Low-energy Tandem Mass Spectrometry Research Articles

Metabolome Mining of Curcuma longa L. Using HPLC-MS/MS and Molecular Networking.

Turmeric, Curcuma longa L., is a type of medicinal plant characterized by its perennial nature and rhizomatous growth. It is a member of the Zingiberaceae family and is distributed across the world's tropical and subtropical climates, especially in South Asia. Its rhizomes have been highly valued for food supplements, spices, flavoring agents, and yellow dye in South Asia since ancient times. It exhibits a diverse array of therapeutic qualities that encompass its ability to combat diabetes, reduce inflammation, act as an antioxidant, exhibit anticancer properties, and promote anti-aging effects. In this study, organic extracts of C. longa rhizomes were subjected to HPLC separation followed by ESI-MS and low-energy tandem mass spectrometry analyses. The Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) approach was utilized for the first time in this ethnobotanically important species to conduct an in-depth analysis of its metabolomes based on their fragments. To sum it up, a total of 30 metabolites including 16 diarylheptanoids, 1 diarylpentanoid, 3 bisabolocurcumin ethers, 4 sesquiterpenoids, 4 cinnamic acid derivatives, and 2 fatty acid derivatives were identified. Among the 16 diarylheptanoids identified in this study, 5 of them are reported for the first time in this species.

Site-specific N-glycosylation of HeLa cell glycoproteins

We have characterized site-specific N-glycosylation of the HeLa cell line glycoproteins, using a complex workflow based on high and low energy tandem mass spectrometry of glycopeptides. The objective was to obtain highly reliable data on common glycoforms, so rigorous data evaluation was performed. The analysis revealed the presence of a high amount of bovine serum contaminants originating from the cell culture media – nearly 50% of all glycans were of bovine origin. Unaccounted, the presence of bovine serum components causes major bias in the human cellular glycosylation pattern; as is shown when literature results using released glycan analysis are compared. We have reliably identified 43 (human) glycoproteins, 69 N-glycosylation sites, and 178 glycoforms. HeLa glycoproteins were found to be highly (68.7%) fucosylated. A medium degree of sialylation was observed, on average 46.8% of possible sialylation sites were occupied. High-mannose sugars were expressed in large amounts, as expected in the case of a cancer cell line. Glycosylation in HeLa cells is highly variable. It is markedly different not only on various proteins but also at the different glycosylation sites of the same protein. Our method enabled the detailed characterization of site-specific N-glycosylation of several glycoproteins expressed in HeLa cell line.

Autonomous METLIN-Guided In-source Fragment Annotation for Untargeted Metabolomics.

Computational metabolite annotation in untargeted profiling aims at uncovering neutral molecular masses of underlying metabolites and assign those with putative identities. Existing annotation strategies rely on the observation and annotation of adducts to determine metabolite neutral masses. However, a significant fraction of features usually detected in untargeted experiments remains unannotated, which limits our ability to determine neutral molecular masses. Despite the availability of tools to annotate, relatively few of them benefit from the inherent presence of in-source fragments in liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. In this study, we introduce a strategy to annotate in-source fragments in untargeted data using low-energy tandem mass spectrometry (MS) spectra from the METLIN library. Our algorithm, MISA (METLIN-guided in-source annotation), compares detected features against low-energy fragments from MS/MS spectra, enabling robust annotation and putative identification of metabolic features based on low-energy spectral matching. The algorithm was evaluated through an annotation analysis of a total of 140 metabolites across three different sets of biological samples analyzed with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that, in cases where adducts were not formed or detected, MISA was able to uncover neutral molecular masses by in-source fragment matching. MISA was also able to provide putative metabolite identities via two annotation scores. These scores take into account the number of in-source fragments matched and the relative intensity similarity between the experimental data and the reference low-energy MS/MS spectra. Overall, results showed that in-source fragmentation is a highly frequent phenomena that should be considered for comprehensive feature annotation. Thus, combined with adduct annotation, this strategy adds a complementary annotation layer, enabling in-source fragments to be annotated and increasing putative identification confidence. The algorithm is integrated into the XCMS Online platform and is freely available at http://xcmsonline.scripps.edu .

Simultaneous Determination of Isoniazid and Acetylisoniazid in Human Plasma by Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetics Related to N-Acetyltransferase2 Genetic Polymorphism

A rapid, sensitive, and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method with hydrophilic interaction chromatography has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of isoniazid and acetylisoniazidin human plasma. Following precipitation of the protein, the analytes were extracted from human plasma, with high extraction recovery (>70%) for both Isoniazid and acetylisoniazid. The analytes were then separated using a hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) column and detected by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry performed with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. The quantification of the analytes was realized by low-energy collision dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID-MS/MS) using the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode at m/z of 138.1→121.1 for isoniazid and m/z 180.1 → 138.1 for acetylisoniazid, respectively. The method was linear over the concentration range of 5–50,000 ng/mL for both. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 15% and the relative errors (RE) were all within 15%. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic studies of isoniazid related to NAT2 genetic polymorphism in healthy Chinese subjects. The results showed that there were significant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of isoniazid and acetylisoniazid between subjects with and without mutations in the NAT2 gene.

Structural characterization of saturated branched chain fatty acid methyl esters by collisional dissociation of molecular ions generated by electron ionization

Saturated branched chain fatty acids (BCFA) are present as complex mixtures in numerous biological samples. The traditional method for structure elucidation, electron ionization (EI) mass spectrometry, sometimes does not unambiguously enable assignment of branching in isomeric BCFA. Zirrolli and Murphy (Zirrolli , J. A. , and R. A. Murphy. 1993. Low-energy tandem mass spectrometry of the molecular ion derived from fatty acid methyl esters: a novel method for analysis of branched-chain fatty acids. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 4: 223-229.) showed that the molecular ions of four BCFA methyl ester (BCFAME) yield highly characteristic fragments upon collisional dissociation using a triple quadrupole instrument. Here, we confirm and extend these results by analysis using a tabletop 3-D ion trap for activated molecular ion EI-MS/MS to 30 BCFAME. iso-BCFAME produces a prominent ion (30-100% of base peak) for [M-43] (M-C₃H₇), corresponding to the terminal isopropyl moiety in the original iso-BCFAME. Anteiso-FAME yield prominent ions (20-100% of base peak) corresponding to losses on both side of the methyl branch, [M-29] and [M-57], and tend to produce more prominent m/z 115 peaks corresponding to a cyclization product around the ester. Dimethyl and tetramethyl FAME, with branches separated by at least one methylene group, yield fragment on both sides of the sites of methyl branches that are more than 6 C away from the carboxyl carbon. EI-MS/MS yields uniquely specific ions that enable highly confident structural identification and quantification of BCFAME.

Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of epipolythiodioxopiperazines

Low-energy collision-induced electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry ESI-CID-MS/MS (in the positive ion mode) was used for the structural characterization of a series of five representative epioplythiodioxopipreazines: dethiotetra(methylthio)chemotin, chaetocochins A, B and C, and chemotin isolated from the fungus Chaetomium cochliodes. The fragmentation pathways were elucidated by ESI-IT-MS(n). The elemental compositions of most of the product ions were confirmed by low-energy ESI-CID-QTOF-MS/MS analyses. The loss of the S(2) molecule seems always to be the first when the S--S bond is present. The loss of 77 Da corresponding to the loss of the [CH(3)SCH(2)O]' radical was diagnostic for chaetocochins A and B, in which the two piperazines rings are linked by an acetal group. It was found that a McLafferty rearrangement plays a significant role in the skeleton fragmentation of theses series of studied complex multicyclic piperazine compounds. This MacLafferty rearrangement affords the product ions at m/z 416 and 400, containing the two piperazine rings belonging to the epipolythiodioxopipreazines. In addition, the pentacyclic rearrangement involving the loss of the SMe(.) radical seems to occur in the presence of the unfused ring. Finally the product ions at m/z 635 and 591 seem to be the characteristic ions for chaetocochin A.

Generation of Peptide Radical Dications via Low-Energy Collision-Induced Dissociation of [Cu II(terpy)(M + H)] ·3+

The first example of the formation of hydrogen-deficient radical cations of the type [M + H](.2+) is demonstrated to occur through a one-electron-transfer mechanism upon low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of gas-phase triply charged [Cu(II)(terpy)(M + H)](.3+) complex ions (where M is an angiotensin III or enkephalin derivative; terpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine). The collision-induced dissociation of doubly charged [M + H](.2+) radical cations generates similar product ions to those prepared through hot electron capture dissociation (HECD). Isomeric isoleucine and leucine residues were distinguished by observing the mass differences between [z(n) + H](.+) and w(n)(+) ions (having the same residue number, n) of the Xle residues. The product ion spectrum of [z(n) + H](.+) reveals that the w(n)(+) ions are formed possibly from consecutive fragmentations of [z(n) + H](.+) ions. Although only the first few [M + H](.2+) species have been observed using this approach, these hydrogen-deficient radical cations produce fragment ions that have more structure-informative patterns and are very different from those formed during the low-energy tandem mass spectrometry of protonated peptides.

Negative electrospray ionization low-energy tandem mass spectrometry of hydroxylated fatty acids: a mechanistic study.

Recently, we reported that by converting olefinic fatty acids to their saturated vicinally 1,2-di-hydroxylated derivatives, abundant ions indicative for hydroxyl group locations are produced by negative electrospray ionization low-energy tandem mass spectrometry, allowing the assignment of the olefinic site in the native fatty acid. In this report the mechanisms whereby the characteristic ions are produced are investigated. The mono-hydroxylated fatty acid, 12-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid, served as a model for the more complex 12,13-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acid, and fragmentation mechanisms accounting for the most abundant product ions generated from their deprotonated molecules are proposed. In general, three different mechanisms are proposed to operate in the formation of the observed product ions: (i) step-wise charge-remote homolytic cleavages, (ii) step-wise charge-proximate homolytic cleavages, and (iii) concerted charge-directed rearrangement reactions involving bond formation(s) and heterolytic cleavages. Support for the proposed mechanisms was achieved by investigating the deuterium- and oxygen-18-labeled isotopomers of both compounds.

Structure elucidation of unsaturated fatty acids after vicinal hydroxylation of the double bonds by negative electrospray ionisation low-energy tandem mass spectrometry.

A method for determining the positions of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids by use of negative electrospray ionisation low-energy tandem mass spectrometry is described. First, a vicinal hydroxylation of the double bonds of mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids was performed. Low-energy collision activation dissociation of the deprotonated molecules produced structurally informative ions formed by a-cleavages relative to the hydroxyl groups. Abundant fragment ions that confirmed the positions of all hydroxyl groups, and thus the positions of the double bonds in the native fatty acids, were observed in the spectra of derivatised mono-, di-, and tri-unsaturated fatty acids. Two types of ions were observed, called [alpha'(n)](-) and [alpha(n)](-). The letter n indicates the positions of the hydroxyl groups. The structurally diagnostic ions [alpha'(n)](-) were produced by cleavages distal to the hydroxyl-groups with the charge retained on the carboxylate. [alpha'(n)](-) ions originating from all hydroxyl-groups were observed in the spectra of modified mono-, di-, and tri-unsaturated fatty acids. Initial proton transfer of a hydroxyl proton to the carboxylate with subsequent cleavages proximal to the hydroxyl groups, relative to the carboxylate, resulted in the two structurally diagnostic [alpha(n)](-) ions. In hydroxylated fatty acids having two or more double bonds in their native structure, [alpha(n)](-) ions originating only from the two final hydroxyl-groups were observed. The formation of all ions of [alpha'(n)](-) and [alpha(n)](-) type can be rationalised by a six-membered transition state. Hydroxylated deprotonated tetra-, penta-, and hexa-unsaturated fatty acids also produced [alpha'(n)](-) ions indicating the positions of most of the hydroxyl-groups, whereas the [alpha(n)](-) ions were observed as described above. The method described offers a simple approach to the determination of the positions of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids, and is an alternative to utilising di-lithiated fatty acids. The method should also be applicable when fatty acids are constituents of more complex molecules such as phospholipids.

Characterization of cerebrosides from the thermally dimorphic mycopathogen Histoplasma capsulatum: expression of 2-hydroxy fatty N-acyl (E)-Delta(3)-unsaturation correlates with the yeast-mycelium phase transition.

Cerebroside (monohexosylceramide) components were identified in neutral lipids extracted from both the yeast and mycelial forms of the thermally dimorphic mycopathogen Histoplasma capsulatum. The components were purified from both forms and their structures elucidated by 1- and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and low energy tandem collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/CID-MS). Both components were characterized as beta-glucopyranosylceramides (GlcCers) containing (4E,8E)-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine as the long-chain base, attached to 18-carbon 2-hydroxy fatty N-acyl components. However, while the fatty acid of the yeast form GlcCer was virtually all N-2'-hydroxyoctadecanoate, the mycelium form GlcCer was characterized by almost exclusive expression of N-2'-hydroxy-(E)-delta(3)-octadecenoate. These results suggest that the yeast-mycelium transition is accompanied by up-regulation of an as yet uncharacterized ceramide or cerebroside 2-hydroxy fatty N-acyl (E)-delta(3)-desaturase activity. They also constitute further evidence for the existence of two distinct pathways for ceramide biosynthesis in fungi, since glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs), the other major class of fungal glycosphingolipids, are found with ceramides consisting of 4-hydroxysphinganine (phytosphingosine) and longer chain 2-hydroxy fatty acids. In addition to identification of the major glucocerebroside components, minor components (< 5%) detectable by molecular weight differences in the ESI-MS profiles were also characterized by tandem ESI-MS/CID-MS analysis. These minor components were identified as variants differing in fatty acyl chain length, or the absence of the sphingoid 9-methyl group or (E)-delta(8)-unsaturation, and are hypothesized to be either biosynthetic intermediates or the result of imperfect chemical transformation by the enzymes responsible for these features. Possible implications of these findings with respect to chemotaxonomy, compartmentalization of fungal glycosphingolipid biosynthetic pathways, and regulation of morphological transitions in H.capsulatum and other dimorphic fungi are discussed.

Differentiating alpha- and beta-aspartic acids by electrospray ionization and low-energy tandem mass spectrometry.

Spectra obtained by low-energy electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) of 34 peptides containing aspartic acids at position n were studied and unambiguously differentiated. beta-Aspartic acid yields an internal rearrangement similar to that of the C-terminal rearrangements of protonated and cationized peptides. As a result of this rearrangement, two different ions containing the N- and the C-terminal ends of the original peptide are formed, namely, the bn-1 + H2O and y"l - n + 1 - 46 ions, respectively, where e is the number of amino acid residues in the peptide. The structure suggested for the y"l - n + 1 - 46 ion is identical to that proposed for the vn ions observed upon high-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. The intensity of these ions in the low-energy MS/MS spectra is greatly influenced by the presence and position of basic amino acids within the sequences. Peptides with a basic amino acid residue at position n - 1 with respect to the beta-aspartic acid yield very intense bn-1 + H2O ions, while the y"l - n + 1 - 46 ion was observed mostly in tryptic peptides. Comparison between the high- and low-energy MS/MS spectra of several isopeptides suggests that a metastable fragmentation process is the main contributor to this rearrangement, whereas for long peptides (40 AA) CID plays a more important role. We also found that alpha-aspartic acid containing peptides yield the normal immonium ion at 88 Da, while peptides containing beta-aspartic acid yield an ion at m/z 70, and a mechanism to explain this phenomenon is proposed. Derivatizing isopeptides to form quaternary amines, and performing MS/MS on the sodium adducts of isopeptides, both improve the relative intensity of the bn + 1 + H2O ions. Based on the above findings, it was possible to determine the isomerization sites of two aged recombinant growth proteins.

Identification of Arsenosugars at the Picogram Level Using Nanoelectrospray Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

State-of-the-art analytical methods for arsenic speciation rely typically on the availability of standards of defined structure, limiting the applicability of such methods to the determination of known compounds. Our previous high-energy tandem mass spectrometric studies demonstrated the strength of mass spectrometry for generating structurally diagnostic ions that allow for the identification of arsenic-containing ribofuranosides (arsenosugars) without the use of standards. We now report a more widely applicable and more sensitive approach, using negative-ion nano-electrospray low-energy tandem mass spectrometry for the generation of structurally useful product ions that allow for identification of arsenosugars at the picogram level. In the negative-ion mode, numerous product ions, suitable for characterizing naturally occurring dimethylated arsenosugars, were generated in high abundance. Application of the method to an algal extract unequivocally demonstrated the presence of a single dimethylated arsenosugar. In the positive-ion mode, characteristic tandem mass spectra were obtained for four trimethylarsonioribosides, allowing their identification without the need for standards. Overall it was demonstrated that nano-ES-MS/MS techniques can be used for characterizing arsenosugars on a routine basis, a necessary requirement for assessing potential health risks associated with consuming foods containing elevated levels of arsenosugars and for improving our understanding of arsenic biochemistry.

Trace impurities identified by high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry in two different synthetic batches of 4-boronophenylalanine

The chemical purity of two synthetic 4-boronophenylalanine (BPA, C9H12O4BN) batches produced by two different pathways were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry. Currently, BPA is one of the most important clinical boron carriers in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Low energy tandem mass spectrometry was used to elucidate the structure of BPA and two minor signals eluting later than the major compound. In the mass spectrom a very intense singly charged [M+H]+ ion m/z 209 was observed. The ratio of 10B/11B was estimated also. The product-ion spectrum of BPA shows distinct losses of 18, 46 and 89 u. Based on the fragmentation of the major compound two impurities were characterized. In both cases an intense molecular ion, 244 u and 285 u was observed. Knowing the synthetic pathway and fragmentation of the major compound we suggest the following formulae for the impurities: C9H10O2BrN and C15H16O4BN. Further evidence to the first impurity is the detected isotope pattern, corresponding to bromine. The existence of the impurities can be explained and avoided by exploring the synthetic pathways used. High performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry was demonstrated to be an important novel analytical instrument to check the purity of BPA prior to clinical studies in BNCT. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Trace impurities identified by high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry in two different synthetic batches of 4‐boronophenylalanine

The chemical purity of two synthetic 4-boronophenylalanine (BPA, C9H12O4BN) batches produced by two different pathways were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry. Currently, BPA is one of the most important clinical boron carriers in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Low energy tandem mass spectrometry was used to elucidate the structure of BPA and two minor signals eluting later than the major compound. In the mass spectrom a very intense singly charged [M+H]+ ion m/z 209 was observed. The ratio of 10B/11B was estimated also. The product-ion spectrum of BPA shows distinct losses of 18, 46 and 89 u. Based on the fragmentation of the major compound two impurities were characterized. In both cases an intense molecular ion, 244 u and 285 u was observed. Knowing the synthetic pathway and fragmentation of the major compound we suggest the following formulae for the impurities: C9H10O2BrN and C15H16O4BN. Further evidence to the first impurity is the detected isotope pattern, corresponding to bromine. The existence of the impurities can be explained and avoided by exploring the synthetic pathways used. High performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry was demonstrated to be an important novel analytical instrument to check the purity of BPA prior to clinical studies in BNCT. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A mechanism for the loss of 60 u from peptides containing an arginine residue at the C-terminus

The loss of 60 u from protonated peptide ions containing an arginine residue at the C-terminus has been investigated by means of low energy tandem mass spectrometry. The lowest energy conformation of singly charged bradykinin is thought to involve a salt-bridge structure, which may lead to the formation of two isomeric forms. It is thought that one isomer retains the ionizing proton at the C-terminal end of the peptide, leading to the formation of the [bn−1 + H + OH]+ fragment ion, and the other isomer retains the charge at the N-terminus, leading to the formation of the [M + H − 60]+ fragment ion. It was found that the formation of the [M + H − 60]+ ion occurs only from singly charged precursor ions. In addition, the loss of 60 u occurs from peptides in which the charge is localized at the N-terminus. These results indicate that the mechanism of formation of the [M + H − 60]+ ion may be driven by a charge-remote process.

Surface-induced dissociation: an effective tool to probe structure, energetics and fragmentation mechanisms of protonated peptides.

The utility of surface-induced dissociation (SID) to probe the structure, energetics and fragmentation mechanisms of protonated peptides is discussed and demonstrated. High internal energy deposition provided by low-energy (eV range) ion-surface collisions yields extensive fragmentation of protonated peptides, allowing relatively uncomplicated and rapid sequence analysis of oligopeptides. SID of multiply protonated peptides is illustrated for peptides with molecular mass of up to approximately 5000 u. It is also illustrated that SID combined with electrospray ionization (ESI) provides a distinctive experimental technique to determine the energetics and mechanisms of peptide fragmentation. The relative position of ESI/SID fragmentation efficiency curves (plots of percentage fragmentation vs. laboratory collision energy) for peptides can be utilized to estimate relative energetics of peptide fragmentation and even to predict proton localization sites. The observed trends support the essential role of the mobile proton model in understanding peptide fragmentation by low-energy tandem mass spectrometry.

Surfaceinduced Dissociation: An Effective Tool to Probe Structure, Energetics and Fragmentation Mechanisms of Protonated Peptides

The utility of surface-induced dissociation (SID) to probe the structure, energetics and fragmentation mechanisms of protonated peptides is discussed and demonstrated. High internal energy deposition provided by low-energy (eV range) ion–surface collisions yields extensive fragmentation of protonated peptides, allowing relatively uncomplicated and rapid sequence analysis of oligopeptides. SID of multiply protonated peptides is illustrated for peptides with molecular mass of up to ∽5000 u. It is also illustrated that SID combined with electrospray ionization (ESI) provides a distinctive experimental technique to determine the energetics and mechanisms of peptide fragmentation. The relative position of ESI/SID fragmentation efficiency curves (plots of percentage fragmentation vs. laboratory collision energy) for peptides can be utilized to estimate relative energetics of peptide fragmentation and even to predict proton localization sites. The observed trends support the essential role of the mobile proton model in understanding peptide fragmentation by low-energy tandem mass spectrometry.

Electrospray ionization and low energy tandem mass spectrometry of polyhydroxy unsaturated fatty acids

Negative ion electrospray ionization, fast-atom bombardment, and low energy tandem mass spectrometry were used for the analysis of dihydroxy-eicosatrienoic acids, which contain a vicinol diol and three nonconjugated double bonds, dihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids, which contain a conjugated triene structure, and trihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids, which contain a vicinol diol and a conjugated tetraene structure. In general, the product ion spectra were qualitatively similar for both modes of ionization, but electrospray ionization was strikingly more efficient in generation of abundant carboxylate anions that could be collisionally activated to yield product ion spectra. Collision-induced dissociation fragmentation mechanisms were described generally by α-hydroxy fragmentations directed by relative positions of double bonds and were consistent with stable isotope labeling studies. Rearrangement of the conjugated triene system in dihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids may be described by formation of a cyclohexadiene structure. Fragmentations that involve a two-proton transfer were described best by intramolecular oxidation of a hydroxy substituent to an enolate that resulted in an extended conjugated system. Collision-induced dissociation spectra obtained for the polyhydroxy unsaturated fatty acids, which are isobaric within each class, were uniquely descriptive of individual structures.

Low energy tandem mass spectrometry of deoxynucleoside adducts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dihydrodiol-epoxides

The use of fast-atom bombardment ionization-tandem mass spectrometry approaches, with collision energies on the order of 30-50 eV, was developed for the analysis of low picomole quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dihydrodiol-epoxide deoxynucleoside adducts. This strategy combines three experimental techniques: (1) product ion scans, (2) constant neutral loss scans, and (3) precursor ion scans. Product ion scans of the protonated molecule or the BH 2 (+) ion that results from loss of the deoxyribose were dominated by fragments associated with cleavage of the sigma bond between the dihydrodiol-epoxide moiety and the nucleobase. Constant neutral loss scans were based upon the loss of deoxyribose (116 u) or the combined loss of the deoxynucleoside, water, and carbon monoxide (313 u); precursor ion scans utilized the latter fragment. The formation of trimethylsilyl derivatives increased the sensitivity of analysis, which allowed the simultaneous detection of DNA adducts in a mixture.

Charge remote losses of small neutrals from protonated and group 1 metal-peptide complexes of peptides

The fragmentations of alkali metal–peptide complexes of the form [M + Cat]+ have been studied by means of high and low energy tandem mass spectrometry. Small neutral losses from the precursor ion can be attributed to charge remote fragmentations along the pendant chains of certain amino acids such as arginine, lysine and methionine. The losses vary according to the structure of the amino acid side chain and in some instances provide a rapid means of verifying the absence or presence of one of these residues.