Journal Article

PUBDB-2026-01676

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Applying Distinct CDMS Strategies to Observe Nonclassical Virus Capsid Assembly

Thiede, L.Extern*CSSB*DESY* ; Haris, A. ; Damjanovic, T.Extern*CSSB*DESY* ; Kung, J. C. K. ; Müller-Guhl, J. ; Pogan, R. ; Rothe, J. ; Schultze, W. ; Ugelstad, S. ; Eatough, D. ; Giles, K. ; Preece, S. ; Richardson, K. ; Ujma, J. ; Uetrecht, C. (Corresponding author)CSSB*XFEL.EU*DESY*

2026
Wiley Bognor Regis [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1002/jms.70068  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2026-01676

Abstract: n conventional native mass spectrometry (MS), one faces severe limitations when challenged with heterogeneous, high-mass samples, commonly failing to resolve clear peak distributions, and thus mass determination. Charge detection MS (CDMS) has emerged as a premier method to analyze these samples by determining mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and charge (z) simultaneously. Here, the two currently available commercialized CDMS systems, the Orbitrap-based Direct Mass Technology (DMT) and the electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT)–based Xevo CDMS are applied to human norovirus capsids from two different strains, GI.1 Norwalk and GII.17 Kawasaki. The norovirus capsid is highly heterogeneous due to N-terminal processing on the repeating subunits that it is built from and commonly forms T = 3 and sometimes T = 4 particles. Both CDMS approaches were able to determine similar masses in both strains. GII.17 Kawasaki exhibits both T = 3 and T = 4 particles, though the Xevo CDMS measurements were closer to the theoretical mass than the DMT instrument. Interestingly, GII.17 Kawasaki also displayed nonclassical mass distributions with high abundance in-between T = 3 and T = 4, which was then confirmed by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), demonstrating an oval capsid shape. GI.1 Norwalk displays a wide mass distribution in both instruments that exceeds the theoretical T = 3 mass by 8%–10%. Proteomics and native MS experiments suggest possible interactions with a protein from the expression system. This study demonstrates the capabilities of two distinct CDMS methodologies on two viral capsids and presents the first nonclassical capsid assembly in a GII.17 noroviral capsid.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. CSSB - Leibniz-Institut für Experimentelle Virologie (LIV) / DESY - Charlotte Uetrecht (CSSB-LIV/DESY-CU)

Research Program(s):

1. 633 - Life Sciences – Building Blocks of Life: Structure and Function (POF4-633) (POF4-633)
2. 05K22PSA - Verbundprojekt 05K2022 - 2021-05988 SAXFELS: Kleinwinkel-Röntgen-Freie-Elektronenlaser-Streuung (BMBF-05K22PSA) (BMBF-05K22PSA)
3. GRK 2887 - GRK 2887: VISualisierung und Struktur in der viralen InfektION (VISION) (497350882) (497350882)
4. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)512741711 - SFB 1648: Neu auftretende Viren: Pathogenese, Struktur und Immunität (512741711) (512741711)

Experiment(s):

1. No specific instrument

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DEAL Wiley ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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