Native Mass Spectrometry Characterizes the Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex from the Purple Bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2017 Jan;28(1):87-95. doi: 10.1007/s13361-016-1451-8. Epub 2016 Aug 9.

Abstract

Native mass spectrometry (MS) is an emerging approach to study protein complexes in their near-native states and to elucidate their stoichiometry and topology. Here, we report a native MS study of the membrane-embedded reaction center (RC) protein complex from the purple photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The membrane-embedded RC protein complex is stabilized by detergent micelles in aqueous solution, directly introduced into a mass spectrometer by nano-electrospray (nESI), and freed of detergents and dissociated in the gas phase by collisional activation. As the collision energy is increased, the chlorophyll pigments are gradually released from the RC complex, suggesting that native MS introduces a near-native structure that continues to bind pigments. Two bacteriochlorophyll a pigments remain tightly bound to the RC protein at the highest collision energy. The order of pigment release and their resistance to release by gas-phase activation indicates the strength of pigment interaction in the RC complex. This investigation sets the stage for future native MS studies of membrane-embedded photosynthetic pigment-protein and related complexes.Graphical Abstract.

Keywords: Membrane protein complex; Native mass spectrometry; Photosynthesis; Pigment–protein interactions; Purple bacterium; Reaction center.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Chlorophyll / chemistry
  • Detergents / chemistry
  • Micelles
  • Models, Molecular
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / chemistry*
  • Rhodobacter sphaeroides / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization* / methods

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Detergents
  • Micelles
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
  • Chlorophyll