Protein dynamics and conformational changes explored by hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry.

Proteins are not rigid bodies under their physiological conditions. Here we discuss a solution-phase structural proteomics technique, hydrogen deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), as a means to study protein dynamics, which can complement other structural approaches. We outline the background theory and highlight the utility of HDX-MS measurements in two case studies involving a nuclear receptor and an innate immunity receptor. We also discuss emerging software advances for improving data analysis and three-dimensional visualization.