Method for distinguishing specific from nonspecific protein-ligand complexes in nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A new methodology for distinguishing between specific and nonspecific protein-ligand complexes in nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoES-MS) is described. The method involves the addition of an appropriate reference protein (P-ref), which does not bind specifically to any of the solution components, to the nanoES solution containing the protein(s) and ligand(s) of interest. The occurrence of nonspecific protein-ligand binding is monitored by the appearance of nonspecific (P-ref + ligand) complexes in the nanoES mass spectrum. Furthermore, the fraction of Pr-ef undergoing nonspecific ligand binding provides a quantitative measure of the contribution of nonspecific binding to the measured intensities of protein and specific protein-ligand complexes. As a result, errors introduced into protein-ligand., as determined with nanoES-association constants, K-assoc, MS, by nonspecific ligand binding can be corrected. The principal assumptions on which this methodology is based, namely, that the fraction of proteins and protein complexes that engage in nonspecific ligand binding during the nanoES process is determined by the number of free ligand molecules in the offspring droplets leading to gaseous ions and is independent of the size and structure of the protein or protein complex, are shown to be generally valid. The application of the method for the determination of K-assoc, for two protein-carbohydrate complexes, under conditions where nonspecific ligand binding is prevalent, is demonstrated.