Structural characterization of hexoses and pentoses using lead cationization. An electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometric study

The analytical potential of the complexation of isomeric underivatized hexoses (D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, D-talose, D-fructose), methylglycosides (1-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucose and 1-O-methyl-beta-D-glucose) and pentoses (D-ribose, D-xylose, D-arabinose and D-lyxose) by Pb(2+) ions, was investigated by electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Pb(2+) ions react mainly with monosaccharides by proton abstraction to generate [Pb(monosaccharide)(m) - H](+) ions (m = 1-3). At low cone voltage, a less abundant series of doubly charged ions of general formula [Pb(monosaccharide)(n)](2+) is also observed. The maximum number n of monosaccharides surrounding a single Pb(2+) ion depends on the metal : monosaccharide ratio. Our study shows that MS/MS experiments have to be performed to differentiate Pb(2+)-coordinated monosaccharides. Upon collision, [Pb(monosaccharide) - H](+) species mainly dissociate according to cross-ring cleavages, leading to the elimination of C(n)H(2n)O(n) neutrals. The various fragmentation processes observed allow the C(1), C(2) and C(4) stereocenters of aldohexoses to be characterized, and also a clear distinction aldoses and fructose. Furthermore, careful analysis of tandem mass spectra also leads to successful aldopentose distinction. Lead cationization combined with MS/MS therefore appears particularly useful to identify underivatized monosaccharides.     

Determining anomericity of the glycosidic bond in Zn(II)-diethylenetriamine-disaccharide complexes using MS n in a quadrupole ion trap

Zinc-diethylenetriamine (Zn-dien) N-glycoside complexes of four 1,4 and four 1,6 linked disaccharides are prepared. Each reaction mixture is ionized by electrospray and the resulting species [Zn(dien)(disaccharide)-H]+ is allowed to undergo collision-induced dissociation in a quadrupole ion trap. An MS3 analysis is used to differentiate alpha versus beta anomericity of the glycosidic bond in the disaccharide moiety. In addition, the MS2 and MS3 spectra can be used together to determine the linkage position of this glycosidic bond.     

Determination of linkage position and anomeric configuration in Hex-Fuc disaccharides using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Fixed-energy sequential tandem mass spectrometry (MS(n)) capabilities offered by quadrupole ion trap instruments have been explored in a systematic study of six isomers of Gal-Fucalpha-OBenzyl disaccharides. Under collision-induced dissociation (CID), sodiated molecular species generated in the positive-ion electrospray ionization mode yield simple and predictable mass spectra. Information on interglycosidic linkages and configurations can be deduced from the relative intensities of the selected diagnostic fragments arising from the glycosidic bond cleavages and corroborated by the fragments arising from cross-ring cleavages. As the CID patterns are not dependent on the number of prior tandem mass spectrometric steps, structures can be unambiguously assigned by matching the spectra with a library. The rules governing the fragmentation behavior of this class of oligosaccharides were tested for a representative isomeric disaccharide, Glcbeta1,3Fucalpha-OAllyl. The findings establish a basis for using MS(n) with a quadrupole ion trap instrument to elucidate structures of hexose-fucose subunits from more complicated oligosaccharides. Energy-resolved mass spectra were also acquired by CID tandem triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. The breakdown behavior of the molecular ions revealed patterns which could differentiate stereoisomers of Gal-Fuc disaccharides over a range of collision energy from 20 to 50 eV.     

Direct evidence for tautomerization of the uracil moiety within the Pb2+/uridine-5'-monophosphate complex: a combined tandem mass spectrometry and IRMPD study

The structure of the [Pb(UMP)-H](+) (UMP = uridine-5'-monophosphate) complex was studied in the gas phase by combining electrospray ionization (ESI), tandem mass spectrometry, and mid-infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. The results obtained show that Pb(2+) ions interact not only with the deprotonated phosphate group but also with a carbonyl group of the nucleobase moiety by folding of the mononucleotide, resulting in macrochelates that are not likely to be present in solution. Comparison between the IRMPD and DFT-computed spectra suggests that the ESI-generated complex likely corresponds to a mixture of several structures, and establishes the enolic tautomers as the most abundant species for the [Pb(UMP)-H](+) ion, while the very weak IRMPD signal observed at ～1763 cm(-1) points to a minor population of oxo forms. Our data also suggest that losing the nucleobase residue under CID conditions does not necessarily mean a lack of interaction between the metal and the nucleobase moiety, as commonly reported in the literature for large oligonucleotides.     

Multiple lithium exchange under lithium cationization of cyclodextrins

Multiple lithium exchange is observed during electrospray ionization of alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins from aqueous methanolic solution containing LiOH. Apart from [M + Li](+) and [M + nLi - (n - 1)H](+) ions, abundant multiply lithiated doubly charged ions corresponding to [M + nLi - (n - 2)H](2+) ions were observed. At least six lithium exchanges in alpha-cyclodextrin, seven in beta-cyclodextrin and eight in gamma-cyclodextrin were noted. The propensity of multiply lithiated doubly charged ions is much less in the open-ended maltoheptaose. It appears that during droplet or cluster formation and subsequent desolvation, LiOH trapped in the cavity of cyclodextrin reacts to form multiply lithiated ions. The singly charged [M + Li](+) and doubly charged [M + 2Li](2+) ions fragment by glycosidic cleavages, giving B series of ions, whereas the multiply lithiated ions fragment by cross ring cleavages ((2, 4)A or (O, 2)X) followed by glycosidic cleavage. From the tandem mass spectra, it appears that a maximum of two lithium exchanges occur in one sugar unit in these cyclodextrins.     

Cluster ions of diquat and paraquat in electrospray ionization mass spectra and their collision-induced dissociation spectra

Cluster ions such as [Cat+X+nM](+) (n = 0-4); [Cat-H+nM](+) (n = 1-3); and [2(Cat-H)+X+nM](+) (n = 0-2), where Cat, X, and M are the dication, anion, and neutral salt (CatX(2)), respectively, are observed in electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry of relatively concentrated solutions of diquat and paraquat. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) reactions of the clusters were observed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), including deprotonation to form [Cat-H](+), one-electron reduction of the dication to form Cat(+.), demethylation of the paraquat cation to form [Cat-CH(3)](+), and loss of neutral salt to produce smaller clusters. The difference in acidity and reduction power between diquat and paraquat, evaluated by thermodynamical estimates, can rationalize the different fractional yields of even-electron ([Cat-H](+) and its clusters) and odd-electron (mostly Cat(+)) ions in ESI mass spectra of these pesticides. The [Cat+n. Solv](2+) doubly charged cluster ions, where n 相似文献   

The distinction of underivatized monosaccharides using electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

A convenient method for distinguishing underivatized isomeric monosaccharides has been established using electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-ITMS). Mass spectra of hexoses (glucose, galactose, and mannose), N-acetylhexosamines (N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylmannosamine) and hexosamines (glucosamine, galactosamine, and mannosamine) dissolved in solvent containing 1 mM ammonium acetate were obtained in the positive ion mode. Glucose was distinguished from galactose and mannose in the MS(2) spectrum of the [M+NH(4)](+) ion at m/z 198. The MS(3) spectra generated from [M+NH(4)-H(2)O-NH(3)](+) at m/z 163 showed that galactose and mannose could be distinguished by the ratio of peak intensities at m/z 145 and 127, while the three N-acetylhexosamine and hexosamine stereochemical isomers could be identified by the relative abundance ratios of product ions observed in MS(3) spectra. The investigation of MS and MS(2) spectra from complexes of these monosaccharides with Na(+) and Pb(2+) failed to distinguish these monosaccharide isomers. Therefore, multiple stage mass analysis by ESI-ITMS using either [M+NH(4)](+) or [M+H](+) was useful to distinguish between the isomers of monosaccharides.     

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric studies of competitive pyridine loss from platinum(II) ethylenediamine complexes by the kinetic method

The competition between pyridine ligand loss in square planar Pt(II) complexes has been examined using the doubly and singly charged ions of complexes consisting of platinum(ethylenediamine) coordinated to two different substituted pyridines. Collision induced dissociation (CID) of [Pt(en)Py(1)Py(2)](2+) (where Py(1) = one of ten different substituted pyridines and Py(2) = pyridine) results in loss of the protonated pyridines to yield the singly charged platinum ions [Pt(en)Py(1)-H](+) and [Pt(en)Py(2)-H](+). In contrast, fragmentation of [Pt(en)Py(1)Py(2)-H](+) results in neutral pyridine loss to yield the ions [Pt(en)Py(1)-H](+) and [Pt(en)Py(2)-H](+). In the latter case, the correlation between relative losses of each pyridine compared to their gas-phase proton affinities is poor. A novel chloride ion abstraction reaction occurs for the fragmentation of [Pt(en)Py(1)Py(2)](2+) when Py(1) = o-C(5)H(4)CIN and Py(2) = C(5)H(5)N, to yield the [Pt(en)(Cl)Py(2)](+) and [o-C(5)H(4)N](+) pair of ions. In order to model this process the competition between nitrogen and chlorine binding in [Pt(NH(3))(3)(o-NC(5)H(4)Cl)](2+) has been examined using density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. Both adducts are minima with the N adduct being more stable than the Cl adduct by 22.7 kcal mol(-1). Furthermore, the Cl adduct exhibits a significant stretching of the C-Cl bond (to 1.935 A), consistent with the observed chloride ion abstraction reaction, which is endothermic by 9.0 kcal mol(-1) (relative to the N adduct).     

Chiral recognition of zinc(II) ion complexes composed of bicyclo[3.3.0] octane-2,6-diol and <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>-Naproxen probed by collisional-induced dissociation

Chiral recognition of racemic bicyclo[3.3.0] octane-2,6-diol(B) was achieved in the gas phase using s-Naproxen(A) as reference, using the kinetics of competitive unimolecule dissociation of tetrameric zinc(II)-bound complexes by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer(ESI-FTMS). As undergoing a mild competitive collision-induced dissociation(CID) experiment with a constant pressure argon gas introduced by leak valve, the tetrameric cluster ion [A(2)B(2)Z(n)(II)-H](+) forms only two trimeric ions and R(chiral) is subsequently obtained in the kinetic method. Further studies obtained the difference of Gibbs free energy of [ABZ(n)(II)-H](+)(Delta Delta G(ABZn(II)-H](+))) by dissociating [A(2)BZ(n)(II)-H](+), resulting two fragment ions [ABZ(n)(II)-H](+) and [A(2)Z(n)(II)-H](+), which can be established to a linear relationship between Delta Delta G([ABZn(II)-H](+)) and R(chiral)' basing on the kinetic method. The value of R(chiral)' suggested that Delta Delta G([ABZn(II)-H](+)) could be regarded as zero. Meanwhile, dissociation of [AB(2)Z(n)(II)-H](+) generated only one daughter ion [ABZ(n)(II)-H](+) in a stable pressure. Thus, a linear relationship was established between the difference of Gibbs free energy of [AB(2)Z(n)(II)-H](+)(Delta Delta G([AB(2)Zn(II)-H](+))) and R(chiral)" if the Delta Delta G([ABZn(II)-H](+)) can be negligible. Because there is also a linear relationship of R(chiral) in the tetrameric ion [A(2)B(2)Z(n)(II)-H](+) and the Gibbs energy difference of trimeric cluster ion [A(2)BZ(n)(+)(II)-H](Delta Delta G([A(2)BZn(II)-H](+))) plus that of [AB(2)Z(n)(II)-H](+), Delta Delta G([A(2)BZ(n)(II)-H]+]) is easy to be calculated in the dissociation process of tetrameric ion. Stable of R(chiral), R(chiral)' and R(chiral)" under different pressures show T(eff) does not affect the chiral recognition of cluster ions in the condition selected. If an only-one-daughter-ion fragment process of [A(2)BZ(n)(II)-H](+) was existed, R(chiral)' relating to this dissociation would be calculated just like R(chiral)" of [AB(2)Z(n)(II)-H](+) does. Conclusion was obtained that [A(2)BZ(n)(II)-H](+) makes more contribution to chiral recognition of tetrameric ion measured by kinetic method than [AB(2)Z(n)(II)-H](+) does as R(chiral)' and R(chiral)" were applied as index to evaluate the Gibbs free energy difference of these two trimeric cluster ions. Further discussion shows that steric interactions and pi-pi stacking interactions are the major factors responsible for the observed efficient chiral recognition in this system.     

Structural differentiation of uronosyl substitution patterns in acidic heteroxylans by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

The structures of two oligomers of acidic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) of the same molecular weight (634 Da), Xyl(2)MeGlcAHex and Xyl(2)GlcA(2) were differentiated by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). These oligomers were present in a mixture of XOS obtained by acid hydrolysis of heteroxylans extracted from Eucalyptus globulus wood (Xyl(2)MeGlcAHex) and Olea europaea olive fruit (Xyl(2)GlcA(2)). In the ESI-MS spectra of the XOS, ions at m/z 657 and 652 were observed and assigned to [M + Na](+) and [M + NH(4)](+), respectively. The ESI-MS/MS spectrum of [M + Na](+) ion of Xyl(2)MeGlcAHex showed the loss of Hex residue from the reducing end followed by the loss of MeGlcA moiety. Simultaneously, the loss of a Xyl residue from either the reducing or the non-reducing ends was detected. On the other hand, the fragmentation of Xyl(2)GlcA(2) occurs mainly by the loss of one and two GlcA residues or by the loss of the GlcAXyl moiety, due to the glycosidic bond cleavage between the two Xyl residues. Loss of one and two CO(2) molecules was only observed for this oligomer, where the GlcA are in vicinal Xyl residues. The ESI-MS/MS spectra of [M + NH(4)](+) of both oligomers showed the loss of NH(3), resulting in the protonated molecule, where the presence of ions assigned as protonated molecules of aldobiuronic acid residues, [MeGlcA - Xyl + H](+) and [GlcA - Xyl + H](+), are diagnostic ions of the presence of MeGlcA and GlcA moieties in XOS. Since these structures occur in small amounts in complex acidic XOS mixtures and are very difficult, if possible, to isolate, tandem mass spectrometry revealed to be a powerful tool for the characterization of these types of substitution patterns present in heteroxylans.     

Characterisation via electrospray ionisation multistage mass spectrometry of three related series of nitrido technetium complexes containing phosphinothiolate and dithiocarbamate ligands

Nine nitrido technetium compounds comprising bis-substituted Tc(N)(PS)(2) (1-4) (PS = bidentate phosphinothiolate ligands) and Tc(N)(dtc)(2) (5, 6) derivatives (dtc = bidentate dithiocarbamate), and mixed-ligand Tc(N)(PS)(dtc) (7-9) species, were subjected to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and MS(n) experiments. Bis-substituted phosphinothiolato complexes 1-4 lead to the straightforward formation of dinuclear species reasonably originating from proton bound dimers. These dinuclear species do not show, under collisionally induced fragmentation processes, the formation of monomeric units but cleavages related to the ligand framework, thereby proving the high stability of the [Tc--H(+)--Tc] bond. Bis-dithiocarbamate compounds 5 and 6 show, instead, abundant [M+H](+), [M+Na](+) and [2M+Na](+) ions, and their collisionally induced fragmentations are highly favoured with cleavages related to the C--N and C--S bonds. During these processes, the coordination of a water molecule to [MH-L](+) product ions is observed, as proved by the collisionally induced H(2)O loss detected for this species. Mixed-ligand compounds 7 and 8 show the protonated molecules and Na(+)-cationised ions with fragmentation processes related to the dithiocarbamate moiety. This behaviour indicates that coordination of ether- and ester-substituted dithiocarbamates to the [Tc [triple chemical bond] N] group is weaker than that of phosphinothiolates. Conversely, diethyldithiocarbamate inserted in mixed complex 9 enhances both C--N and Tc--S bonds, and fragmentation processes suggest that metal-phosphinothiolate and metal-dithiocarbamate show comparable strength.     

Gas Phase Chemistry of Li+ with Amides: the Observation of LiOH Loss in Mass Spectrometry

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of Li(+) adducts of three sets of compounds that contains an amide bond, including 2-(4, 6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-ylsulfanyl)-N-phenylbenzamide, its derivatives and simpler structures was investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Observed fragment ions include those that reflect loss of LiOH. Other product ions result from the Smiles rearrangement and direct C-S bond cleavage. MS/MS of H/D exchange products demonstrated occurrence of a 1,3-H shift from the amide nitrogen atom to the phenyl ring of these compounds. The LiOH loss from Li(+) adducts of amides was further examined by CID of [M + Li](+) ions of N-phenylbenzamide and N-phenylcinnamide. Loss of LiOH was essentially the sole fragmentation reaction observed for the former. For the latter, both losses of LiOH and H(2)O were discovered. The presence of electron-donating substituents of the phenyl ring of these compounds was found to facilitate elimination of LiOH, while that loss was retarded by electron-withdrawing substituents. Proposed fragment ion structures were supported by elemental compositions deduced from ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance tandem mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS/MS) m/z value determinations. Density functional theory-based (DFT) calculations were performed to evaluate potential mechanisms for these reactions.     

Structural characterization of glycoporphyrins by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Porphyrin derivatives having a galactose or a bis(isopropylidene)galactose structural unit, linked by ester or ether bonds, were characterized by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ES-MS/MS). The electrospray mass spectra of these glycoporphyrins show the corresponding [M + H](+) ions. For the glycoporphyrins with pyridyl substituents and those having a tetrafluorophenyl spacer, the doubly charged ions [M + 2H](2+) were also observed in ES-MS with high relative abundance. The fragmentation of both [M + H](+) and [M + 2H](2+) ions exhibited common fragmentation pathways for porphyrins with the same sugar residue, independently of the porphyrin structural unit and type of linkage. ES-MS/MS of the [M + H](+) ions of the galactose-substituted porphyrins gave the fragment ions [M + H - C(2)H(4)O(2)](+), [M + H - C(3)H(6)O(3)](+), [M + H - C(4)H(8)O(4)](+) and [M + H - galactose residue](+). The fragmentation of the [M + 2H](2+) ions of the porphyrins with galactose shows the common doubly charged fragment ions [porphyrin + H](2+), [M + 2H - C(2)H(4)O(2)](2+), [M + 2H - C(4)H(8)O(4)](2+), [M + 2H - galactose residue](2+) and the singly charged fragment ions [M + H - C(3)H(6)O(3)](+) and [M + H - galactose residue](+). The fragmentation of the [M + H](+) ions of glycoporphyrins with a protected galactosyl residue leads mainly to the ions [M + H - CO(CH(3))(2)](+), [M + H - 2CO(CH(3))(2)](+), [M + H - 2CO(CH(3))(2) - CO](+), [M + H - C(10)H(16)O(4)](+) and [M + H - protected galactose](+). The doubly charged ions [M + 2H](2+) fragment to give the doubly charged ions [porphyrin + H](2+) and the singly charged ions [M + H - protected galactose residue](+) and [M + H - CO(CH(3))(2)](+). For the porphyrins where the sugar structural unit is linked by an ester bond, [M + 2H](2+), ES-MS/MS showed a major and typical fragmentation corresponding to combined loss of a sugar structural unit and further loss of water, leading to the ion [M + 2H - sugar residue - H(2)O](2+), independently of the structure of the sugar structural unit. These results show that ES-MS/MS can be a powerful tool for the characterization of the sugar structural unit of glycoporphyrins, without the need for chemical hydrolysis.     

Characterization of inositol phosphorylceramides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leishmania major</Emphasis> by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization

We describe tandem mass spectrometric approaches, including multiple stage ion-trap and source collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) to characterize inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) species seen as [M - H](-) and [M - 2H + Li](-) ions in the negative-ion mode as well as [M + H](+), [M + Li](+), and [M - H + 2Li](+) ions in the positive-ion mode. Following CAD in an ion-trap or a triple-stage quadrupole instrument, the [M - H](-) ions of IPC yielded fragment ions reflecting only the inositol and the fatty acyl substituent of the molecule. In contrast, the mass spectra from MS(3) of [M - H - Inositol](-) ions contained abundant ions that are readily applicable for assignment of the fatty acid and long-chain base (LCB) moieties. Both the product-ion spectra from MS(2) and MS(3) of the [M - 2H + Alk](-), [M + H](+), [M + Alk](+), and [M - H + 2Alk](+) ions also contained rich fragment ions informative for unambiguous assignment of the fatty acyl substituent and the LCB. However, the sensitivity of the ions observed in the forms of [M - 2H + Alk](-), [M + H](+), [M + Alk](+), and [M - H + 2Alk](+) (Alk = Li, Na) is nearly 10 times less than that observed in the [M - H](-) form. In addition to the major fragmentation pathways leading to elimination of the inositol or inositol monophosphate moiety, several structurally informative ions resulting from rearrangement processes were observed. The fragmentation processes are similar to those previously reported for ceramides. While the tandem mass spectrometric approach using MS(n) (n = 2, 3) permits the structures of the Leishmania major IPCs consisting of two isomeric structures to be unveiled in detail, tandem mass spectra from constant neutral loss scans may provide a simple method for detecting IPC in mixtures.     

Separation, determination and identification of the diastereoisomers of podophyllotoxin and its esters by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid and stable high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and a high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS/MS) method were developed and validated for the separation, determination, and identification of eight pairs of diastereoisomers of podophyllotoxin and its esters at C-2 position. The separation was carried out on BDS Hypersil C18 column with CH3OH-CH3CN-H2O as the mobile phase in a gradient program. Interestingly, every 2alpha-H compound migrated before its corresponding 2beta-H epimer under optimum conditions. Also, the [M+NH(4)](+) of all eight pairs of compounds was observed in the HPLC-ESI/MS spectra. The characteristic elimination from the precursor protonated ions and the product ions at m/z 397, 313, 282, and 229 were the common diagnostic masses. The ion ratios of relative abundance [M-ROH+H](+) (ion 397) to [M+NH(4)](+), [A+H](+) (ion 313) to [M-ROH+H](+), and [M-ROH-ArH+H](+) (ion 229) to [M-ROH+H](+) in the ESI/MS/MS spectra of each pair of diastereoisomers of the lignans specifically exhibited a stereochemical effect. Thus, by using identical sample solutions and chromatographic conditions (including the same columns and gradient programs), the combination of DAD and MS/MS data permitted the separation and identification of the eight pairs of diastereoisomers of the podophyllotoxin and its esters in the mixture. The method could be used in rapidly identifying the purity and monitoring of the epimerization of 2-H of podophyllotoxin and its analogues from natural products, chemical reactions, and pharmaceutical metabolism.     

Structural analysis of platycosides in Platycodi Radix by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

Platycosides extracted from Platycodi Radix were analyzed by HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS(n)). Predominant [M+Na](+) ions in positive mode and [M-H](-) ions in negative mode in the direct ESI-MS spectra of extract provided information on molecular weights, but minor components and isomers could not be discriminated. However, combining HPLC and ESI-MS(n), allowed eleven platycosides, including four acetylated platycodin isomers and two prosapogenines to be analyzed. During MS(2) analysis conducted to elucidate the structures of platycosides, fragment ions provided information on sugar moieties attached at C-28 of triterpene structure of the platycosides. Glycosidic bond cleavages at C-3 were revealed by fragment ions in MS(3) spectra. Some characteristic fragment ions not related to sugar bond cleavage revealed that an esterified triterpene is linked to sugars at C-28. The only sugar ring-cross cleavage corresponding to 90 Da in the negative MS(2) spectrum took place at an arabinosyl sugar moiety. By using HPLC/ESI-MS(n), three acetylated platycosides in Platycodi Radix extract were newly identified.     

Complexes of cadmium ion with guanine bases detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The complexations of cadmium ion with guanine bases were detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In order to explore the toxicity of cadmium, such as oxidative stress to DNA and carcinogenesis, it is very important to determine the interactions between the cadmium ion and nucleotide. The analysis of mixed cadmium ion-guanosine aqueous solution (molar ratio 1 : 9) using ESI-MS (cone voltage 20 V) showed the presence of various cadmium complex ions, such as [n (guanosine) + Cd](2+) (n = 3-8), [2guanine + Cd](2+), [guanosine + guanine + Cd](2+) and [guanosine + 2guanine + Cd](2+). The observed [2guanine + Cd](2+), [guanosine + guanine + Cd](2+) and [guanosine + guanine + Cd](2+) ions are formed through the dissociation of the N-glycoside bond at the interface of ESI-MS. For deoxyguanosine and ethylguanine, similar cadmium complexes were observed. However, the complexes between the cadmium ion and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were not detected. Furthermore, when a higher molar ratio (Cd : guanosine) or cone voltage were used, more of the monovalent ion peaks, such as [Cd(guanine - H)(2) + H](+) and [Cd(guanosine - H)(2) + H](+), were observed and a decrease in the abundance of the divalent ions, such as [n(guanosine)+Cd](2+), occurred.     

Effects of transition metal ion coordination on the collision-induced dissociation of polyalanines

Transition metal-polyalanine complexes were analyzed in a high-capacity quadrupole ion trap after electrospray ionization. Polyalanines have no polar amino acid side chains to coordinate metal ions, thus allowing the effects metal ion interaction with the peptide backbone to be explored. Positive mode mass spectra produced from peptides mixed with salts of the first row transition metals Cr(III), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(I), and Cu(II) yield singly and doubly charged metallated ions. These precursor ions undergo collision-induced dissociation (CID) to give almost exclusively metallated N-terminal product ions whose types and relative abundances depend on the identity of the transition metal. For example, Cr(III)-cationized peptides yield CID spectra that are complex and have several neutral losses, whereas Fe(III)-cationized peptides dissociate to give intense non-metallated products. The addition of Cu(II) shows the most promise for sequencing. Spectra obtained from the CID of singly and doubly charged Cu-heptaalanine ions, [M + Cu - H](+) and [M + Cu](2+) , are complimentary and together provide cleavage at every residue and no neutral losses. (This contrasts with [M + H](+) of heptaalanine, where CID does not provide backbone ions to sequence the first three residues.) Transition metal cationization produces abundant metallated a-ions by CID, unlike protonated peptides that produce primarily b- and y-ions. The prominence of metallated a-ions is interesting because they do not always form from b-ions. Tandem mass spectrometry on metallated (Met = metal) a- and b-ions indicate that [b(n) + Met - H](2+) lose CO to form [a(n) + Met - H](2+), mimicking protonated structures. In contrast, [a(n) + Met - H](2+) eliminate an amino acid residue to form [a(n-1) + Met - H](2+), which may be useful in sequencing.     

Negative Ion Fast-Atom Bombardment Tandem Mass Spectrometry To Determine Sulfate and Linkage Position in Glycosaminoglycan-Derived Disaccharides

Negative ion fast-atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry has been used in the analysis of monosulfated disaccharides. These commercially obtained disaccharides have been enzymatically prepared from glycosaminoglycans using polysaccharide lyases. Three disaccharides from chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate and two disaccharides from heparan sulfate and chemically derivatized heparin were analyzed. All five disaccharides were isomeric, with differences in sulfate position and linkage position. The full-scan mass spectra are useful in differentiating isomers when the sulfate group resides on different saccharide units. This structural information was obtained from fragment ions produced through cleavage at the glycosidic linkage. the full-scan mass spectra of each monosulfated disaccharide also produced intense molecular anions having long lifetimes. Collisional activation of these resulted in tandem mass spectra rich in significant product ions. Some of these fragment ions were formed through ring cleavage and were useful in the determination of both sulfate and linkage position.