Formation of [b(n−1)+OH+H]+ ion structural analogs by solution-phase chemistry

Derivatization of a variety of peptides by a method known to enhance anhydride formation is demonstrated by mass spectrometry to yield ions that have elemental composition and fragmentation properties identical to [b(n-1) + OH + H]+ ions formed by gas-phase rearrangement and fragmentation. The [b(n-1) + OH + H]+ ions formed by gas-phase rearrangement and fragmentation and the solution-phase [b(n-1) + OH + H]+ ion structural analogs formed by derivatization chemistry show two different forms of dissociation using multiple-collision CAD in a quadrupole ion trap and unimolecular decomposition in a TOF-TOF; one group yields identical product ions as a truncated form of the peptide with a free C-terminal carboxylic acid and fragments at the same activation energy; the other group fragments differently from the truncated peptide, being more resistant to fragmentation than the truncated peptide and yielding primarily the [b(n-2) + OH + H]+ product ion. Nonergodic electron capture dissociation MS/MS suggests that any structural differences between the specific-fragmenting [b(n-1) + OH + H]+ ions and the truncated peptide is at the C-terminus of the peptide. The specific-fragmentation can be readily observed by MS(n) experiments to occur in an iterative fashion, suggesting that the C-terminal structure of the original [b(n-1) + OH + H]+ ion is maintained after subsequent rearrangement and fragmentation events in peptides which fragment specifically. A mechanism for the formation of specific-fragmenting and nonspecific-fragmenting [b(n-1) + OH + H]+ ions is proposed.     

Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of alkali-cationized BocN-carbo-alpha,beta- and -beta,alpha-peptides: Differentiation of positional isomers

Dissociation pathways of a series of alkali-cationized hybrid peptides, viz., Boc-alpha,beta- and -beta,alpha-carbopeptides, synthesized from C-linked carbo-beta3-amino acids [Caa (S)] and alpha-alanine (L-Ala), have been investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The positional isomers (six pairs) of the cationized alpha,beta- and beta,alpha-peptides can be differentiated by the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of their [M + Cat-Boc + H]+ ions which give characteristic series of alkali-cationized C- (x(n)+, y(n)+, z(n)+) and N-terminal (a(n)+, b(n)+, c(n)+) ions. Another noteworthy difference is cationized beta,alpha-peptides eliminate a molecule of ammonia whereas this pathway is absent for alpha,beta-peptides. This is useful for identifying the presence of a beta-amino acid at the N-terminus. The CID spectra of [M + Cat-Boc + H]+ ions of these peptide acids show abundant rearrangement [b(n) + 17 + Cat]+ (n = 1 to n-1) ions which is diagnostic for distinguishing between alpha- and beta-amino acid at the C-terminus. MS(n) experiments of [b(n) + Li-H]+ ions from these hybrid peptides showed the loss of CO and 72 u giving rise to [a(n) + Li-H]+ and cationized nitrile product ions which render support to earlier proposals that b(n)+ or [b(n) + Cat-H]+ ions have protonated or cationized oxazolinone structures, respectively.     

Dissociation pathways of alkali-cationized peptides: Opportunities for C-terminal peptide sequencing

Dissociation pathways of alkali-cationized peptides have been studied using multiple stages of mass spectrometry (MSx) with a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Over 100 peptide ions ranging from 2 to 10 residues in length and containing each of the 20 common amino acids have been examined. The formation of the [b(n-1) + Na + OH]+ product ion is the predominant dissociation pathway for the majority of the common amino acids. This product corresponds to a sodium-cationized peptide one residue shorter in length than the original peptide. In a few cases, product ions such as [b(n-1) + Na - H]+ and those formed by loss, or partial loss, of a sidechain are observed. Both [b(n-1) + Na + OH]+ and [b(n-1) + Na - H]+ product ions can be selected as parent ions for a subsequent stage of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). It is shown that these dissociation patterns provide opportunities for peptide sequencing by successive dissociation from the C-terminus of alkali-cationized peptides. Up to seven stages of MS/MS have been performed on a series of [b + Na + OH]+ ions to provide sequence information from the C-terminus. This method is analogous to Edman degradation except that the cleavage occurs from the C-terminus instead of the N-terminus, making it more attractive for N-terminal blocked peptides. The isomers leucine and isoleucine cannot be differentiated by this method but the isobars lysine and glutamine can.     

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric studies to probe the interaction of Cu(II) with amoxicillin简

This study describes the application of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(ESI-MS) to investigate copper ion interaction with amoxicillin. ESI mass spectra of Cu–amoxicillin complexes show complex ions at m/z 828, 792, 753, 731, 428, 388 and 366 corresponding to [63Cu+(2A-H)+2H2 O]+, [63Cu+(2A-H)]+, [2A+Na]+, [2A+H]+, [63Cu+(A-H)]+, [A+Na]+and [A+H]+(where A = amoxicillin). Based on the observed m/z values of Cu–amoxicillin complex ions, it is found that the Cu–amoxicillin ratios are 1:1 and 1:2, and the copper ions exhibited three feasible coordination numbers(2, 4 and 6) with amoxicillin complexes. The structures and coordination numbers of copper–amoxicillin complex ions were probed from their collisionally activated dissociation(CAD) spectra. Based on these results, it is confirmed that the copper ions could form stable tetrahedral and octahedral complexes with amoxicillin. This study validates the applicability of ESI-MS for probing copper–amoxicillin complex ions.     

Structures and fragmentations of cobalt(II)-cysteine complexes in the gas phase

The electronebulization of a cobalt(II)/cysteine(Cys) mixture in water/methanol (50/50) produced mainly cobalt-cationized species. Three main groups of the Co-cationized species can be distinguished in the ESI-MS spectrum: (1) the cobalt complexes including the cysteine amino acid only (they can be singly charged, for example, [Co(Cys)n- H]+ with n = 1-3 or doubly charged such as [Co + (Cys)2]2+); (2) the cobalt complexes with methanol: [Co(CH3OH)n- H]+ with n = 1-3, [Co(CH3OH)4]2+; and (3) the complexes with the two different types of ligands: [Co(Cys)(CH3OH) - H]+. Only the singly charged complexes were observed. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) products of the [Co(Cys)2]2+, [Co(Cys)2 - H]+ and [Co(Cys) - H]+ complexes were studied as a function of the collision energy, and mechanisms for the dissociation reactions are proposed. These were supported by the results of deuterium labelling experiments and by density functional theory calculations. Since [Co(Cys) - H]+ was one of the main product ions obtained upon the CID of [Co(Cys)2]2+ and of [Co(Cys)2 - H]+ under low-energy conditions, the fragmentation pathways of [Co(Cys) - H]+ and the resulting product ion structures were studied in detail. The resulting product ion structures confirmed the high affinity of cobalt(II) for the sulfur atom of cysteine.     

Multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry of metal cationized leucine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin amide

We have examined the multi-stage collision induced dissociation (CID) of metal cationized leucine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin amide, and the N-acetylated versions of the peptides using ion trap mass spectrometry. In accord with earlier studies, the most prominent species observed during the multi-stage CID of alkali metal cationized leucine enkephalin are the [b(n) + 17 + Cat]+ ions. At higher CID stages (i.e. >MS(4)), however, dissociation of the [b2 + 17 + Cat]+ ion, a cationized dipeptide, results in the production of [a(n) -1 + Cat]+ species. The multi-stage CID of Ag+ cationized leucine enkephalin can be initiated with either the [b(n) -1 + Ag]+ or [b(n) + 17 + Ag]+ ions produced at the MS/MS stage. For the former, sequential CID stages cause, in general, the loss of CO, and then the loss of the imine of the C-terminal amino acid, to reveal the amino acid sequence. Similar to the alkali cationized species, CID of [b2 -1 + Ag]+ produces prominent [a(n) -1 + Ag]+ ions. The multi-stage CID of argentinated peptides is reminiscent of fragmentation observed for protonated peptides, in that a series of (b(n)) and (a(n)) type ions are generated in sequential CID stages. The Ag+ cation is similar to the alkali metals, however, in that the [b(n) + 17 + Ag]+ product is produced at the MS/MS and MS3 stages, and that sequential CID stages cause the elimination of amino acid residues primarily from the C-terminus. We found that N-acetylation of the peptide significantly influenced the fragmentation pathways observed, in particular by promoting the formation of more easily interpreted (in the context of unambiguous sequence determination) dissociation spectra from the [b2 + 17 + Li]+, [b2 + 17 + Na]+ and [b2 -1 + Ag]+ precursor ions. Our results suggest, therefore, that N-acetylation may improve the efficacy of multi-stage CID experiments for C-terminal peptide sequencing in the gas phase. For leucine enkephalin amide, only the multi-stage CID of the argentinated peptide allowed the complete amino acid sequence to be determined from the C-terminal side.     

Influence of solvent and counter ion on complexes of 2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole with iron (II) and (III) studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The effect of solvent and counter ion on the complexes of 2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (1) with Fe+2 and Fe+3 has been studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS). As expected, upon ESI conditions the metal reduction proceeds, but it can be deduced that complexes with Fe+2 are favored over those with Fe+3. When methanol is used as solvent, the formation of complexes of stoichiometry 2:1 and 1:1 with counter ion attached (monovalent anion) is favored, for example, [1(2)+FeCl]+ ion. The use of methanol/water (1/1) as solvent favors the formation of complexes of stoichiometry 2:1 and 3:1, namely doubly charged [1(2)+Fe]+2 and [1(3)+Fe]+2 ions. The complexes containing anion of oxidative properties (ClO4-, NO3-), when the higher cone voltage is applied, yield unusual species [1n+FeOm]+ (n=1, 2; m=1, 2). The use of divalent counter ion (SO4(-2)) resulted in formation of complexes containing two iron cations, namely [1n+Fe2SO4]+2 (n=2, 3, 4) ions. These ions can be regarded as Fe-1 complexes bridged by a sulfate anion.     

Fragmentation chemistry of [M + Cu]+ peptide ions containing an N-terminal arginine

[M + Cu]+ peptide ions formed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization from direct desorption off a copper sample stage have sufficient internal energy to undergo metastable ion dissociation in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. On the basis of fragmentation chemistry of peptides containing an N-terminal arginine, we propose the primary Cu+ ion binding site is the N-terminal arginine with Cu+ binding to the guanidine group of arginine and the N-terminal amine. The principal decay products of [M + Cu]+ peptide ions containing an N-terminal arginine are [a(n) + Cu - H]+ and [b(n) + Cu - H]+ fragments. We show evidence to suggest that [a(n) + Cu - H]+ fragment ions are formed by elimination of CO from [b(n) + Cu - H]+ ions and by direct backbone cleavage. We conclude that Cu+ ionizes the peptide by attaching to the N-terminal arginine residue; however, fragmentation occurs remote from the Cu+ ion attachment site involving metal ion promoted deprotonation to generate a new site of protonation. That is, the fragmentation reactions of [M + Cu]+ ions can be described in terms of a "mobile proton" model. Furthermore, proline residues that are adjacent to the N-terminal arginine do not inhibit formation of [b(n) + Cu - H]+ ion, whereas proline residues that are distant to the charge carrying arginine inhibit formation of [b(n) + Cu - H]+ ions. An unusual fragment ion, [c(n) + Cu + H]+, is also observed for peptides containing lysine, glutamine, or asparagine in close proximity to the Cu+ carrying N-terminal arginine. Mechanisms for formation of this fragment ion are also proposed.     

Formation of binary silver sulfide clusters and sulfur sensitization of photographic process

Formation of silver sulfide binary cluster ions,as well as the effects of silver and sulfur content proportion,the cluster size range,the influence of laser fluence,the UV laser photolysis,etc.,was studied with the laser ablation method and a tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer.The results show that there exist two different forms of positively charge-bearing cluster ions;[(Ag2S)n Ag] + and [ (Ag2S)n-1 Ag3]+.The most possible forms of the sulfur sensitization centers acting as traps of photoelectrons are [Ag2S] +,[ Ag2S Ag] +,[ Ag2S Ag3]+ and the analogs.     

Dissociation of heme from gaseous myoglobin ions studied by infrared multiphoton dissociation spectroscopy and Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Detachment of heme prosthetic groups from gaseous myoglobin ions has been studied by collision-induced dissociation and infrared multiphoton dissociation in combination with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Multiply charged holomyoglobin ions (hMbn+) were generated by electrospray ionization and transferred to an ion cyclotron resonance cell, where the ions of interest were isolated and fragmented by either collision with Ar atoms or irradiation with 3 mum photons, producing apomyoglobin ions (aMbn+). Both charged heme loss (with [Fe(III)-heme]+ and aMb(n-1)+ as the products) and neutral heme loss (with [Fe(II)-heme] and aMbn+ as the products) were detected concurrently for hMbn+ produced from a myoglobin solution pretreated with reducing reagents. By reference to Ea = 0.9 eV determined by blackbody infrared radiative dissociation for charged heme loss of ferric hMbn+, an activation energy of 1.1 eV was deduced for neutral heme loss of ferrous hMbn+ with n = 9 and 10.     

Collision-induced fragmentation of underivatized N-linked carbohydrates ionized by electrospray

The electrospray mass spectra and collision-induced fragmentation of neutral N-linked glycans obtained from glycoproteins were examined with a Q-TOF mass spectrometer. The glycans were ionized most effectively as adducts of alkali metals, with lithium providing the most abundant signal and caesium the least. Singly charged ions generally gave higher ion currents than doubly charged ions. Addition of formic acid could be used to produce [M + H]+ ions, but these ions were always accompanied by abundant cone-voltage fragments. The energy required for collision-induced fragmentation was found to increase in a linear manner as a function of mass with the [M + Na]+ ions requiring about four times as much energy as the [M + H]+ ions for complete fragmentation of the molecular ions. Fragmentation of the [M + H]+ ions gave predominantly B- and Y-type glycosidic fragments whereas the [M + Na]+ and [M + Li]+ ions produced a number of additional fragments including those derived from cross-ring cleavages. Little fragmentation was observed from the [M + K]+ and [M + Rb]+ ions and the only fragment to be observed from the [M + Cs]+ ion was Cs+. The [M + Na]+ and [M + Li]+ ions from all the N-linked glycans gave abundant fragments resulting from loss of the terminal GlcNAc moiety and prominent, though weaker, ions as the result of 0,2A and 2,4A cross-ring cleavages of this residue. Most other ions were the result of successive additional losses of residues from the non-reducing terminus. This pattern was particularly prominent with glycans containing several non-reducing GlcNAc residues where successive losses of 203 u were observed. Many of the ions in the low-mass range were products of several different fragmentation routes but still provided structural information. Possibly of most diagnostic importance was an ion formed by loss of 221 u (GlcNAc molecule) from an ion that had lost the 3-antenna and the chitobiose core. This latter ion, although coincident in mass with some other 'internal' fragments, often provided additional information on the composition of the antennae. Other ions defining antenna composition were weak cross-ring fragments produced from the core branching mannose residue. Glycans containing Gal-GlcNAc residues showed successive losses of this moiety, particularly from the B-type fragments resulting from loss of the reducing-terminal GlcNAc residue. The [M + Na]+ and [M + Li]+ ions from high-mannose and hybrid glycans gave a series of ions of composition (Man)nNa/Li+ where n = 1 to the total number of glycans in the molecule, allowing these sugars to be distinguished from the more highly processed complex glycans. Other ions in the spectra of the high-mannose glycans were diagnostic of chain branching but insufficient information was available to determine their mode of formation.     

铁硫二元团簇的产生及其紫外光解

用激光蒸发固体样品的方法产生了各种铁硫原子簇离子Fe_nS_m~+(n=1—13, m=1—13), 并且用串级飞行时间质谱仪研究了这些团簇离子的紫外激光解离规律. 实验发现, 所有组成为m=n, m=n-1与m=n+5的离子均具有较大的丰度, 表明它们具有较好的稳定性. 各种Fe_nS_m~+离子的紫外光解结果显示出, 当n<n)离子的结构为在Fe_nS_n~+核心外围再键合上其他的S原子.     

Detection of oxidative species for 4-phenoxyphenol derivatives during the electrospray ionization process

Analyses by flow injection as well as liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) were performed with four 4-phenoxyphenol derivatives. When ambient temperature nitrogen gas was used to facilitate solvent evaporation, [M + H]+, [M + NH4]+, and [2M + NH4]+ ions were observed as the major ions. As the nitrogen gas temperature increased from ambient to 250 and 450 degrees C, [M]+*, [M - 1]+ and [M + 15]+ ions were the predominant ions. Heat-induced oxidation was found to be the primary source for the formation of oxidative species. Aqueous solvents were found to be essential for the formation of the [M + 15]+ ions. The [M]+* and [M + 15]+ ions were further characterized by tandem mass spectrometry. Based on the MS/MS data, it was proposed that the [M + 15]+ ions were the in-source generated 1,2-quinone ions.     

Mass spectral study of alkali-cationized Boc-carbo-beta3-peptides by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry was used to study the dissociation reactions of [M+Cat]+ (Cat = Na+ and Li+) of Boc-carbo-beta3-peptides. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of [M+Cat-Boc]+ of these peptides are found to be significantly different from those of [M+H-Boc]+ ions. The spectra are more informative and display both C- and N-terminus metallated ions in addition to characteristic fragment ions of the carbohydrate moiety. Based on the fragmentations observed in the CID spectra of the [M+Cat-Boc]+ ions, it is suggested that the dissociation involves complexes in which the metal ion is coordinated in a multidentate arrangement involving the carbonyl oxygen atoms. The CID spectra of [M+Cat-Boc]+ ions of the peptide acids show an abundant N-terminal rearrangement ion [b(n)+17+Cat]+ which is absent for esters. Further, two pairs of positionally isomeric Boc-carbo-beta3-peptide acids, Boc-NH-Caa(S)-beta-hGly-OH (11) and Boc-NH-beta-hGly-Caa(S)-OH (12), and [Boc-NH-Caa(S)-beta-hGly-Caa(S)-beta-hGly-OH] (13) and [Boc-NH-beta-hGly-Caa(S)-beta-hGly-Caa(S)-OH] (14), were differentiated by the CID of [M+Cat-Boc]+ ions. The CID spectra of compounds 11 and 13 are significantly different from those of 12 and 14, respectively. The abundance of [b(n)+17+Cat]+ ions is higher for peptide acids 12 and 14 with a sugar group at the C-terminus when compared to 11 and 13 which contain a sugar moiety at the N-terminus. The observed differences between the CID spectra of these isomeric peptides are attributed to the difference in the preferential site of metal ion binding and also on the structure of the cyclic intermediate involved in the formation of the rearrangement ion.     

Au+(1S, 3D)与N2O(1Σ+)反应机理的理论研究

采用密度泛函B3LYP方法, O和N用6-311+G*基组, Au+用赝势基组(8s7p6d)/[6s5p3d], 研究了Au+(1S, 3D)离子和N2O(1Σ+)分子的反应机理. 报道了在基态单重态和激发三重态势能面上各反应物、中间体和过渡态的构型特征及能量. 结果表明, 两个主反应通道Au+(1S)+ N2O(1Σ+)→1NA-Complex-1→1NA-TS1→1NA-Complex-2→1NA-Crossing→[3OAuNN]+和Au+(1S)+ N2O(1Σ+)→1NB-Complex→1NB-Crossing→[AuNN(1Σ+)]++O(3P)都需经过反应交叉势能面, 出现“系间窜越”. 用内禀坐标单点计算垂直激发态的方法确定了势能面交叉点, 并用含时密度泛函TD-B3LYP方法进一步探讨了自旋翻转机理.     

Determination of the fatty acyl profiles of phosphatidylethanolamines by tandem mass spectrometry of sodium adducts

Phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) are one of the major constituents of cellular membranes, and, along with other phospholipid classes, have an essential role in the physiology of cells. Profiling of phospholipids in biological samples is currently done using mass spectrometry (MS). In this work we describe the MS fragmentation of sodium adducts of 2-oleoyl-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE) and 2-linoleoyl-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (PLPE). This study was performed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) using three different instruments and also by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS/MS). All MS/MS spectra show product ions related to the polar head fragmentation and product ions related to the loss of acyl chains. In ESI-MS/MS spectra, the product ions [M+Na-R1COOH-43]+ and [M+Na-R2COOH-43]+ show different relative abundance, as well as [M+Na-R1COOH]+ and [M+Na-R2COOH]+ product ions, allowing identification of both fatty acyl residues of PEs, and their specific location. MALDI-MS/MS shows the same product ions reported before and other ions generated by charge-remote fragmentation of the C3-C4 bond (gamma-cleavage) of fatty acyl residues combined with loss of 163 Da. These fragment ions, [M+Na-(R2-C2H3)-163]+ and [M+Na-(R1-C2H3)-163]+, show different relative abundances, and the product ion formed by the gamma-cleavage of sn-2 is the most abundant. Overall, differences noted that are important for identification and location of fatty acyl residues in the glycerol backbone are: relative abundance between the product ions [M+Na-R1COOH-43]+ > [M+Na-R2COOH-43]+ in ESI-MS/MS spectra; and relative abundance between the product ions [M+Na-(R2-C2H3)-163]+ > [M+Na-(R1-C2H3)-163]+ in MALDI-MS/MS spectra.     

Structural determination of saponins extracted from starfish by fast atom bombardment collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry.

Three saponins were extracted and isolated from starfish by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). Their molecular weight information could be obtained by the presence of abundant [M+Na]+ ions and weak [M+H]+ ions in FAB-MS spectra. Moreover, high resolution mass measurements of their [M+Na]+ ions were performed at the resolution of 10000 to elucidate the element composition of extracted saponins. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) of sodium-adducted molecules [M+Na]+ yielded diverse product ions via dissociated processes. In the collision-induced dissociation (CID)-MS/MS analysis of [M+Na]+ ion, the sulfate-containing saponins produced characteristic ions such as SO4Na+, [NaHSO4+Na]+, [M+Na-sugar]+ and [M+Na-2sugar]+ ions, whereas the sulfate-free compound showed characteristic ions produced by cleavage of sugar moiety and side chain of aglycone. The fragmentation patterns could provide information on the linkage position of sugar groups in aglycone and sulfate groups.     

三重桥氧三核铁脂肪酸配合物FAB和EI质谱研究

本文报道三重桥氧三核铁脂肪酸配合物[Fe_3(μ_3～O)(μ-O_2CR)_6(H_2O)]_3~+(R=CH_3,C_2H_5,C_3H_7,C_4H_9,C_(15)H_(31)和C_(17)H_(35))的快原子轰击(FAB)和电子轰击(EI)质谱。在FAB—MS谱中观察到四种系列离子:Ⅰ.[Fe_3O(O_2CR)_n]~+n=2-6;Ⅱ.[Fe_3O(O_2CR)_nO]~+n=1-4;Ⅲ.[Fe_2O(O_2CR)_n]~+n=1-3;Ⅳ.[Fe_2(O_2CR)_n]~+n=2-4;以及与底物所形成的加合离子[Fe_3O(O_2CR)_n·NBA-1]~+n=3-5(NBA是间-硝基苄醇)。在EI—MS谱中,除上述Ⅰ—Ⅳ离子(其中n的数目略有差异)外,还观察到含三个配位水的完整阳离子[Fe_3(O_2CR)_6(H_2O)_3]~+及其与配体羧酸的加合离子[Fe_3O(0_2CR)_n(H_20)_3·RCOOH+H]~+n=4-6,(Fe_3O(O_2CR)_nO(H_2O)3·RCOOH+H]~+n=2—4和Fe(O_2CR)_n]~+n=1—3。分析了它们的断裂规律,探讨了从中所获得的有益启示。     

Tandem electrospray mass spectrometric studies of proton and sodium ion adducts of neutral peptides with modified N- and C-termini: synthetic model peptides and microheterogeneous peptaibol antibiotics

The fragmentations of [M+H]+ and [M+Na]+ adducts of neutral peptides with blocked N- and C-termini have been investigated using electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry. The N-termini of these synthetically designed peptides are blocked with a tertiarybutyloxycarbonyl (Boc) group, and the C-termini are esterified. These peptides do not possess side chains that are capable of complexation and hence the backbone amide units are the sole sites of protonation and metallation. The cleavage patterns of the protonated peptides are strikingly different from those of sodium ion adducts. While the loss of the N-terminal blocking group occurs quite readily in the case of MS/MS of [M+Na]+, the cleavage of the C-terminal methoxy group seems to be a facile process in the case of MS/MS of [M+H]+ * Fragmentation of the protonated adducts yields only bn ions, while yn and a(n) ions are predominantly formed from the fragmentation of sodium ion adducts. The a(n) ions arising from the fragmentation of [M+Na](+) lack the N-terminal Boc group (and are here termed a(n)* ions). MS/MS of [M+Na]+ species also yields b(n) ions of substantially lower intensities that lack the N-terminal Boc group (b(n)*). A similar distinction between the fragmentation patterns of proton and sodium ion adducts is observed in the case of peptides possessing an N-terminal acetyl group. An example of the fragmentation of the H+ and Na+ adducts of a naturally occurring peptaibol from a Trichoderma species confirms that fragmentation of these two ionized species yields complementary information, useful in sequencing natural peptides. Inspection of the isotopic pattern of b(n) ions derived from [M+H]+ adducts of peptaibols provided insights into the sequences of microheterogeneous samples. This study reveals that the combined use of protonated and sodium ion adducts should prove useful in de novo sequencing of peptides, particularly of naturally occurring neutral peptides with modified N- and C-termini, for example, peptaibols.     

Differentiation of three pairs of positional isomers of hybrid peptides with repeats of phenylalanine-beta3-h-valine/beta3-valine-phenylalanine by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry has been used to distinguish three pairs of positional isomers of a new series of N-blocked hybrid peptides derived from repeats of phenylalanine(D)-beta3-h-valine/beta3-h-valine-phenylalanine(D) (FbetaV/betaVF) non-natural amino acids. MSn of protonated isomeric peptides produces characteristic fragmentation involving the peptide backbone, the Boc group and the side chain. FbetaV-peptides can be distinguished from betaVF-peptides by the loss of R-OH from [M+H-Boc+H]+, which is either of relatively low abundance or totally absent for the latter peptides. In contrast, betaVF-peptides show abundant Mannich base characteristic ions by the elimination of ammonia, and imine due to a retro-Mannich cleavage. This fragmentation is absent for FbetaV-peptides. When beta-valine is at the C-terminus, abundant b+(n-1) ions are produced. This is ascribed to the probable formation of a stable diketopiperazine structure, and this has been supported by the loss of H2O and CO in the CID spectra of b+(n-1) ions. The hybrid dipeptide acids have also been distinguished in negative ion mass spectrometry.