The role of amino acid composition in the charge inversion of deprotonated peptides via gas-phase ion/ion reactions

Ion/ion charge inversion via multiple proton transfer reactions occurs via a long-lived intermediate. The intermediate can be observed if its lifetime is long relative to mechanisms for removal of excess energy (i.e., emission and collisional stabilization). The likelihood for formation of a stabilized intermediate is a function of characteristics of the reagent and analyte ions. This work is focused on the role acidic and basic sites of a deprotonated peptide play in the formation of a stabilized intermediate upon charge inversion with multiply protonated polypropyleniminediaminobutane dendrimers. A group of model peptides based on leucine enkephalin was used, which included YGGFL, YGGFLF, YGGFLK, YGGFLR and YGGFLH as well as methyl esterified and acetylated versions. Results showed that peptides containing basic amino acid residues charge inverted primarily by proton transfer from the DAB dendrimer to the peptide, whereas peptides without basic amino acids charge inverted primarily by complex formation with the DAB dendrimer. The modified versions of the peptides highlighted the importance of the presence of the C-terminus as well as the basicity of the peptide in the observation of a stabilized intermediate. These results provide new insights into the nature of the interactions that occur in the charge inversion of polypeptide anions via ion/ion reactions.     

Tandem mass spectrometry of half-generation PAMAM dendrimer anions

Ions derived from negative electrospray ionization of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer generation 0.5 were subjected to ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. Ion/ion proton transfer reactions were used to manipulate the charge states of PAMAM precursor ions to form lower charge states from those initially formed by electrospray, as well as to facilitate the interpretation of the product ion mass spectra. Most of the products derived from dendrimer precursor ions could be rationalized by retro-Michael decomposition reactions. The dominant fragmentation channels are highly dependent on the composition of the counter-ions, which in this case are restricted to different numbers of sodium ions and protons, and whether the precursor ion is multiply charged or singly charged. An interpretation is given that is consistent with all of the observations made with the various anions associated with this study. The nature of the structural information that can be obtained via ion trap tandem mass spectrometry of the dendrimers is dependent on the types of precursor ions subjected to study. The tandem mass spectrometry data also provided information about the structure of faulty synthesis products present in the PAMAM dendrimer sample.     

Mechanistic studies on the separation of cations in zwitterionic ion chromatography

Electrostatic ion chromatography, also known as zwitterionic ion chromatography, has been predominantly used for the analysis of anions. Consequently, separation mechanisms proposed for this technique have been based on anion retention data obtained using a sulfobetaine-type surfactant-coated column. A comprehensive cation retention data set has been obtained on a C18 column coated with the zwitterionic surfactant N-tetradecylphosphocholine (which has the negatively and positively charged functional groups reversed in comparison to the sulfobetaine surfactants), with mobile phases being varied systematically in the concentration and species of both the mobile-phase anion and cation. A retention mechanism based on both an ion exclusion effect and a direct (chaotropic) interaction with the inner negative charge on the zwitterion is proposed for the retention of cations. Despite the relatively low chaotropic nature of cations compared with anions, the retention data shows that cations are retained in this system predominantly due to a chaotropic interaction with the inner charge, analogous to anions in a system where the C18 column is coated with a sulfobetaine-type surfactant. The retention of an analyte cation, and the effect of the mobile-phase anion and cation, can be predicted by the relative positions of these species on the Hofmeister (chaotropic) series.     

Comparison of Reversed Stationary Phases for the Chromatographic Separation of Inorganic Analytes Using Hydrophobic Ion Mobile Phase Additives

Abstract

Alkyl-modified silica (RSi) and polystyrenedivinylbenzene (PRP-1) stationary phases are compared for the chromatographic separation of inorganic analyte anions and cations using hydro-phobic ions of opposite charge as mobile phase additives. Tetra-alkylammonium salts were used for anion separations and alkyl sulfonate salts for cation separations. Two major equilibria influence the retention of analyte ions on PRP-1. These are: retention of the hydrophobic ion on PRP-1 and an ion exchange selectivity between the hydrophobic counterion and the analyte ion. When using RSi retention is also influenced by ion exchange at residual silanol groups, which act as weak cation exchange sites. Mobile and stationary phase variables that influence analyte retention are identified. Optimization of these provides favorable eluting conditions for the separation of inorganic ionic analytes. Of particular interest is the potential use of PRP-1 and RSi columns for the separation of inorganic cations; conditions for the separation of alkali metals and alkaline earths are discussed.     

Reagent Cluster Anions for Multiple Gas-Phase Covalent Modifications of Peptide and Protein Cations

Multiple gas phase ion/ion covalent modifications of peptide and protein ions are demonstrated using cluster-type reagent anions of N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide acetate (sulfo-NHS acetate) and 2-formyl-benzenesulfonic acid (FBMSA). These reagents are used to selectively modify unprotonated primary amine functionalities of peptides and proteins. Multiple reactive reagent molecules can be present in a single cluster ion, which allows for multiple covalent modifications to be achieved in a single ion/ion encounter and at the ‘cost’ of only a single analyte charge. Multiple derivatizations are demonstrated when the number of available reactive sites on the analyte cation exceeds the number of reagent molecules in the anionic cluster (e.g., data shown here for reactions between the polypeptide [K₁₀ + 3H]³⁺ and the reagent cluster [5R_5Na – Na]^–). This type of gas-phase ion chemistry is also applicable to whole protein ions. Here, ubiquitin was successfully modified using an FBMSA cluster anion which, upon collisional activation, produced fragment ions with various numbers of modifications. Data for the pentamer cluster are included as illustrative of the results obtained for the clusters comprised of two to six reagent molecules.

Gas-Phase Reactivity of Carboxylic Acid Functional Groups with Carbodiimides

Gas-phase modification of carboxylic acid functionalities is performed via ion/ion reactions with carbodiimide reagents [N-cyclohexyl-N′-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimide (CMC) and [3-(3-Ethylcarbodiimide-1-yl)propyl]trimethylaminium (ECPT)]. Gas-phase ion/ion covalent chemistry requires the formation of a long-lived complex. In this instance, the complex is stabilized by an electrostatic interaction between the fixed charge quaternary ammonium group of the carbodiimide reagent cation and the analyte dianion. Subsequent activation results in characteristic loss of an isocyanate derivative from one side of the carbodiimide functionality, a signature for this covalent chemistry. The resulting amide bond is formed on the analyte at the site of the original carboxylic acid. Reactions involving analytes that do not contain available carboxylic acid groups (e.g., they have been converted to sodium salts) or reagents that do not have the carbodiimide functionality do not undergo a covalent reaction. This chemistry is demonstrated using PAMAM generation 0.5 dendrimer, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and the model peptide DGAILDGAILD. This work demonstrates the selective gas-phase covalent modification of carboxylic acid functionalities.      

Structural investigation of PAMAM dendrimers in aqueous solutions using small-angle neutron scattering: effect of generation

We investigate a series of poly(amidoamine) starburst dendrimers (PAMAM) of different generations in acidic, aqueous solutions using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). While the overall molecular size is found to be practically unaffected by a pD change, a strong generational dependence of counterion association is revealed. Upon increasing the dendrimer generation, the effective charge obtained from our SANS experiments only shows a small increase in contrast to the nearly exponential increase predicted by a recent atomic simulation. We also find that with the same degree of molecular protonation the specific counterion association, which is defined as the ratio of bound chloride anions to positively charged amines in solutions, is larger for higher-generation PAMAM dendrimer. The associated counterion density also increases upon increasing generation number.     

Electron transfer versus proton transfer in gas-phase ion/ion reactions of polyprotonated peptides

The ion/ion reactions of several dozen reagent anions with triply protonated cations of the model peptide KGAILKGAILR have been examined to evaluate predictions of a Landau-Zener-based model for the likelihood for electron transfer. Evidence for electron transfer was provided by the appearance of fragment ions unique to electron transfer or electron capture dissociation. Proton transfer and electron transfer are competitive processes for any combination of anionic and cationic reactants. For reagent anions in reactions with protonated peptides, proton transfer is usually significantly more exothermic than electron transfer. If charge transfer occurs at relatively long distances, electron transfer should, therefore, be favored on kinetic grounds because the reactant and product channels cross at greater distances, provided conditions are favorable for electron transfer at the crossing point. The results are consistent with a model based on Landau-Zener theory that indicates both thermodynamic and geometric criteria apply for electron transfer involving polyatomic anions. Both the model and the data suggest that electron affinities associated with the anionic reagents greater than about 60-70 kcal/mol minimize the likelihood that electron transfer will be observed. Provided the electron affinity is not too high, the Franck-Condon factors associated with the anion and its corresponding neutral must not be too low. When one or the other of these criteria is not met, proton transfer tends to occur essentially exclusively. Experiments involving ion/ion attachment products also suggest that a significant barrier exists to the isomerization between chemical complexes that, if formed, lead to either proton transfer or electron transfer.     

Effects of cation charge-site identity and position on electron-transfer dissociation of polypeptide cations

The effect of cation charge site on gas-phase ion/ion reactions between multiply protonated model peptides and singly charged anions has been examined. Insights are drawn from the quantitative examination of the product partitioning into competing channels, such as proton transfer (PT) versus electron transfer (ET), electron transfer followed by dissociation (ETD) versus electron transfer without dissociation (ET, no D), and fragmentation of backbone bonds versus fragmentation of side chains. Peptide cations containing protonated lysine, arginine, and histidine showed similar degrees of electron transfer, which were much higher than the peptide having fixed-charge sites, that is, trimethyl ammonium groups. Among the four types of cation charge sites, protonated histidine showed the highest degree of ET, no D, while no apparent intact electron-transfer products were observed for peptides with protonated lysine or arginine. All cation types showed side chain losses with arginine yielding the greatest fraction and lysine the smallest. The above trends were observed for each electron-transfer reagent. However, proton transfer was consistently higher with 1,3-dinitrobeznene anions, as was the fraction of side-chain losses. The partitioning of products among the various electron-transfer channels provides evidence for several of the mechanisms that have been proposed to account for electron-transfer dissociation and electron-capture dissociation. The simplest picture to account for all of the observations recognizes that several mechanisms can contribute to the observed products. Furthermore, the identity of the anionic reagent and the positions of the charge sites can affect the relative contributions of the competing mechanisms.     

Separation of inorganic anions by liquid chromatography with crown ether as eluent additive

Inorganic anions were separated on a reversed-phase stationary phase dynamically modified with crown ether as a selector in capillary ion chromatography. The eluent contained crown ether, acetonitrile and a salt. Free and cation-trapped crown ether molecules in the eluent were adsorbed on a hydrophobic stationary phase such as triacontyl-functionalized silica (C30). The eluent cations trapped on crown ether worked as the ion-exchange sites, where the eluent anions and the analyte anions were competing for electrostatic interaction. The sizes of crown ether and the salt cation affected the retention of analyte anions. The concentrations of acetonitrile and crown ether as well as the eluent anion also affected the retention of analyte anions. An aqueous solution containing 18-crown-6-ether, potassium salt and acetonitrile achieved larger retention for analyte anions. Effects of the eluent conditions on the retention of analyte anions were examined in detail.     

Gas-phase ion/ion reactions of transition metal complex cations with multiply charged oligodeoxynucleotide anions

Multiply deprotonated hexadeoxyadenylate anions, (A6-nH)(n-), where n = 3-5, have been subjected to reaction with a range of divalent transition-metal complex cations in the gas phase. The cations studied included the bis- and tris-1,10-phenanthroline complexes of CuII, FeII, and CoII, as well as the tris-1,10-phenanthroline complex of RuII. In addition, the hexadeoxyadenylate anions were subjected to reaction with the singly charged FeIII and CoIIIN,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato) complexes. The major competing reaction channels are electron-transfer from the oligodeoxynucleotide anion to the cation, the formation of a complex between the anion and cation, and the incorporation of the transition-metal into the oligodeoxynucleotide. The latter process proceeds via the anion/cation complex and involves displacement of the ligand(s) in the transition-metal complex by the oligodeoxynucleotide. Competition between the various reaction channels is governed by the identity of the transition-metal cation, the coordination environment of the metal complex, and the oligodeoxynucleotide charge state. In the case of the divalent metal phenanthroline complexes, competition between electron-transfer and metal ion incorporation is particularly sensitive to the coordination number of the reagent metal complexes. Both electron-transfer and metal ion incorporation occur to significant extents with the bis-phenanthroline ions, whereas the tris-phenanthroline ions react predominantly by metal ion incorporation. To our knowledge this work reports the first observations of the gas-phase incorporation of multivalent transition-metal cations into oligodeoxynucleotide anions and represents a means for the selective incorporation of transition-metal counter-ions into gaseous oligodeoxynucleotides.     

色谱法研究杂多酸 4: 杂多酸在反相离子对色谱中的保留行为

本文研究了Keggin型杂多酸盐在四丁基铵-磷酸盐缓冲液-甲醇体系中的色谱保留行为。导出了反相离子对色谱中离子对试剂浓度, 强溶剂浓度及离子强度影响溶质保留值的三个规律式, 并用实验及文献值进行验证, 在所研究的体系中, 不同电荷数的杂多酸阴离子都可有保留, 通过调节适当的离子对试剂浓度及强溶剂浓度,可改善其选择性。     

流动注射化学发光离子交换法研究Ⅰ.化学发光阴离子交换树脂的研制及应用

本文研制了一种新型的由强碱性阴离子交换树脂(OH形式),转换成N-(β-羧基丙酰基)异鲁米诺(简称CPIL)化学发光形式的阴离子交换树脂.试液中的阴离子将树脂上的发光剂阴离子(CPIL^-)交换出来与H~2O~2-Fe(CN)~6^3^-反应,产生化学发光,化学发光的强度与试液中的阴离子浓度成正比.由此建立的流动注射化学发光离子交换测定技术,应用于CI^-,Br^-,NO^-~2,NO^-~3,SO^2^-~4等阴离子的测定,对不同的阴离子检测限为8.0×10^-^7mol.dm^-^3-1.4×10^-^6mol.dm^-^3,线性范围可达两个数量极(1×10^-^6mol.dm^-^3-1×10^-^4mol.dm^-^3).     

Inhibition of the formation and decay of stilbene core radical cations by the dendron during the photoinduced electron transfer

Formation and decay processes of stilbene core radical cation (ST*+) during the photoinduced electron transfer have been studied for a series of stilbene bearing benzyl ether-type dendrons (D). ST*+ and the radical cation of peripheral dendron (D*+) were generated by intermolecular hole transfer from biphenyl radical cation, which was generated from photoinduced electron transfer from biphenyl to the singlet-excited 9,10-dicyanoanthracene in a mixture of acetonitrile and 1,2-dichloroethane (3:1). An intramolecular dimer radical cation of benzyl groups at the terminal of stilbene dendrimer was indicated as a hole trapping site. Subsequent hole transfer from the trapping site to the core ST generated ST*+. The shielding effects of D depending on the dendrimer generation on the growth and decay of ST*+ were observed. It was revealed for the first time that D acts as the hole trapping site and the hole conductor on the way of the exothermic hole transfer from the terminal of D to the central core ST. We also found that D inhibits the charge recombination with 9,10-dicyanoanthracene radical anion because of the steric hindrance.     

Transmission mode ion/ion reactions in the radiofrequency‐only ion guide of hybrid tandem mass spectrometers

Transmission mode ion/ion reactions have been performed within the first quadrupole, the Q0 radiofrequency (RF)‐only quadrupole, of two types of hybrid tandem mass spectrometers (viz., triple quadrupole/linear ion trap and QqTOF instruments). These transmission mode reactions involved the storage of either the reagent species and the transmission of the analyte species through the Q0 quadrupole for charge inversion reactions or the storage of the analyte ions and transmission of the reagent ions as in charge reduction experiments. A key advantage to the use of transmission mode ion/ion reactions is that they do not require any instrument hardware modifications to provide interactions of oppositely charged ions and can be implemented in any instrument that contains a quadrupole or linear ion trap. The focus of this work was to investigate the potential of using the RF‐only quadrupole ion guide positioned prior to the first mass‐resolving element in a tandem mass spectrometer for ion/ion reactions. Two types of exemplary experiments have been demonstrated. One involved a charge inversion reaction and the other involved a charge reduction reaction in conjunction with ion parking. Ion/ion reactions proved to be readily implemented in Q0 thereby adding significantly greater experimental flexibility in the use of ion/ion reaction experiments with hybrid tandem mass spectrometers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predicting properties of new ionic liquids: density functional theory and experimental studies of tetra-alkylammonium salts of (thio)carboxylate anions, RCO2⁻, RCOS⁻ and RCS2⁻

Density functional theory calculations of alkyl-carboxylate anions and their sulfur substituted variants are presented here as an aid for the development of new ionic liquids. Electron transfer both within the anion, and between the anion and cation of an ion pair, are described using natural bond order analysis, using tetraethylammonium as a common cation. The overall stabilising effect of this electron transfer is quantified for the series of anions, and is found to correlate with clear trends in ion-pair binding energy. These and other electronic properties determine which compounds are synthesised, and experimental results validate the computational results. In combination with tetraethylammonium, a carboxylate with an unsaturated alkyl chain produces an ionic liquid at room temperature. However, computations suggest that sulfur substituted anions will produce a lower melting point and perhaps more fluid ionic liquid, but one which would be less stable against oxidation.     

Transmission mode ion/ion proton transfer reactions in a linear ion trap

A new method is described for effecting ion/ion proton transfer reactions that involves storage of analyte ions while oppositely charged ions are transmitted through the stored ion population. In this approach, the products are captured and stored in the linear ion trap for subsequent mass analysis. Charge reduction of multiply charged protein ions is used as an example to illustrate the analytical usefulness of this method. In another variation of the transmission mode ion/ion reaction approach, two charge inversion experiments, implemented by passing analyte ions through a population of multiply charged reagent ions in a LIT, are also demonstrated. A pulsed dual ion source approach coupled with a hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap instrument was used to demonstrate these two methods. The results for ion/ion reactions implemented using these so-called "transmission mode" experiments were comparable to those acquired using the more conventional mutual storage mode, both in terms of efficiency and information content of the spectra. An advantage of transmission mode experiments compared with mutual storage mode experiments is that they do not require any specialized measures to be taken to enable the simultaneous storage of oppositely charged ions.     

Ionic Liquid Matrix-Enhanced Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: The Role of Proton Transfer

Room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are effective matrices in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). In this paper, we examine the role of proton transfer in the mechanism of secondary ion enhancement using IL matrices in SIMS. We employ hydrogenated and deuterated 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) as analytes to investigate the origin of proton transfer. The data indicate that protons from the IL anion transfer to the analyte in solution leading to an increase in the secondary ion intensity of the protonated molecular ion. The chemical identity of the matrix cation also affects analyte signal intensities. Using deuterated DPPC we observe that protons (deuterium) from the DPPC tail group react with the cation of the IL liquid leading to an increase in (cation + D)⁺ ion intensities. Further, the data suggest that the transfer kinetics of deuterium (hydrogen) is correlated with the secondary ion enhancements observed. The highest secondary ion enhancements are observed for the least sterically hindered cation. Neither the proton affinity nor the pK_a of the IL cation have a large effect on the analyte ion intensities, suggesting that steric factors are important in determining the efficacy of IL matrices for a given analyte.      

Ion Interactions with a New Ditopic Naphthalimide‐Based Receptor: A Photophysical,NMR and Theoretical (DFT) Study

A new multi‐component chemosensor system comprising a naphthalimide moiety as fluorophore is designed and developed to investigate receptor–analyte binding interactions in the presence of metal and non‐metal ions. A dimethylamino moiety is utilized as receptor for metal ions and a thiourea receptor, having acidic protons, for binding anions. The system is characterized by conventional analytical methods. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the system consist of a broad band typical for an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The effects of various metal‐ion additives on the spectral behavior of the present sensor system are examined in acetonitrile. It is found that among the metal ions studied, alkali/alkaline earth‐metal ions and transition‐metal ions modulate the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the system. As an additional feature, the anion signaling behavior of the system in acetonitrile is studied. A decrease in fluorescence efficiency of the system is observed upon addition of fluoride and acetate anions. Fluorescence quenching is most effective in the case of fluoride ions. This is attributed to the enhancement of the photoinduced electron transfer from the anion receptor to the fluorophore moiety. Hydrogen‐bond interactions between the acidic NH protons of the thiourea moiety and the F^? anions are primarily attributed to the fluoride‐selective signaling behavior. Interestingly, a negative cooperativity for the binding event is observed when the interactions of the system are studied in the presence of both Zn²⁺ and F^? ions. NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations are also carried out to better understand the receptor–analyte binding.     

Charging and aggregation of latex particles by oppositely charged dendrimers

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers were shown to adsorb strongly on negatively charged latex particles, and their effect on the particle charge and aggregation behavior was investigated by light scattering and electrophoretic mobility measurements. Time-resolved simultaneous static and dynamic light scattering was used to measure absolute aggregation rate constants. With increasing dendrimer dose, the overall charge could be tuned from negative to positive values through the isoelectric point (IEP). The aggregation is fast near the IEP and slows down further away. With decreasing ionic strength, the region of fast aggregation narrows and the dependence of the aggregation rate on the dendrimer dose is more pronounced. Surface charge heterogeneities become important for higher dendrimer generations. They widen the fast aggregation region, reduce the dependence of the aggregation rate on the dendrimer dose, and lead to an acceleration of the rate in the fast aggregation regime near the IEP. The ratio of the dendrimer charge and the particle charge exceeds the stoichiometric ratio of unity substantially and further increases with increasing generation. The tentative interpretation of such superstoichiometric charge neutralization involves coadsorption of anions and the finite thickness of the adsorbed dendrimer layer.