Microheterogeneity within conformational states of ubiquitin revealed by high resolution trapped ion mobility spectrometry

Analyst. 2015 Oct 21;140(20):6964-72. doi: 10.1039/c5an00841g.

Abstract

The present work employs trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) for the analysis of ubiquitin ions known to display a multitude of previously unresolved interchangeable conformations upon electrospray ionization. The conformational distributions of ubiquitin [M + 6H](6+) through [M + 13H](13+) ions observed by TIMS are nearly identical to numerous drift tube ion mobility spectrometry studies reported in the literature. At an experimental resolving power up to ∼300, many of the congested conformations within the well-known compact, partially folded, and elongated [M + 7H](7+) states are separated. Minimizing the voltages (RF and DC) in the entrance funnel results in exclusive observation of compact [M + 7H](7+) conformers. However, under these conditions, the mobility-dependent pseudopotential coefficient may discriminate against ions having larger collision cross sections-a universal effect for all RF ion guides, funnels, and traps operating in the presence of a gas. The data presented underscore the complications associated with direct comparison of collision cross section values that represent an ensemble average of multiple underlying conformations. As illustrated herein, the microheterogeneity within a particular conformational family and the relative state-to-state abundance can be altered by solvent memory, energetic, and kinetic effects.

MeSH terms

  • Kinetics
  • Mass Spectrometry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Thermodynamics
  • Ubiquitin / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ubiquitin