Hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry.

Amide hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange of proteins monitored by mass spectrometry has established itself as a powerful method for probing protein conformational dynamics and protein interactions. The method uses isotope labeling to probe the rate at which protein backbone amide hydrogens undergo exchange. Backbone amide hydrogen exchange rates are particularly sensitive to hydrogen bonding; hydrogen bonding slows the exchange rates dramatically. Exchange rates reflect on the conformational mobility, hydrogen bonding strength, and solvent accessibility in protein structure. Mass spectrometric techniques are used to monitor the exchange events as mass shifts that arise through the incorporation of deuterium into the protein. Global conformational information can be deduced by monitoring the exchange profiles over time. Combining the labeling experiment with proteolysis under conditions that preserve the exchange information allows for localizing exchange events to distinct regions of the protein backbone and thus, the study of protein conformation with medium spatial resolution. Over the past decade, H/D exchange mass spectrometry has evolved into a versatile technique for investigating conformational dynamics and interactions in proteins, protein-ligand and protein-protein complexes.