Sizing up large protein complexes by electrospray ionisation-based electrophoretic mobility and native mass spectrometry: morphology selective binding of Fabs to hepatitis B virus capsids

The capsid of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major viral antigen and important diagnostic indicator. HBV capsids have prominent protrusions ('spikes') on their surface and are unique in having either T = 3 or T = 4 icosahedral symmetry. Mouse monoclonal and also human polyclonal antibodies bind either near the spike apices (historically the 'alpha-determinant') or in the 'floor' regions between them (the 'beta-determinant'). Native mass spectrometry (MS) and gas-phase electrophoretic mobility molecular analysis (GEMMA) were used to monitor the titration of HBV capsids with the antigen-binding domain (Fab) of mAb 3120, which has long defined the beta-determinant. Both methods readily distinguished Fab binding to the two capsid morphologies and could provide accurate masses and dimensions for these large immune complexes, which range up to similar to 8 MDa. As such, native MS and GEMMA provide valuable alternatives to a more time-consuming cryo-electron microscopy analysis for preliminary characterisation of virus-antibody complexes.