Using hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to engineer optimized constructs for crystallization of protein complexes: Case study of PI4KIII beta with Rab11.
Fowler, M.L., McPhail, J.A., Jenkins, M.L., Masson, G.R., Rutaganira, F.U., Shokat, K.M., Williams, R.L., Burke, J.E.(2016) Protein Sci 25: 826-839
- PubMed: 26756197 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pro.2879
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
5C46, 5C4G - PubMed Abstract: 
The ability of proteins to bind and interact with protein partners plays fundamental roles in many cellular contexts. X-ray crystallography has been a powerful approach to understand protein-protein interactions; however, a challenge in the crystallization of proteins and their complexes is the presence of intrinsically disordered regions. In this article, we describe an application of hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to identify dynamic regions within type III phosphatidylinositol 4 kinase beta (PI4KIII¦Â) in complex with the GTPase Rab11. This information was then used to design deletions that allowed for the production of diffraction quality crystals. Importantly, we also used HDX-MS to verify that the new construct was properly folded, consistent with it being catalytically and functionally active. Structures of PI4KIII¦Â in an Apo state and bound to the potent inhibitor BQR695 in complex with both GTP¦ÃS and GDP loaded Rab11 were determined. This hybrid HDX-MS/crystallographic strategy revealed novel aspects of the PI4KIII¦Â-Rab11 complex, as well as the molecular mechanism of potency of a PI4K specific inhibitor (BQR695). This approach is widely applicable to protein-protein complexes, and is an excellent strategy to optimize constructs for high-resolution structural approaches.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada.