Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026
11:37
Analyzing Protein Dynamics Using Hydrogen Exchange Mass Spectrometry
Published on: November 29, 2013
Detecting structural changes in viral capsids by hydrogen exchange and mass spectrometry
1Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA.
Summary
Structural changes in brome mosaic virus (BMV) capsids were studied using amide hydrogen exchange and mass spectrometry. Results confirm a swelling model, indicating looser structures at pH changes.
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Virology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Brome mosaic virus (BMV) is a plant virus with a protein capsid.
- Understanding pH-induced structural changes in viral capsids is crucial for virology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pH-induced structural alterations in the BMV capsid.
- To validate the proposed swelling model for BMV and related viruses.
Main Methods:
- Amide hydrogen exchange coupled with mass spectrometry.
- Incubation of intact BMV particles in D(2)O at different pH values (5.4 and 7.3).
- Analysis of deuterium incorporation in coat protein and proteolytic fragments.
Main Results:
- Increased deuterium levels were observed in regions around the quasi-threefold axes, indicating structural loosening.
- Structural changes were detected in the N- and C-terminal arms of the capsid protein.
- Findings support the swelling model for BMV and cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV).
Conclusions:
- Amide hydrogen exchange and mass spectrometry are effective for studying viral capsid structural dynamics.
- The study confirms the pH-dependent swelling mechanism in BMV capsids.
- Results align with cryo-electron microscopy data of swollen CCMV.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:15High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)
The resolution of a mass spectrometer depends on the efficiency of separating ions with different ion masses. The mass of an atom is approximated to the sum of the masses of protons and neutrons inside, considering the masses of protons and neutrons as equal. However, the masses of the proton (1.6726 × 10−24 g) and neutron (1.6749 × 10−24 g) are not truly equal. There is a minor error in the expression of atomic masses relative to the simplest atom of hydrogen. For example, the mass of helium...
01:21Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
Mass spectrometry is an important technique for the identification of pure compounds. However, it has some limitations for the analysis of complex mixtures, often due to excessive fragmentation making the spectrum too complicated to decipher. Mass spectrometry can be combined with suitable separation methods in sequence, forming hyphenated methods, which are useful in the analysis of complex mixtures.
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...