On the correlation between charge states and drift times of protein conformational states in Ion Mobility - Mass Spectrometry experiments

摘要

1. In the electrospray process, protein conformers with a larger exposed surface area obtain a higher average charge state and a wider charge state distribution. 2. The increase of average charges state under gradually more denaturing conditions is due to a gradual shift in the population of the different conformers and not to increased unfolding. 3. While hypercharging does not necessarily cause (complete) protein denaturing, the native conformation is destabilized (more repulsion of like charges), requiring 'softer' MS conditions.