Surface-Induced Dissociation Optics for Native Protein Complexes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mass spectrometry techniques, such as collision-induced dissociation (CID), often produce highly unfolded and restructured protein fragments, which do not retain native structure and fail to provide comprehensive information on inter-subunit connectivity and interaction strength, limiting the understanding of protein complexes and their functions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of surface-induced dissociation (SID) using a device with a collision surface, deflector, and extractor in a split lens configuration, applying RF and DC voltages to guide and extract ions, which generates more symmetrically charged fragments reminiscent of the three-dimensional structure of protein complexes, providing information on conformational changes, subunit interconnectivity, and interaction strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If collision-induced dissociation (CID) is used to dissociate protein complexes, then activation and fragmentation occur, but the fragments become highly unfolded and restructured, losing native structure information
Solution Approach 1:
A fluorocarbon self-assembled monolayer coating is introduced as an intermediary between the ion and the collision surface. This coating layer mediates the energy transfer during surface-induced dissociation, allowing sufficient activation for fragmentation while preventing direct contact that would cause unfolding and restructuring, thus preserving native structure information
Solution Approach 2:
The collision energy and surface properties are optimized to achieve the right balance between activation and structure preservation. By controlling the kinetic energy of ions and the characteristics of the fluorocarbon coating, the dissociation process produces fragments with lower charge states that retain more native structure compared to traditional CID
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
SID devices effectively dissociate proteins into fragments that preserve native structure, offering better insight into protein complexes' stoichiometry, connectivity, and interaction strength, enhancing the understanding and analysis of protein functions and structures.
Implementation Method 1
a repulsive direct current (DC) voltage is applied to the deflector to guide the precursor ions into the collision surface
Implementation Method 2
Surface-induced dissociation (SID), in which the collision target is a rigid, high-mass surface... rather than a small gas molecule, has been shown to generate more symmetrically charged fragments that are reminiscent of the three-dimensional structure of protein complexes
Implementation Method 3
an extractor configured to extract ions off the collision surface after collision with the collision surface
Implementation Method 4
a radiofrequency (RF) device configured to collect and/or transmit the extracted ions
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for surface-induced association are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a device for surface-induced dissociation (SID) includes a collision surface and a deflector configured to guide precursor ions from a pre-SID region to the collision surface. In some embodiments, an extractor extracts ions off the collision surface after collision with the collision surface. In some embodiments, an RF device can collect and/or transmit the extracted ions. In some embodiments, an ion funnel guides product ions resulting from collision with the collision surface to a post-SID region. Some aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods for surface-induced dissociation, which may in some embodiments include using of a split lens or an ion funnel.