Insights into histidine kinase activation mechanisms from the monomeric blue light sensor EL346.

Translation of environmental cues into cellular behavior is a necessary process in all forms of life. In bacteria, this process frequently involves two-component systems in which a sensor histidine kinase (HK) autophosphorylates in response to a stimulus before subsequently transferring the phosphoryl group to a response regulator that controls downstream effectors. Many details of the molecular mechanisms of HK activation are still unclear due to complications associated with the multiple signaling states of these large, multidomain proteins. To address these challenges, we combined complementary solution biophysical approaches to examine the conformational changes upon activation of a minimal, blue-light-sensing histidine kinase from Erythrobacter litoralis HTCC2594, EL346. Our data show that multiple conformations coexist in the dark state of EL346 in solution, which may explain the enzyme's residual dark-state activity. We also observe that activation involves destabilization of the helices in the dimerization and histidine phosphotransfer-like domain, where the phosphoacceptor histidine resides, and their interactions with the catalytic domain. Similar light-induced changes occur to some extent even in constitutively active or inactive mutants, showing that light sensing can be decoupled from activation of kinase activity. These structural changes mirror those inferred by comparing X-ray crystal structures of inactive and active HK fragments, suggesting that they are at the core of conformational changes leading to HK activation. More broadly, our findings uncover surprising complexity in this simple system and allow us to outline a mechanism of the multiple steps of HK activation.

Mass Spectrometry Reveals a Multifaceted Role of Glycosaminoglycan Chains in Factor Xa Inactivation by Antithrombin.

Factor Xa (fXa) inhibition by antithrombin (AT) enabled by heparin or heparan sulfate is critical for controlling blood coagulation. AT activation by heparin has been investigated extensively, while interaction of heparin with trapped AT/fXa intermediates has received relatively little attention. We use native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to study the role of heparin chains of varying length [hexa-, octa-, deca-, and eicosasaccharides (dp6, dp8, dp10, and dp20, respectively)] in AT/fXa complex assembly. Despite being critical promoters of AT/Xa binding, shorter heparin chains are excluded from the final products (trapped intermediates). However, replacement of short heparin segments with dp20 gives rise to a prominent ionic signal of ternary complexes. These species are also observed when the trapped intermediate is initially prepared in the presence of a short oligoheparin (dp6), followed by addition of a longer heparin chain (dp20), indicating that binding of heparin to AT/fXa complexes takes place after the inhibition event. The importance of the heparin chain length for its ability to associate with the trapped intermediate suggests that the binding likely occurs in a bidentate fashion (where two distinct segments of oligoheparin make contacts with the protein components, while the part of the chain separating these two segments is extended into solution to minimize electrostatic repulsion). This model is corroborated by both molecular dynamics simulations with an explicit solvent and ion mobility measurements in the gas phase. The observed post-inhibition binding of heparin to the trapped AT/fXa intermediates hints at the likely role played by heparan sulfate in their catabolism.

Interactions of Haptoglobin with Monomeric Globin Species: Insights from Molecular Modeling and Native Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Haptoglobin (Hp) binds free hemoglobin (Hb) dimers to prevent negative consequences of Hb circulation in the extracellular environment. Although both monomeric Hb and myoglobin (Mb) species also present potential risks, their interactions with Hp have not been extensively studied. Mb is homologous to both the α- and ß-chains of Hb and shares many conserved Hb/Hp interface residues, yet whether Hp binds Mb remains unclear. To address this, computational biology tools were used to predict the interactions required for Hp to bind monomeric globins, and the predicted association was tested using native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The Hb/Hp crystal structure was used as the template to create molecular models of two Mb molecules bound to an Hp heterodimer (Mb2/Hp). Molecular modeling suggests that Mb can bind at the Hp α-chain binding site, where 73% of the globin/Hp interactions are conserved. By contrast, several ionic ß-chain residues involved in complementary electrostatic interactions with Hp correspond to residues with the opposite charge in Mb, suggesting unfavorable electrostatic Hp/Mb interactions at the ß-chain binding site. As shown by native ESI-MS, isolated monomeric Hbα subunits can form 2:1 complexes with Hp heterotetramers in the absence of Hb ß-chains. Native ESI-MS also confirmed that Mb can bind to Hp heterotetramers in solution with stoichiometries of 1:1 and 2:1 at physiological pH and ionic strength. The affinity of Hp for Mb appears to be diminished relative to that of Hb α-chains. Our in silico experiments rationalize this change and demonstrate that molecular modeling of protein/protein interactions is a valuable aid for MS experiments.

Interactions of Intact Unfractionated Heparin with Its Client Proteins Can Be Probed Directly Using Native Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Heparin and related members of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) family are highly polyanionic linear saccharides that play important roles in a variety of physiological processes ranging from blood coagulation to embryo- and oncogenesis, tissue regeneration, and immune response regulation. These diverse functions are executed via a variety of mechanisms, including protein sequestration, activation, and facilitation of their interactions with cell-surface receptors, but deciphering the specific molecular mechanisms is frequently impossible due to the extremely high degree of GAG heterogeneity. As a result, the vast majority of studies of heparin (or related GAGs) interactions with its client proteins use synthetically produced heparin mimetics with defined structure or short heparin fragments. In this work we use native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) in combination with limited charge reduction in the gas phase to obtain meaningful information on noncovalent complexes formed by intact unfractionated heparin and antithrombin-III, interaction which is central to preventing blood clotting. Complexes of different stoichiometries are observed ranging from 1:1 to 1:3 (heparin/protein ratio). In addition to binding stoichiometry, the measurements allow the range of heparin chain lengths to be obtained for each complex and the contribution of each complex to the total ionic signal to be calculated. Incorporation of ion mobility measurements in the experimental workflow allows the total analysis time to be shortened very significantly and the charge state assignment for the charge-reduced species to be verified. The possibility to study interactions of intact unfractionated heparin with a client protein carried out directly by native ESI MS without the need to use relatively homogeneous surrogates demonstrated in this work opens up a host of new exciting opportunities and goes a long way toward ameliorating the persistent but outdated view of the intractability of such interactions.

Conformer-specific characterization of nonnative protein states using hydrogen exchange and top-down mass spectrometry.

Characterization of structure and dynamics of nonnative protein states is important for understanding molecular mechanisms of processes as diverse as folding, binding, aggregation, and enzyme catalysis to name just a few; however, selectively probing local minima within rugged energy landscapes remains a problem. Mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) offers a unique advantage of being able to make a distinction among multiple protein conformers that coexist in solution; however, detailed structural interrogation of such states previously remained out of reach of HDX MS. In this work, we exploited the aforementioned unique feature of HDX MS in combination with the ability of MS to isolate narrow populations of protein ions to characterize individual protein conformers coexisting in solution in equilibrium. Subsequent fragmentation of the protein ions using electron-capture dissociation allowed us to allocate the deuterium distribution along the protein backbone, yielding a backbone-amide protection map for the selected conformer unaffected by contributions from other protein states present in solution. The method was tested with the small regulatory protein ubiquitin (Ub), which is known to form nonnative intermediate states under a variety of mildly denaturing conditions. Protection maps of these intermediate states obtained at residue-level resolution provide clear evidence that they are very similar to the so-called A-state of Ub that is formed in solutions with low pH and high alcohol. Method validation was carried out by comparing the backbone-amide protection map of native Ub with those deduced from high-resolution NMR measurements.

Native dynamics and allosteric responses in PTP1B probed by high-resolution HDX-MS.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a validated therapeutic target for obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. In particular, allosteric inhibitors hold potential for therapeutic use, but an incomplete understanding of conformational dynamics and allostery in this protein has hindered their development. Here, we interrogate solution dynamics and allosteric responses in PTP1B using high-resolution hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), an emerging and powerful biophysical technique. Using HDX-MS, we obtain a detailed map of backbone amide exchange that serves as a proxy for the solution dynamics of apo PTP1B, revealing several flexible loops interspersed among more constrained and rigid regions within the protein structure, as well as local regions that exchange faster than expected from their secondary structure and solvent accessibility. We demonstrate that our HDX rate data obtained in solution adds value to estimates of conformational heterogeneity derived from a pseudo-ensemble constructed from ~200 crystal structures of PTP1B. Furthermore, we report HDX-MS maps for PTP1B with active-site versus allosteric small-molecule inhibitors. These maps suggest distinct and widespread effects on protein dynamics relative to the apo form, including changes in locations distal (>35 Å) from the respective ligand binding sites. These results illuminate that allosteric inhibitors of PTP1B can induce unexpected changes in dynamics that extend beyond the previously understood allosteric network. Together, our data suggest a model of BB3 allostery in PTP1B that combines conformational restriction of active-site residues with compensatory liberation of distal residues that aid in entropic balancing. Overall, our work showcases the potential of HDX-MS for elucidating aspects of protein conformational dynamics and allosteric effects of small-molecule ligands and highlights the potential of integrating HDX-MS alongside other complementary methods, such as room-temperature X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations, to guide the development of new therapeutics.

Beta-arrestin 1 mediated Src activation via Src SH3 domain revealed by cryo-electron microscopy.

Beta-arrestins (ßarrs) are key regulators and transducers of G-protein coupled receptor signaling; however, little is known of how ßarrs communicate with their downstream effectors. Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate how ßarr1 recruits and activates non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src. ßarr1 binds Src SH3 domain via two distinct sites: a polyproline site in the N-domain and a non-proline site in the central crest region. At both sites ßarr1 interacts with the aromatic surface of SH3 which is critical for Src autoinhibition, suggesting that ßarr1 activates Src by SH3 domain displacement. Binding of SH3 to the central crest region induces structural rearrangements in the ß-strand V, finger, and middle loops of ßarr1 and interferes with ßarr1 coupling to the receptor core potentially impacting receptor desensitization and downstream signaling.

A new approach to measuring protein backbone protection with high spatial resolution using H/D exchange and electron capture dissociation.

Inadequate spatial resolution remains one of the most serious limitations of hydrogen/deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), especially when applied to larger proteins (over 30 kDa). Supplementing proteolytic fragmentation of the protein in solution with ion dissociation in the gas phase has been used successfully by several groups to obtain near-residue level resolution. However, the restrictions imposed by the LC-MS/MS mode of operation on the data acquisition time frame makes it difficult in many cases to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio adequate for reliable assignment of the backbone amide protection levels at individual residues. This restriction is lifted in the present work by eliminating the LC separation step from the workflow and taking advantage of the high resolving power and dynamic range of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometer (FTICR-MS). A residue-level resolution is demonstrated for a peptic fragment of a 37 kDa recombinant protein (N-lobe of human serum transferrin), using electron-capture dissociation as an ion fragmentation tool. The absence of hydrogen scrambling in the gas phase prior to ion dissociation is verified using redundant HDX-MS data generated by FTICR-MS. The backbone protection pattern generated by direct HDX-MS/MS is in excellent agreement with the known crystal structure of the protein but also provides information on conformational dynamics, which is not available from the static X-ray structure.

Studies of pH-dependent self-association of a recombinant form of arylsulfatase A with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and size-exclusion chromatography.

Arylsulfatase A is an endogenous enzyme that is responsible for the catabolism and control of sulfatides in humans. Its deficiency results in the accumulation of sulfatides in the cells of the central and peripheral nervous system leading to the destruction of the myelin sheath and resulting in metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease. A recombinant human form of this glycoprotein (rhASA) is currently under development as an enzyme replacement therapy. At neutral and alkaline pH, this protein exists as a homodimer but converts to an octameric state in the mildly acidic environment of the lysosome, and a failure to form an octamer results in suboptimal catalytic activity (most likely due to a diminished protection from lysosomal proteases). Despite the obvious importance of the rhASA oligomerization process, its mechanistic details remain poorly understood. In this work, we use size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) to monitor the dimer-to-octamer transition as a function of both solution pH and protein concentration. While SEC clearly shows different profiles (i.e., retention time differences) for rhASA when the chromatography is performed at neutral and lysosomal pH, consistent with changing oligomerization states, no resolved peaks could be observed for either octamer or dimer when analyzed at intermediate pH (5.5-6.5). This could be interpreted either as the result of a rapid dimer-to-octamer interconversion on the chromatographic time scale or as a consequence of the presence of previously unidentified intermediate species (e.g., tetramer and/or hexamer). In contrast, ESI MS provides strong evidence of the dimer-to-octamer transition state that occurs when the analysis is performed within a narrow pH range (6.0-7.0). Octamer assembly was shown to be a highly cooperative process with no intermediate states that are populated to detectable levels. A tetrameric state of rhASA exists at equilibrium with a dimer at neutral pH but does not appear to be involved in the octamer assembly process.

Native dynamics and allosteric responses in PTP1B probed by high-resolution HDX-MS.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a validated therapeutic target for obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. In particular, allosteric inhibitors hold potential for therapeutic use, but an incomplete understanding of conformational dynamics and allostery in this protein has hindered their development. Here, we interrogate solution dynamics and allosteric responses in PTP1B using high-resolution hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), an emerging and powerful biophysical technique. Using HDX-MS, we obtain a detailed map of the solution dynamics of apo PTP1B, revealing several flexible loops interspersed among more constrained and rigid regions within the protein structure, as well as local regions that exchange faster than expected from their secondary structure and buriedness. We demonstrate that our HDX rate data obtained in solution adds value to predictions of dynamics derived from a pseudo-ensemble constructed from ~200 crystal structures of PTP1B. Furthermore, we report HDX-MS maps for PTP1B with active-site vs. allosteric small-molecule inhibitors. These maps reveal distinct, dramatic, and widespread effects on protein dynamics relative to the apo form, including changes to dynamics in locations distal (>35 Å) from the respective ligand binding sites. These results help shed light on the allosteric nature of PTP1B and the surprisingly far-reaching consequences of inhibitor binding in this important protein. Overall, our work showcases the potential of HDX-MS for elucidating protein conformational dynamics and allosteric effects of small-molecule ligands, and highlights the potential of integrating HDX-MS alongside other complementary methods to guide the development of new therapeutics.

Localized and regulated peptide pigment formation inside liquid droplets through confined enzymatic oxidation.

Melanin pigments are found in most life forms, where they are responsible for coloration and ultraviolet (UV) light protection. Natural melanin is a poorly soluble and complex biosynthesis product produced through confined and templated enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine. It has been challenging to create water-soluble synthetic mimics. This study demonstrates the enzymatic synthesis of oxidized phenols confined inside liquid droplets. We use an amphiphilic, bifunctional peptide, DYFR9, that combines a tyrosine tripeptide previously shown to undergo enzymatic oxidation to form peptide pigments with broad absorbance, and polyarginine to facilitate complex coacervation in the presence of ATP. When ATP, DYFR9 are mixed and exposed to tyrosinase, pigmented liquid droplets result, while no appreciable oxidation is observed in the bulk.

mTORC1 and mTORC2 Complexes Regulate the Untargeted Metabolomics and Amino Acid Metabolites Profile through Mitochondrial Bioenergetic Functions in Pancreatic Beta Cells.

Background: Pancreatic beta cells regulate bioenergetics efficiency and secret insulin in response to glucose and nutrient availability. The mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) network orchestrates pancreatic progenitor cell growth and metabolism by nucleating two complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. Objective: To determine the impact of mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibition on amino acid metabolism in mouse pancreatic beta cells (Beta-TC-6 cells, ATCC-CRL-11506) using high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) and live-mitochondrial functions. Methods: Pancreatic beta TC-6 cells were incubated for 24 h with either: RapaLink-1 (RL); Torin-2 (T); rapamycin (R); metformin (M); a combination of RapaLink-1 and metformin (RLM); Torin-2 and metformin (TM); compared to the control. We applied high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) LC-MS/MS untargeted metabolomics to compare the twenty natural amino acid profiles to the control. In addition, we quantified the bioenergetics dynamics and cellular metabolism by live-cell imaging and the MitoStress Test XF24 (Agilent, Seahorse). The real-time, live-cell approach simultaneously measures the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) to determine cellular respiration and metabolism. Statistical significance was assessed using ANOVA on Ranks and post-hoc Welch t-Tests. Results: RapaLink-1, Torin-2, and rapamycin decreased L-aspartate levels compared to the control (p = 0.006). Metformin alone did not affect L-aspartate levels. However, L-asparagine levels decreased with all treatment groups compared to the control (p = 0.03). On the contrary, L-glutamate and glycine levels were reduced only by mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitors RapaLink-1 and Torin-2, but not by rapamycin or metformin. The metabolic activity network model predicted that L-aspartate and AMP interact within the same activity network. Live-cell bioenergetics revealed that ATP production was significantly reduced in RapaLink-1 (122.23 ± 33.19), Torin-2 (72.37 ± 17.33) treated cells, compared to rapamycin (250.45 ± 9.41) and the vehicle control (274.23 ± 38.17), p < 0.01. However, non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption was not statistically different between RapaLink-1 (67.17 ± 3.52), Torin-2 (55.93 ± 8.76), or rapamycin (80.01 ± 4.36, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Dual mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibition by RapaLink-1 and Torin-2 differentially altered the amino acid profile and decreased mitochondrial respiration compared to rapamycin treatment which only blocks the FRB domain on mTOR. Third-generation mTOR inhibitors may alter the mitochondrial dynamics and reveal a bioenergetics profile that could be targeted to reduce mitochondrial stress.

Assembly mechanism of early Hsp90-Cdc37-kinase complexes.

Molecular chaperones have an essential role for the maintenance of a balanced protein homeostasis. Here, we investigate how protein kinases are recruited and loaded to the Hsp90-Cdc37 complex, the first step during Hsp90-mediated chaperoning that leads to enhanced client kinase stability and activation. We show that conformational dynamics of all partners is a critical feature of the underlying loading mechanism. The kinome co-chaperone Cdc37 exists primarily in a dynamic extended conformation but samples a low-populated, well-defined compact structure. Exchange between these two states is maintained in an assembled Hsp90-Cdc37 complex and is necessary for substrate loading. Breathing motions at the N-lobe of a free kinase domain partially expose the kinase segment trapped in the Hsp90 dimer downstream in the cycle. Thus, client dynamics poise for chaperone dependence. Hsp90 is not directly involved during loading, and Cdc37 is assigned the task of sensing clients by stabilizing the preexisting partially unfolded client state.

Direct monitoring of heat-stressed biopolymers with temperature-controlled electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The ability to monitor protein aggregation at the molecular level is critical for progress in many areas of life sciences ranging from understanding mechanisms of amyloidosis and etiology of conformational diseases to development of safe and efficient biopharmaceutical products. Despite the spectacular progress in understanding the mechanisms of protein aggregation in recent years, many aspects of the aggregating proteins behavior remain unclear because of the extreme difficulty in tracking evolution of these notoriously complex and heterogeneous systems. Here, we introduce a mass spectrometry-based methodology that allows the early stages of heat-induced aggregation to be studied by monitoring both conformational changes and formation of oligomers as a function of temperature. The new approach allows biopolymer behavior (both reversible and irreversible processes) to be monitored in a wide temperature range. Validation of the methodology is carried out by comparing temperature profiles of model proteins and nucleic acids deduced from mass spectrometry measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. Application of the methodology to study heat-induced aggregation of human glucocerebrosidase unequivocally links loss of conformational fidelity to formation of soluble oligomers, which serve as precursors to aggregation.

Characterization of intrinsically disordered proteins with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: conformational heterogeneity of alpha-synuclein.

Conformational heterogeneity of alpha-synuclein was studied with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry by analyzing protein ion charge state distributions, where the extent of multiple charging reflects compactness of the protein conformations in solution. Although alpha-synuclein lacks a single well-defined structure under physiological conditions, it was found to sample four distinct conformational states, ranging from a highly structured one to a random coil. The compact highly structured state of alpha-synuclein is present across the entire range of conditions tested (pH ranging from 2.5 to 10, alcohol content from 0% to 60%), but is particularly abundant in acidic solutions. The only other protein state populated in acidic solutions is a partially folded intermediate state lacking stable tertiary structure. Another, more compact intermediate state is induced by significant amounts of ethanol used as a co-solvent and appears to represent a partially folded conformation with high beta-sheet content. Protein dimerization is observed throughout the entire range of conditions tested, although only acidic solutions favor formation of highly structured dimers of alpha-synuclein. These dimers are likely to present the earliest stages in protein aggregation leading to globular oligomers and, subsequently, protofibrils.

Controlling hydrogen scrambling in multiply charged protein ions during collisional activation: implications for top-down hydrogen/deuterium exchange MS utilizing collisional activation in the gas phase.

Hydrogen exchange in solution combined with ion fragmentation in the gas phase followed by MS detection emerged in recent years as a powerful tool to study higher order protein structure and dynamics. However, a certain type of ion chemistry in the gas phase, namely, internal rearrangement of labile hydrogen atoms (the so-called hydrogen scrambling), is often cited as a factor limiting the utility of this experimental technique. Although several studies have been carried out to elucidate the roles played by various factors in the occurrence and the extent of hydrogen scrambling, there is still no consensus as to what experimental protocol should be followed to avoid or minimize it. In this study we employ fragmentation of mass-selected subpopulations of protein ions to assess the extent of internal proton mobility prior to dissociation. A unique advantage of tandem MS is that it not only provides a means to map the deuterium content of protein ions whose overall levels of isotope incorporation can be precisely defined by controlling the mass selection window, but also correlates this spatial isotope distribution with such global characteristic as the protein ion charge state. Hydrogen scrambling does not occur when the charge state of the precursor protein ions selected for fragmentation is high. Fragment ions derived from both N- and C-terminal parts of the protein are equally unaffected by scrambling. However, spatial distribution of deuterium atoms obtained by fragmenting low-charge-density protein ions is consistent with a very high degree of scrambling prior to the dissociation events. The extent of hydrogen scrambling is also high when multistage fragmentation is used to probe deuterium incorporation locally. Taken together, the experimental results provide a coherent picture of intramolecular processes occurring prior to the dissociation event and provide guidance for the design of experiments whose outcome is unaffected by hydrogen scrambling.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of highly heterogeneous protein systems: protein ion charge state assignment via incomplete charge reduction.

Correct mass and charge assignment for large highly heterogeneous macromolecular ions (e.g., large glycoproteins with significant carbohydrate content) presents a great challenge in native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS). A new approach to this problem combines complexity reduction (mass-selection of a narrow distribution of ionic species from a heterogeneous mixture) and gas-phase ion chemistry (electron-transfer reactions) to induce partial reduction of the ionic charge. The resulting spectra are devoid of complexity and are easy to interpret, leading to correct mass assignment. The new method is tested using several glycoproteins and their complexes, for which standard deconvolution approaches do not work.

H/D exchange and mass spectrometry in the studies of protein conformation and dynamics: is there a need for a top-down approach?

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) combined with mass spectrometry (MS) detection has matured in recent years to become a powerful tool in structural biology and biophysics. Several limitations of this technique can and will be addressed by tapping into the ever expanding arsenal of methods to manipulate ions in the gas phase offered by mass spectrometry.

Detection and characterization of altered conformations of protein pharmaceuticals using complementary mass spectrometry-based approaches.

Unlike small-molecule drugs, the conformational properties of protein biopharmaceuticals in solution are influenced by a variety of factors that are not solely defined by their covalent chemical structure. Since the conformation (or higher order structure) of a protein is a major modulator of its biological activity, the ability to detect changes in both the higher order structure and conformational dynamics of a protein, induced by an array of extrinsic factors, is of central importance in producing, purifying, and formulating a commercial biopharmaceutical with consistent therapeutic properties. In this study we demonstrate that two complementary mass spectrometry-based approaches (analysis of ionic charge-state distribution and hydrogen/deuterium exchange) can be a potent tool in monitoring conformational changes in protein biopharmaceuticals. The utility of these approaches is demonstrated by detecting and characterizing conformational changes in the biopharmaceutical product interferon beta-1a (IFN-beta-1a). The protein degradation process was modeled by inducing a single chemical modification of IFN-beta1a (alkylation of its only free cysteine residue with N-ethylmaleimide), which causes significant reduction in its antiviral activity. Analysis of IFN-beta1a ionic charge-state distributions unequivocally reveals a significant decrease of conformational stability in the degraded protein, while hydrogen/deuterium exchange measurements provide a clear indication that the higher order structure is affected well beyond the covalent modification site. Importantly, neither technique required that the location or indeed the nature of the chemical modification be known prior to or elucidated in the process of the analysis. In contrast, application of the standard armamentarium of biophysical tools, which are commonly employed for quality control of protein pharmaceuticals, met with very limited success in detection and characterization of conformational changes in the modified IFN-beta1a. This work highlights the role mass spectrometry can and should play in the biopharmaceutical industry beyond the presently assigned task of primary structure analysis.

Do ionic charges in ESI MS provide useful information on macromolecular structure?

Multiple charging is an intrinsic feature of electrospray ionization (ESI) of macromolecules. While multiple factors influence the appearance of protein ion charge state distributions in ESI mass spectra, physical dimensions of protein molecules in solution are the major determinants of the extent of multiple charging. This article reviews the information that can be obtained by analyzing ionic charge state distributions in ESI MS, as well as potential pitfalls and limitations of this powerful technique. We also discuss future areas of growth with particular emphasis on applications in structural biology, biotechnology (protein-polymer conjugates), and nanomedicine.