Metal binding to a zinc-finger peptide: a comparison between solution and the gas phase

Abstract

Solution-phase spectroscopy and mass spectrometry are used to probe interactions between divalent metal ions and a synthetic Cys(2)His(2) zinc-finger peptide (vCP1). Both methods provide the same order of binding affinity, zinc ≥ cobalt ≫ copper ≫ calcium. Collision-cross-section measurements show that both apo and holo forms are compact. This is corroborated by molecular-dynamics simulations.