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The ability to maintain interactions between soluble protein subunits in the gas phase of a mass spectrometer gives critical insight into the stoichiometry and interaction networks of protein complexes. Conversely, for membrane protein complexes in micelles, the transition into the gas phase usually leads to the disruption of interactions, particularly between cytoplasmic and membrane subunits, and a mass spectrum dominated by large aggregates of detergent molecules. We show that by applying nanoelectrospray to a micellar solution of a membrane protein complex, the heteromeric adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter BtuC2D2, we can maintain the complex intact in the gas phase of a mass spectrometer. Dissociation of either transmembrane (BtuC) or cytoplasmic (BtuD) subunits uncovers modifications to the transmembrane subunits and cooperative binding of ATP. By protecting a membrane protein complex within a n-dodecyl-beta-d-maltoside micelle, we demonstrated a powerful strategy that will enable the subunit stoichiometry and ligand-binding properties of membrane complexes to be determined directly, by precise determination of the masses of intact complexes and dissociated subunits.

Original publication

DOI

10.1126/science.1159292

Type

Journal article

Journal

Science

Publication Date

11/07/2008

Volume

321

Pages

243 - 246

Keywords

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters, Adenosine Triphosphate, Detergents, Escherichia coli Proteins, Gases, Glucosides, Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions, Ligands, Micelles, Multiprotein Complexes, Nanotechnology, Protein Conformation, Protein Structure, Secondary, Protein Subunits, Solubility, Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization, Vacuum