray ionization. Using dedicated sample preparation techniques and carefully optimized instrumental parameters, a number of biomolecule assemblies were successfully analyzed. For complexes dissociating under MALDI conditions, covalent stabilization with chemical cross-linking is a suitable alternative. Indirect methods allow the detection of noncovalent assemblies by monitoring the fading of binding partners or altered H/D exchange patterns.

Citation

Stefanie Mädler, Elisabetta Boeri Erba, Renato Zenobi. MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry for studying noncovalent complexes of biomolecules. Topics in current chemistry. 2013;331:1-36