Low temperature aqueous electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of noncovalent complexes

In the present study we describe conditions that permit the characterization of noncovalent protein–substrate complexes in aqueous solution by microspray electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), using a heated transfer capillary at low temperature (45 °C). Specifically, we examined the binding of calmodulin to two polypeptides; the calmodulin-binding domain of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CamK-II) and melittin. Calmodulin, a well known calcium-binding protein, binds to a number of small amphipathic peptides in a calcium-dependent manner. Our results directly show that both peptides form equimolar complexes with calmodulin only in the presence of calcium. The stoichiometry necessary for the formation of each complex was 1:1:4 for calmodulin:peptide (melittin or CamK-II):Ca²⁺, respectively. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the detection of the complex in ESI-MS is source temperature dependent.