On the preservation of non-covalent protein complexes during electrospray ionization

Abstract

The application range of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the quantitative determination of stoichiometries and binding constants for noncovalent protein complexes is broadly discussed. The underlying fundamental question is whether or not the original molecular equilibrium can be preserved during the ionization process and be revealed by subsequent mass spectrometry analysis. Here, we take a new look at this question by discussing recent studies in droplet chemistry.