Tandem-trapped ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry (TIMS/MS): a promising analytical method for investigating heterogenous samples

Ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry (IMS/MS) is widely used to study various levels of protein structure. Here, we review the current state of affairs in tandem -trapped ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry ( t TIMS/MS). Two different t TIMS/MS instruments are discussed in detail: the first t TIMS/MS instrument, constructed from coaxially aligning two TIMS devices; and an orthogonal t TIMS/MS configuration that comprises an ion trap for irradiation of ions with UV photons. We discuss the various workflows the two t TIMS/MS setups offer and how these can be used to study primary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of protein systems. We also discuss, from a more fundamental perspective, the processes that lead to denaturation of protein systems in t TIMS/MS and how to soften the measurement so that biologically meaningful structures can be characterised with t TIMS/MS. We emphasize the concepts underlying t TIMS/MS to underscore the opportunities tandem-ion mobility spectrometry methods offer for investigating heterogeneous samples. This review focuses on the instrumental development and potential applications of Tandem-Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry ( t TIMS/MS) for protein structure elucidation.