Native Mass spectrometry

Research abstract

Crucial processes within cells depend on specific non-covalent interactions which mediate the assembly of proteins and other biomolecules. Gaining insights into these interactions is essential for understanding the function of these complexes.
Our research interest lies in the investigation of these non-covalently linked biological complexes. Our goals include obtaining new insights into protein complex structure, function and interactions between proteins, oligonucleotides, lipids and other ligands by means of mass spectrometry.
To investigate these complexes with mass spectrometry, they have to be transferred into the gas phase. The challenge is to accomplish this transfer with minimal (or controlled) change of the protein composition to ensure that our experiments really allow conclusions about the native-like complexes – and not just about gas phase complexes or fragments.
Soft mass spectrometry methods are ideal tools for the investigation of complexes, as they allow for the fast, sensitive and accurate analysis of even heterogeneous biological systems.
While with nESI a well established MS method is available that has proven to perform very successfully especially for soluble protein complexes, there are still areas, which present a challenge to today's instrumentation. An additional goal of our group is therefore further development of LILBID - a new MS method.