Engineering Nanodisc Scaffold Proteins for Native Mass Spectrometry

Anal Chem. 2017 Nov 7;89(21):11189-11192. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03569. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Abstract

Lipoprotein nanodiscs are ideally suited for native mass spectrometry because they provide a relatively monodisperse nanoscale lipid bilayer environment for delivering membrane proteins into the gas phase. However, native mass spectrometry of nanodiscs produces complex spectra that can be challenging to assign unambiguously. To simplify interpretation of nanodisc spectra, we engineered a series of mutant membrane scaffold proteins (MSP) that do not affect nanodisc formation but shift the masses of nanodiscs in a controllable way, eliminating isobaric interference from the lipids. Moreover, by mixing two different belts before assembly, the stoichiometry of MSP is encoded in the peak shape, which allows the stoichiometry to be assigned unambiguously from a single spectrum. Finally, we demonstrate the use of mixed belt nanodiscs with embedded membrane proteins to confirm the dissociation of MSP prior to desolvation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Protein Engineering

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins