Structure from Splatter

The use of mass spectrometry (MS) to determine native protein structure has become an invaluable tool for protein biochemists. Although initially met with extreme skepticism, it is now very clear that the complementary use of “native condition” MS with dissociative MS techniques and molecular modeling has provided specific structural information for multimeric protein assemblies and subunit interaction sites. Early pioneering studies by the groups of Carol Robinson and Albert Heck helped pave the way for more recent studies by Wysocki and co-workers who introduced surface induced dissociation (SID) in combination with ion mobility MS for native protein structure determination. The refinement of SID and its development in conjunction with ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMS) by the Wysocki group have brought this particular dissociation technique into the mainstream of MS for biomolecule structure determination.