Structural mass spectrometry techniques for characterisation of plant and algal proteins

Journal article : Review

SUMMARY: Structural biology can offer valuable insights into the mechanisms and functions of key proteins within plant molecular and cellular systems. However, plant proteins present several specific challenges for structural analysis, including difficulties in expression and purification, significant intrinsic disorder, and extensive post‐translational modification. Structural mass spectrometry (MS) offers a complementary set of tools that can help overcome these obstacles and provide detailed structural and mechanistic information. In this review, we outline the principles and practical applications of the main structural mass spectrometry techniques, namely crosslinking, covalent labelling, hydrogen–deuterium exchange, and both intact (denaturing) and native MS. We also discuss recent case studies where structural MS has offered insight into the architecture, dynamics and interactions of proteins central to plant molecular and cell biology.

Authors: Durant, R; Živković, D; Bolla, JR

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: The Plant Journal
• Volume: 125
• Issue: 6
• Article number: e70780
• Publication date: 2026-03-14
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-23
• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.70780
• EISSN: 1365-313X
• ISSN: 0960-7412
• Language: English
• Keywords: native mass spectrometry; plant proteins; structural mass spectrometry; hydrogen‐deuterium exchange mass spectrometry; cross‐linking mass spectrometry; plant structural biology
• Subtype: Review