# Driving Biomedical Projects Portfolio of the Resource for Native MS Guided Structural Biology

> **NIH NIH P41** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $245,401

## Abstract

Proteins often carry out their functions by working as assemblies of multiple proteins, with or without other
biomolecules or ligands bound. Characterization of protein complexes/assemblies, including identification of all
binding partners, their relative architecture/topology in the complex, conformational changes upon binding and
the relative binding affinities of partners is key to developing a better understanding of how these complex
systems carry out their normal biological functions and how alterations of architecture can lead to malfunction.
MS is emerging as a powerful tool for structural biology, with the combination of multiple MS approaches enabling
the structural characterization of biomacromolecules. However, development of both MS instrumentation and
methods is necessary to fully implement the use of MS in routine, reliable, and rapid structural characterization
studies. To advance the technological development of native MS for structural biology applications and to
illustrate how native MS can guide and integrate with other structural biology approaches, we have identified
three main classes of protein complexes for which significant technological challenges exist, compelling PIs to
use multiple structural biology approaches. These are 1) protein:protein, 2) membrane protein and membrane
protein:lipid complexes, and 3) RNA:protein, complexes. The DBPs were selected to encompass projects with
high biomedical significance where progress depends on solving substantial technical challenges. These
projects will benefit significantly from improved native MS workflows. Solving their structural challenges, in the
context of other structural tools that they use, will also provide solutions and guidance that are applicable to a
much broader spectrum of researchers. Effective communication is key to the progress of the DBPs, so that the
Resource fully understands the nature of the biological problem being addressed and so that the collaborating
investigators fully understand the current capabilities of each of the technologies. Initial project meetings have
been held for each of the DBPs and preliminary data have been obtained. Regular meetings will be held to
assess the progress and plan future experiments. DBP investigators and their groups will be encouraged to
present the work at conferences they attend, with an appropriate acknowledgement of the
nMSSB Resource.
A DBP will be considered successfully completed when it has reached a point where multiple high-quality
manuscripts are prepared and published, the DBP’s questions can be answered with technology existing at that
stage, and the DBP is no longer driving the Resource to improve the native MS technology. The Resource will
be involved with the authoring and preparation of each of the relevant joint manuscripts. For publication, journals
will be targeted that have high-impact and are read by the broad community, which aids in our dissemination
plan of bringing the technology to a bro...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9978853
- **Project number:** 5P41GM128577-03
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sophie Harvey
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $245,401
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9978853

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9978853, Driving Biomedical Projects Portfolio of the Resource for Native MS Guided Structural Biology (5P41GM128577-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9978853. Licensed CC0.

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