Volume 8 Issue 4, April 2013

Mass spectrometry of membrane protein complexes reveals phospholipid binding and subunit stoichiometry. Shown are mass spectra of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel from Erwinia chrysanthemi titrated with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE). Up to seven lipid-bound states can be resolved within the stripped tetramer. Image taken from the protocol by Laganowsky et al. Cover design by Jamel Wooten.