Understanding their interaction with specific epitope regions on an antigen is essential for designing novel therapies that are efficacious and safe. While x-ray crystallography remains the gold standard, its complexity, cost, and experimental limitations have prompted interest in accessible alternatives. Hydrogen-Deuterium eXchange Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS) and Cross-Linking Mass Spectrometry (XL-MS) offer high sensitivity and robust results, revolutionizing research outcomes. These methods enable researchers to delve deep into protein structures at high resolution, uncovering intricate amino acid interactions crucial for epitope mapping.
