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Updated: May 31, 2026

Covalent Labeling with Diethylpyrocarbonate for Studying Protein Higher-Order Structure by Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 15, 2021
Protein folding mechanisms studied by pulsed oxidative labeling and mass spectrometry
Lars Konermann1, Yan Pan, Bradley B Stocks
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada. konerman@uwo.ca
Abstract:
Deciphering the mechanisms of protein folding remains a considerable challenge. In this review we discuss the application of pulsed oxidative labeling for tracking protein structural changes in a time-resolved fashion. Exposure to a microsecond OH pulse at selected time points during folding induces the oxidation of solvent-accessible side chains, whereas buried residues are protected. Oxidative modifications can be detected by mass spectrometry. Folding is associated with dramatic accessibility changes, and therefore this method can provide detailed mechanistic insights. Solvent accessibility patterns are complementary to H/D exchange investigations, which report on the extent of hydrogen bonding. This review highlights the application of pulsed OH labeling to soluble proteins as well as membrane proteins.
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