LC-MS Platform – A Wonderful Cure for Protein Science Headaches

There are estimated to be 20,000 to 25,000 genes in the human genome giving rise to a similar number of proteins. Each protein is a unique molecule which needs to be individually studied to understand its role and function.

This process normally starts with recombinant expression of the protein in different cellular systems. Characterization of isolated protein domains, point mutants, fusions or labeled proteins is a key requirement for their use in functional assays.

A lack of understanding exactly what protein has been produced, and how it may have been modified in the cell, can commonly lead to much wasted time and effort downstream, especially when it comes to trying to form protein crystals for structure-based drug discovery.

In this webinar, we will talk through some examples of how mass spectrometry has played a central role in characterization of the protein, allowing us to successfully progress some challenging projects.

We will show how protein mass spectrometry is a key analytical method which is routinely used to solve problems in the development of methods to generate proteins.

By attending this webinar you will learn:

• How an understanding of the O-glycosylation pattern on the platelet receptor, G6b-B protein, was critical to obtaining protein that could form protein crystals.
• The use of mass spectrometry in troubleshooting the expression and purification of a biotinylated protein in E. coli, where production of a biotinylated heterotrimer was required for used in SPR assays.
• The identification of stabilized variants of G-protein coupled receptors for biophysical and crystallographic studies.