Structural Biology and Biochemistry Theme Seminars - Probing protein assemblies by native mass spectrometry

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS) has evolved into a powerful analytical tool in studying proteins and protein assemblies. MS-based approaches can provide a plethora of information, ranging from protein identification and post-translational modifications to protein dynamics and interactions as well as higher-order quaternary structure. Among the different MS techniques, native MS offers the unique advantage of transferring intact proteins from nondenaturing volatile solutions into the gas phase, while preserving their non-covalent interactions, which are essential for their fold, structure and interactions with other biomolecules or small molecules. Moreover, native MS enables investigation of protein assemblies offering information about complex stoichiometry and topology, binding partners as well as thermodynamics of binding, without the need of labelling or crosslinking. When coupled with ion mobility separation, native MS can also provide access to protein assembly architecture. In this talk, a general overview of structural MS approaches, with particular focus in native MS, will be presented.

Biography

Dr Kleitos Sokratous is a Senior Scientist II at OMass Therapeutics. He has extensive experience in biomolecular MS, including native MS and MS-based omics, and his work has been featured in various peer-reviewed publications. He obtained his BSc in Chemistry from the University of Athens in 2005 and his MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Science from Loughborough University, UK, in 2007. In 2013, he completed his PhD in biomolecular MS, under the supervision of Prof. Neil Oldham at the University of Nottingham and then moved to the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, where he took a leading role in the establishment of the first high-resolution MS and MS-based omics facility in Cyprus. In 2019, he joined OMass Therapeutics and he is currently leading the development and implementation of native MS screening platform.