Native mass spectrometry (MS) probes ions generated using electrospray ionization from aqueous solutions that were prepared at physiologically relevant pH and ionic strengths. “Native-like ions” can retain significant memories of their native stoichiometries and structures. However, concerns about the fidelity of structures in solutions and structures in the gas phase inhibit the broader adoption of native MS technologies and reduces the confidence in structural model that are based on native MS measurements. Here, I will discuss experiments and models that my lab has used to understand the evolution of samples subjected to electrospray, the formation of initial droplets, and the properties of the final desolvated ions. Finally, I will discuss the implications for native MS and strategies for increasing the retention of native structure.

Native electrospray ionization: From solution to charged droplets to final ions

2019 Fall National Meeting

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