Conformations and folding of lysozyme ions in vacuo.

Gross, D S; Schnier, P D; Rodriguez-Cruz, S E; Fagerquist, C K; Williams, E R · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 1996

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Proton transfer reactivity of isolated charge states of the protein hen egg-white lysozyme shows that multiple distinct conformations of this protein are stable in the gas phase. The reactivities of the 9+ and 10+ charge state ions, formed by electrospray ionization of "native" (disulfide-intact) and "denatured" (disulfide-reduced) solutions, are consistent with values calculated for ions in their crystal structure and fully denatured conformations, respectively. Charge states below 8+ of both forms, formed by proton stripping, have similar or indistinguishable reactivities, indicating that the disulfide-reduced ions fold in the gas phase to a more compact conformation.

Medical subject headings