Combining ultrarapid mixing with photochemical oxidation to probe protein folding

Anal Chem. 2013 May 21;85(10):4920-4. doi: 10.1021/ac3033646. Epub 2013 May 2.

Abstract

We demonstrate a new method to study protein folding by combining fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP) with ultrarapid microfluidic mixing to observe kinetics on the microsecond time scale. Folding proteins pass through a focused UV laser beam, creating OH radicals that label the select protein side chains and are analyzed with mass spectrometry. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate this method with hen egg lysozyme that shows at least two kinetic phases before 1 ms, which are compared with those observed by Trp fluorescence. This method provides another, complementary probe of the early, complex steps of protein folding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Hydroxyl Radical / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photochemical Processes*
  • Protein Folding*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Solvents / chemistry

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Solvents
  • Hydroxyl Radical