MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF METAL-BINDING POLYPEPTIDE DOMAINS BY ELECTROSPRAY-IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY AND METAL CHELATE AFFINITY-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Metal ion-binding of synthetic peptides containing HxH and CxxC motifs was investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS ) and metal chelate affinity chromatography. A high affinity of Ni2+ a nd CU2+ to HxH containing sequences was found. Based on their natural metal ion-binding potential it was possible to include metal affinity chromatography in the purification process of two proteins without usi ng an additional His-tag sequence: ATPase-439, a P type ATPase from He licobacter pylori and the amyloid precursor protein (APP). (C) 1998 El sevier Science B.V.