Detergent-free mass spectrometry of membrane protein complexes

Nat Methods. 2013 Dec;10(12):1206-8. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2691. Epub 2013 Oct 13.

Abstract

We developed a method that allows release of intact membrane protein complexes from amphipols, bicelles and nanodiscs in the gas phase for observation by mass spectrometry (MS). Current methods involve release of membrane protein complexes from detergent micelles, which reveals subunit composition and lipid binding. We demonstrated that oligomeric complexes or proteins requiring defined lipid environments are stabilized to a greater extent in the absence of detergent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Detergents / chemistry*
  • Diacylglycerol Kinase / chemistry
  • Diffusion
  • Escherichia coli / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Halobacteriaceae / chemistry
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Micelles*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Sensory Rhodopsins / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods
  • Symporters / chemistry

Substances

  • Detergents
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • LacY protein, E coli
  • Lipids
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Micelles
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Sensory Rhodopsins
  • Symporters
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Diacylglycerol Kinase