PROXIMO - a new docking algorithm to model protein complexes using data from radical probe mass spectrometry (RP-MS)

The design and implementation of a new algorithm, known as PROXIMO for protein oxidation interface modeller, is described to predict the structure of protein complexes using data generated in radical probe mass spectrometry (RP-MS) experiments. Photochemical radiolysis and discharge sources can be used to effect RP-MS in which hydroxyl radicals are formed directly from the bulk solvent on millisecond timescales and react with surface accessible residues in footprinting-like experiments. The algorithm utilizes a geometric surface fitting routine to predict likely structures for protein complexes. These structures are scored based on a correlation between the measured solvent accessibility of oxidizable residue side chains and oxidation shielding data obtained by RP-MS. The algorithm has been implemented to predict structures for the ribonuclease S-protein-peptide and calmodulin-melittin complexes using RP-MS data generated in this laboratory. The former is in close agreement with the high-resolution experimental structure available.