Native mass spectrometry: a bridge between interactomics and structural biology

• Published in: Nature methods Vol. 5; no. 11; pp. 927 - 933
• Main Author: Heck, Albert J R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01-11-2008; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Biochemistry - methods; Bioinformatics; Biological Microscopy; Biological Techniques; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology; Experiments; Humans; Life Sciences; Mass spectrometry; Mass Spectrometry - methods; Molecular Biology - methods; Molecular structure; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; perspective; Protein Binding; Protein-protein interactions; Proteins; Proteins - chemistry; Proteins - metabolism; Proteomics; Research methodology; Spectrum analysis; Structure; X-ray crystallography; Netherlands
• ISSN: 1548-7091; 1548-7105
• DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.1265

Native mass spectrometry is an emerging technology that allows the topological investigation of intact protein complexes with high sensitivity and a theoretically unrestricted mass range. This unique tool provides complementary information to established technologies in structural biology, and also provides a link to high-throughput interactomics studies, which do not generate information on exact protein complex-composition, structure or dynamics. Here I review the current state of native mass spectrometry technology and discuss several important biological applications. I also describe current experimental challenges in native mass spectrometry, encouraging readers to contribute to solutions.