Detection of Specific Noncovalent Zinc Finger Peptide-Oligodeoxynucleotide Complexes by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Faster than with conventional solution-phase methods, mass spectrometry can be used to recognize the formation of noncovalent complexes. This is shown by the detection of the specific triple complex between an 18-residue zinc finger peptide from the gag protein p55 of HIV-1, Zn , and the oligodeoxynucleotide d(TTGTT) by MALDI-MS (see the spectrum). The results also indicate that MALDI mass spectra can qualitatively reflect solution-phase chemistry.