Thermokinetic Analysis of Protein Subunit Exchange by Variable-Temperature Native Mass Spectrometry

Many protein complexes are assembled from a varying number of subunits, which are continuously exchanging with diverse time scales. This structural dynamics is considered to be important for many regulatory and sensory adaptation processes that occur in vivo. We have developed an accurate method for monitoring protein subunit exchange by using native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), exemplified here for an extremely stable Rad50 zinc hook (Hk) dimer assembly, Zn(Hk)₂. The method has two steps: appropriate protein/peptide mutation and native ESI-MS analysis using a variable-temperature sample inlet. In this work, two Hk mutants were produced, mixed with wild-type Hk, and measured at three different temperatures. A thermokinetic analysis of heterodimer formation allowed us to determine the enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy of activation for subunit exchange, showing that the reaction is slow and associated with a high enthalpic barrier, consistent with the exceptionally high stability of the Zn(Hk)₂ assembly.