Conformational analysis of membrane proteins in phospholipid bilayer nanodiscs by hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Christine M Hebling
  • Christopher R Morgan
  • Darrel W Stafford
  • James W Jorgenson
  • Rand, Kasper Dyrberg
  • John R Engen
The study of membrane protein structure and enzymology has traditionally been hampered by the inherent insolubility of membrane proteins in aqueous environments and experimental challenges in emulating an in vivo lipid environment. Phospholipid bilayer nanodiscs have recently been shown to be of great use for the study of membrane proteins since they offer a controllable, stable, and monodisperse model membrane with a nativelike lipid bilayer. Here we report the integration of nanodiscs with hydrogen exchange (HX) mass spectrometry (MS) experiments, thereby allowing for analysis of the native conformation of membrane proteins. gamma-Glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), an approximately 94 kDa transmembrane protein, was inserted into nanodiscs and labeled with deuterium oxide under native conditions. Analytical parameters including sample-handling and chromatographic separation were optimized to measure the incorporation of deuterium into GGCX. Coupling nanodisc technology with HX MS offers an effective approach for investigating the conformation and dynamics of membrane proteins in their native environment and is therefore capable of providing much needed insight into the function of membrane proteins.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAnalytical Chemistry
Volume82
Issue number13
Pages (from-to)5415-9
Number of pages5
ISSN0003-2700
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

ID: 40129644