Protein-protein interactions are vital for functionalities in the cell. Identification of the interactions within multi-protein complexes is crucial to understand their mechanisms. Unique separation techniques coupled with cross-linking and mass spectrometry can now identify specific interaction sites and lead to discover the nature of protein models. In this work, functional cross-linkers were synthesized by using mercapto-succinic acid as the starting material. The linker will be reacted with model proteins such as BSA and tubulin dimers. The linkers produce protein-protein cross-linkings in the complexes and then the site of intra and inter cross-linkings were investigated with mass spectrometry. In the future, the special protein-protein interactions in the interested parasites, T. gondii and C. parvum, will be investigated and the cleavable cross-linkers will be designed to generate special functional group retrievable by modified beads.

(Supported by NIH/NIAID contract HHSN266200400054C)