Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are antibody‐based therapeutics that have proven to be highly effective cancer treatment platforms. They are composed of monoclonal antibodies conjugated with highly potent drugs via chemical linkers. Compared to cysteine‐targeted chemistries, conjugation at native lysine residues can lead to a higher degree of structural heterogeneity, and thus it is important to evaluate the impact of conjugation on antibody conformation. Here, we present a workflow involving native ion mobility (IM)‐MS and gas‐phase unfolding for the structural characterization of lysine‐linked monoclonal antibody (mAb)–biotin conjugates. Following the determination of conjugation states via denaturing Liquid Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS) measurements, we performed both size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and native IM‐MS measurements in order to compare the structures of biotinylated and unmodified IgG1 molecules. Hydrodynamic radii (Rh) and collision cross‐sectional (CCS) values were insufficient to distinguish the conformational changes in these antibody–biotin conjugates owing to their flexible structures and limited instrument resolution. In contrast, collision induced unfolding (CIU) analyses were able to detect subtle structural and stability differences in the mAb upon biotin conjugation, exhibiting a sensitivity to mAb conjugation that exceeds native MS analysis alone. Destabilization of mAb–biotin conjugates was detected by both CIU and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data, suggesting a previously unknown correlation between the two measurement tools. We conclude by discussing the impact of IM‐MS and CIU technologies on the future of ADC development pipelines.
Thermal desorption/degradation with an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) and ion mobility (IM) separation are coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) analysis and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) fragmentation to characterize thermoplastic elastomers. The compounds investigated, which are used in the manufacture of a wide variety of packaging materials, are mainly composed of thermoplastic copolymers, but also contain additional chemicals (“additives”), like antioxidants and UV stabilizers, for enhancement of their properties or protection from degradation. The traditional method for analyzing such complex mixtures is vacuum pyrolysis followed by electron or chemical ionization mass spectrometry, often after gas chromatography separation. Here, an alternative, faster approach, involving mild degradation at atmospheric pressure (ASAP) and subsequent characterization of the desorbates and pyrolyzates by IM‐MS, and if needed, MS/MS is presented. Such multidimensional dispersion considerably simplifies the resulting spectra, permitting the conclusive separation, characterization, and classification of the multicomponent materials examined.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1808115
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10368811
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Macromolecular Rapid Communications
- Volume:
- 44
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1022-1336
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract -
null (Ed.)Simultaneous spatial localization and structural characterization of molecules in complex biological samples currently represents an analytical challenge for mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) techniques. In this study, we describe a novel experimental platform, which substantially expands the capabilities and enhances the depth of chemical information obtained in high spatial resolution MSI experiments performed using nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI). Specifically, we designed and constructed a portable nano-DESI MSI platform and coupled it with a drift tube ion mobility spectrometer-mass spectrometer (IM-MS). Separation of biomolecules observed in MSI experiments based on their drift times provides unique molecular descriptors necessary for their identification by comparison with databases. Furthermore, it enables isomer-specific imaging, which is particularly important for unraveling the complexity of biological systems. Imaging of day 4 pregnant mouse uterine sections using the newly developed nano-DESI-IM-MSI system demonstrates rapid isobaric and isomeric separation and reduced chemical noise in MSI experiments. A direct comparison of the performance of the new nano-DESI-MSI platform operated in the MS mode with the more established nano-DESI-Orbitrap platform indicates a comparable performance of these two systems. A spatial resolution of better than ~16 μm and similar molecular coverage was obtained using both platforms. The structural information provided by the ion mobility separation expands the molecular specificity of high-resolution MSI necessary for the detailed understanding of biological systems.more » « less
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null (Ed.)Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) mass spectrometry (MS) centers on the ability to separate gaseous structures by size, charge, shape, and followed by mass-to-charge (m/z). For oligomeric structures, improved separation is hypothesized to be related to the ability to extend structures through repulsive forces between cations electrostatically bonded to the oligomers. Here we show the ability to separate differently branched multiply charged ions of star-branched poly(ethylene glycol) oligomers (up to 2000 Da) regardless of whether formed by electrospray ionization (ESI) charged solution droplets or from charged solid particles produced directly from a surface by matrix-assisted ionization. Detailed structural characterization of isomers of the star-branched compositions was first established using a home-built high-resolution ESI IMS-MS instrument. The doubly charged ions have well-resolved drift times, achieving separation of isomers and also allowing differentiation of star-branched versus linear oligomers. An IMS-MS “snapshot” approach allows visualization of architectural dispersity and (im)purity of samples in a straightforward manner. Analyses capabilities are shown for different cations and ionization methods using commercially available traveling wave IMS-MS instruments. Analyses directly from surfaces using the new ionization processes are, because of the multiply charging, not only associated with the benefits of improved gas-phase separations, relative to that of ions produced by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, but also provide the potential for spatially resolved measurements relative to ESI and other ionization methods.more » « less
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Rationale Tandem‐ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry methods have recently gained traction for the structural characterization of proteins and protein complexes. However, ion activation techniques currently coupled with tandem‐ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry methods are limited in their ability to characterize structures of proteins and protein complexes.
Methods Here, we describe the coupling of the separation capabilities of tandem‐trapped ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry (tTIMS/MS) with the dissociation capabilities of ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) for protein structure analysis.
Results We establish the feasibility of dissociating intact proteins by UV irradiation at 213 nm between the two TIMS devices in tTIMS/MS and at pressure conditions compatible with ion mobility spectrometry (2–3 mbar). We validate that the fragments produced by UVPD under these conditions result from a radical‐based mechanism in accordance with prior literature on UVPD. The data suggest stabilization of fragment ions produced from UVPD by collisional cooling due to the elevated pressures used here (“UVnoD2”), which otherwise do not survive to detection. The data account for a sequence coverage for the protein ubiquitin comparable to recent reports, demonstrating the analytical utility of our instrument in mobility‐separating fragment ions produced from UVPD.
Conclusions The data demonstrate that UVPD carried out at elevated pressures of 2–3 mbar yields extensive fragment ions rich in information about the protein and that their exhaustive analysis requires IMS separation post‐UVPD. Therefore, because UVPD and tTIMS/MS each have been shown to be valuable techniques on their own merit in proteomics, our contribution here underscores the potential of combining tTIMS/MS with UVPD for structural proteomics.
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Rationale Coordinatively driven self‐assembly of transition metal ions and bidentate ligands gives rise to organometallic complexes that usually contain superimposed isobars, isomers, and conformers. In this study, the double dispersion ability of ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM‐MS) was used to provide a comprehensive structural characterization of the self‐assembled supramolecular complexes by their mass and charge, revealed by the MS event, and their shape and collision cross‐section (Ω), revealed by the IM event.
Methods Self‐assembled complexes were synthesized by reacting a bis(terpyridine) ligand exhibiting a 60odihedral angle between the two ligating terpyridine sites (
T ) with divalent Zn, Ni, Cd, or Fe. The products were isolated as (Metal2+[T ])n (PF6)2n salts and analyzed using IM‐MS after electrospray ionization (ESI) which produced several charge states from eachn ‐mer, depending on the number of PF6ˉ anions lost upon ESI. Experimental Ω data, derived using IM‐MS, and computational Ω predictions were used to elucidate the size and architecture of the complexes.Results Only macrocyclic dimers, trimers, and tetramers were observed with Cd2+, whereas Zn2+formed the same plus hexameric complexes. These two metals led to the simplest product distributions and no linear isomers. In sharp contrast, Ni2+and Fe2+formed all possible ring sizes from dimer to hexamer as well as various linear isomers. The experimental and theoretical Ω data indicated rather planar macrocyclic geometries for the dimers and trimers, twisted 3D architectures for the larger rings, and substantially larger sizes with spiral conformation for the linear congeners. Adding PF6ˉ to the same complex was found to mainly cause size contraction due to new stabilizing anion–cation interactions.
Conclusions Complete structural identification could be accomplished using ESI‐IM‐MS. Our results affirm that self‐assembly with Cd2+and Zn2+proceeds through reversible equilibria that generate the thermodynamically most stable structures, encompassing exclusively macrocyclic architectures that readily accommodate the 60oligand used. In contrast, complexation with Ni2+and Fe2+, which form stronger coordinative bonds, proceeds through kinetic control, leading to more complex mixtures and kinetically trapped less stable architectures, such as macrocyclic pentamers and linear isomers.
