Mass spectrometric identification of amino acid thiohydantoins

Amino acid thiohydantoins were identified using electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Some fragmentations of thiohydantoin ring were also identified. These results suggest that the thiohydantoin method should be useful for the stepwise peptide sequence analysis starting from the carboxyl terminus. The sequence of a model tripeptide was determined by the combination of the thiohydantoin method and mass spectrometry. In the case of peptide which contained a proline residue as their C-terminal peptide, cleavage of the peptide bond cannot be achieved.     

Mass spectrometric identification of monoglycosylglycerins in the form of esters of phenylboric acid

Conclusions The mass spectra of phenylboric esters of 3-O--D-glucopyranosyl-, 3-O--D-glucopyranosyl-, 3-O--D-galactopyranosyl-, 3-O--D-galactopyranosyl-, and 3-O--D-mannopyranosyl-L-glycerins were studied. The mass spectra permit a distinguishment of the enumerated compounds.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 821–828, April, 1975.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of leukotriene A4 and other chemically reactive metabolites of arachidonic acid

The biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes proceeds through the formation of chemically reactive intermediates leukotriene A4 (LTA4) and prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) which in aqueous solutions have chemical half-lives of 3 s and 3 min, respectively. Prostacyclin (PGI2) is another chemically reactive prostanoid that has a chemical half-life of 3-4 min. The recent development of reversed phase HPLC stationary phases that are stable to elevated pH (pH 10-12) without significant column damage has permitted direct analysis of these acid-sensitive eicosanoids. Using electrospray ionization, molecular anions [M - H]- of these compounds were observed at m/z 317 for LTA4 and m/z 351 for both PGH2 and PGI2. The mechanism of formation of ions derived from collisional activation of LTA4 was studied using stable isotope labeled and chemical analogs of LTA4 and found to involve formation of highly conjugated anions at m/z 261 and 163. The collisional activation of the molecular anion of PGH2 yielded a product ion spectrum identical to that observed for the isomeric prostaglandins PGE2 and PGD2. However, it was possible to baseline separate PGE2, PDG2, and PGH2 by reversed phase HPLC using basic HPLC mobile phases. The collisional activation of PGI2 led to a family of abundant ions including highly conjugated carbon-centered and oxygen-centered radical species (m/z 245 and 205) likely derived from the attack of the carboxylate anion on the cyclic enolether of PGI2 as well as the most abundant product ion (m/z 215) which formed following loss of neutral hexanal and water. The structures of these product ions were consistent with high resolution measurements measured in a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer.     

Mass spectrometric identification of an azobenzene derivative produced by smectite-catalyzed conversion of 3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid

The compound 3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid (3-amino-HPAA) reacts with smectite to form a soluble azobenzene arsonic acid compound. This reaction is of particular interest because it provides a possible mechanism for the formation of a new type of arsenic compound in natural water systems. 3-Amino-HPAA is a degradation product excreted by chickens that are fed rations amended with roxarsone. Roxarsone is used to control coccidial intestinal parasites in most of the broiler chickens grown in the United States. The structure of the azobenzene arsonic acid compound was first inferred from negative-ion and positive-ion low-resolution mass-spectrometric analyses of the supernatant of the smectite suspension. Elemental composition of the parent ion determined by high-resolution positive-ion mass spectrometric measurements was consistent with the proposed structure of the azobenzene arsonic acid compound.     

Mass spectrometric screening and identification of acidic metabolites in fulvic acid fractions of contaminated groundwater

The anaerobic microbial degradation of aromatic and heterocyclic compounds is a prevalent process in contaminated groundwater systems. The introduction of functional groups into the contaminant molecules often results in aromatic and heterocyclic and succinic acids. These metabolites can be used as indicators for prevailing degradation processes. Therefore, there is a strong interest in developing analytical methods for screening and identification of these metabolites. In this study, neutral loss scans (NLS) by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry with losses of CO₂ (NL ?m/z?=?44) and C₂H₄(CO₂)₂ (NL ?m/z?=?116) were applied for the first time successfully to screen selectively for acidic and succinic metabolites of aromatic and heterocyclic contaminants in two fulvic acid fractions from a contaminated site and a downstream region of a tar oil-polluted groundwater. Identification of these preselected signals was performed by high-resolution mass spectrometry with a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry instrument. High-resolution mass and mass fragmentation data were then compared with a list of known metabolites from a literature search or matched with chemical databases supported with in silico fragmentation. Based on authentic analytical standards, several compounds from NLS were identified (e.g., 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid, benzylsuccinic acid, naphthyl-2-methylsuccinic acid, 2-carboxyindane, and 2-carboxybenzothiophene) and tentatively identified (e.g., benzofuranmethylsuccinic acid and dihydrocarboxybenzothiophene) as aromatic, phenolic, heterocyclic, and succinic acids. The acidic metabolites were found exclusively in the contaminated region of the aquifer which indicates active biodegradation processes and no relevant occurrence of acidic metabolites in the downstream region.

Mass spectrometric identification of peptide hormones in doping-control analysis

The identification power of mass spectrometry has enabled the determination of hundreds of prohibited drugs in doping-control analysis. A few years ago, its utility was extended to peptide hormones such as erythropoietins, synthetic insulins and corticotrophins detectable in blood or urine. New assays have been established to improve the fight against doping, employing highly selective and sensitive detection methods based on chromatographic and tandem mass spectrometric techniques. In particular, in light of recent scandals related to assumed peptide hormone misuse and attempts at the alteration of urine, sophisticated analytical tools are essential for obtaining unequivocal results in sports drug testing.     

Mass spectrometric identification of an intramolecular disulfide bond in thermally inactivated triosephosphate isomerase from a thermophilic organism Methanocaldococcus jannaschii

The triosephosphate isomerase from the hyperthermophilic organism Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (MjTIM) is a tetrameric enzyme, with a monomer molecular mass of 23245 Da. The kinetic parameters, the k(cat) and the K(m) values, of the enzyme, examined at 25 °C and 50 °C, are 4.18 × 10(4) min(-1) and 3.26 × 10(5) min(-1) , and 0.33 and 0.86 mM(-1) min(-1) , respectively. Although the circular dichroism and fluorescence emission spectra of the protein remain unchanged up to 95 °C, suggesting that the secondary and tertiary structures are not lost even at this extreme temperature, surprisingly, incubation of this thermophilic enzyme at elevated temperature (65-85 °C) results in time-dependent inactivation, with almost complete loss of activity after 3 h at 75 °C. High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) reveals the monomeric mass of the heated sample to be 23243 Da. The 2 Da difference between native and heated samples suggests a probable formation of a disulfide bridge between proximal cysteine thiol groups. Liquid chromatography (LC)/ESI-MS/MS analysis of tryptic digests in the heated samples permits identification of a pentapeptide (DCGCK, residues 80-84) in which a disulfide bond formation between Cys81 and Cys83 was established through the collision-induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation of the intact disulfide-bonded molecule, yielding characteristic fragmentation patterns with key neutral losses. Neither residue is directly involved in the catalytic activity. Inspection of the three-dimensional structure suggests that subtle conformation effects transmitted through a network of hydrogen bonds to the active site residue Lys8 may be responsible for the loss of catalytic activity.     

Mass spectrometric identification and characterization of antimony complexes with ribose-containing biomolecules and an RNA oligomer

Mass spectrometric techniques have been used to study the interaction of inorganic Sb(V) with biomolecules containing a ribose or deoxyribose moiety. Electrospray (ES) mass spectra of reaction mixtures containing inorganic Sb(V) and one of several biomolecules (adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, uridine, adenosine-5′-monophosphate, adenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate, ribose, or 2′-deoxyadenosine) afforded high-mass antimony-containing ions corresponding to Sb(V)–biomolecule complexes of stoichiometry 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3. The complexes were characterized by collision-induced dissociation (CID) tandem mass spectrometry (MS) using ion-trap multistage MS. The CID results revealed that Sb(V) binds to the ribose or deoxyribose moiety. Structures are proposed for the Sb–biomolecule complexes. Analysis of the reaction mixtures by reversed-phase chromatography coupled on-line to either inductively coupled plasma (ICP) MS or ES–MS showed that in solution Sb(V) forms complexes with all the analyzed biomolecules with vicinal cis hydroxyl groups. Evidence (from size-exclusion chromatography ICP–MS and direct infusion ES–MS) of complexation of Sb(V) with an RNA oligomer, but not with a DNA oligomer, supports the suggestion that the presence of vicinal cis hydroxyl groups is critical for complexation to occur. This is the first direct evidence of complexation of Sb(V) with RNA. Results obtained by studying the effect of changing reaction conditions, i.e. pH, reaction time, and Sb/biomolecule molar ratio, on the extent of Sb–biomolecule formation suggest the reaction may be of physiological importance. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) and precursor-ion-scanning tandem MS were investigated to determine their potential to detect trace levels of the Sb–biomolecule complexes in biological samples. Application of SRM MS–MS in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography enabled successful detection of an Sb–adenosine complex that had been spiked into a complex biological matrix (liver homogenate).Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Enzymatic methyl transfer: role of an active site residue in generating active site compaction that correlates with catalytic efficiency

Human catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) catalyzes a methyl transfer from S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) to dopamine. Site-specific mutants at three positions (Tyr68, Trp38, and Val108) have been characterized with regard to product distribution, catalytic efficiency, and secondary kinetic isotope effects. The series of mutations at Tyr68 within wild-type protein and the common polymorphic variant (Val108Met) yields a linear correlation between the catalytic efficiency and the size of the secondary kinetic isotope effect. We conclude that active site compaction in COMT is modulated by a proximal side chain residing behind the sulfur-bearing methyl group of AdoMet. These findings are discussed in the context of the active site compression that has been postulated to accompany enzyme-supported hydrogen tunneling.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic study of a chemically modified highly active xylanase fromScopulariopsis sp

The amino groups of purified least acidic xylanase (LAX) isomer and carboxyl groups of purified highly acidic xylanase (HAX) isomer fromScopulariopsis sp. were chemically modified, resulting in charge neutralization and reversal. Modification of the second amino group was accompanied by the complete loss of enzyme activity in both the absence and presence of xylose. Multiple alignments of family 10 and 11 xylanases revealed that there is a pair of fully conserved Lys residues only in family 10 members. Xylanase structures from family 10 members showed that one of the conserved Lys residues is found near the active-site cleft that makes an H-bond with the substrate. The LAX and HAX isoenzymes in which one amino and three to four carboxyl groups were modified were subjected to kinetic and thermodynamic characterization. There were no differences in pH optima between the native and modified HAX, but there was a broadening of pH optimum toward the alkaline range for charge-neutralized LAX and a double pH optimum for charge-reversed LAX. TheV _max/K _m of both modified LAX and HAX decreased relative to the native species. The thermodynamics of xylan hydrolysis showed that the decrease in the catalytic activity of modified LAX enzymes was entropically driven. When compared with native enzyme, the thermostabilities of modified LAX enzymes increased in the presence and decreased in the absence of substrate. The thermodynamics of kinetic stability for modified LAX enzymes revealed that this increase in thermolability was owing to the decrease in ΔH# with a concomitant increase in ΔS# compared with native LAX. The thermostabilities of all the modified HAX species decreased except that of charge-neutralized HAX, whose half-life significantly increased in 50% (v/v) aqueous dioxan. These results suggest that the altered properties of the modified enzymes were a result of the conformational changes brought about by chemical modification. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Mass spectrometric monitoring of 2-oxoglutaric acid in fermentation broth

A mass spectrometric method for monitoring 2-oxoglutarie acid (an essentially nonvolatile compound) in aqueous solutions is described. Silicone rubber membranes are used for mass spectrometric sampling; the acid is esterified with methanol. The assay was applied to monitoring 2-oxoglutarie acid in penicillin fermentation broths. Three ion peaks of the ester were suitable for measurements. Preliminary work on faster esterification with diazomethane in diethyl ether is reported.     

Mass spectrometric identification and characterization of a new long-term metabolite of metandienone in human urine

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are some of the most frequently detected drugs in amateur and professional sports. Doping control laboratories have developed numerous assays enabling the determination of administered drugs and/or their metabolic products that allow retrospectives with respect to pharmacokinetics and excretion profiles of steroids and their metabolites. A new metabolite generated from metandienone has been identified as 18-nor-17beta-hydroxymethyl,17alpha-methyl-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one in excretion study urine samples providing a valuable tool for the long-term detection of metandienone abuse by athletes in sports drug testing. The metabolite was characterized using gas chromatography/(tandem) mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/high-resolution/high-accuracy (tandem) mass spectrometry by characteristic fragmentation patterns representing the intact 3-keto-1,4-diene structure in combination with typical product ions substantiating the proposed C/D-ring structure of the steroid metabolite. In addition, structure confirmation was obtained by the analysis of excretion study urine specimens obtained after administration of 17-CD(3)-labeled metandienone providing the deuterated analogue to the newly identified metabolite. 18-Nor-17beta-hydroxymethyl,17alpha-methyl-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one was determined in metandienone administration study urine specimens up to 19 days after application of a single dose of 5 mg, hence providing an extended detection period compared with commonly employed strategies.     

Mass spectrometric identification of cyclic polysulfides in sediment of the Eastern Gulf of Finland. II

Nine polysulfides, previously unknown as environmental organic pollutants, were analyzed from a sediment sample from the Eastern Gulf of Finland. The determinations were done by gas chromatography connected to low- and high-resolution mass spectrometers. The structure of the polysulfides was elucidated by determination of isotopic composition of abundant molecular and fragment ions by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), the interpretation of ion structures in low-resolution mass spectra (LMRS) using the thermochemical approach, the application of fragmentation rules and performing the ICLU simulation of abundance of ions in isotope clusters. Seven compounds were known in literature, but mass spectra were reported for only two of them, both recorded from mixture. Struture evaluation was successful for other substances, but not for the substance(s) in first eluting GC peak, where HRMS date were not obtained. Suggested structures of the cyclic compounds were (in the order of GC retention) 3,4-dithiacyclohexene, 1,2,3-trithiacyclohexane, 3,4,5- trithiacyclohexene, 1,2,4-trithiacyclohexane, cyclopropyl hydrodisulfide, 1,2-dithiole-3-thione and 1,2,3,4,5-penta- thiacyclo-octane. One acyclic congener identified was dimethyl tetrasulfide.     

Mass spectrometric identification of cyclic polysulfides in sediment of the Eastern Gulf of Finland. I

Structures of six cyclic polysulfides, previously unknown as organic environmental pollutants, were analyzed from a sediment sample from the Eastern Gulf of Finland. The determinations were done by gas chromatography connected to mass spectrometry. High resolution (HRMS) measurements of the isotopic composition of four compounds could be done to confirm their molecular formulae. Total low resolution (LRMS) spectra were used to elucidate structures of all six compounds by thermochemical approach, application of fragmentation rules and by ICLU simulation of the spectra. The compounds were deduced to be (in the order of GC- retention) 1,2,4-trithiacycloheptane, tetrathiacyclopentane, 1,2,4,5-tetrathia-cyclohexane, 1,2,3,4- tetrathiacycloheptane, 1,2,3,4-tetrathiacyclohexane and 1,2,4,6-tetrathiacyclooctane.     

The acid properties of dodecasubstituted porphyrins with a chemically active NH bond

The NH acid properties of nonplanar dodecasubstituted porphyrins (H₂P) were studied by the spectropotentiometric and spectrophotometric methods and by semiempirical quantum-chemical calculations. The reaction of H₂P with a weak organic base DMSO proceeded with the formation of the H-associated form DMSO?H?PH or DMSO?H?P?H?DMSO. Strong bases KOH[222] and [NR₄]OH reacted with the formation of mono-(HP^?) or dianionic (P^2?) forms. An increase in NH acidity along the series tetraphenylporphin < tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphin < β-octaethyltetraphenylporphin < dodecaphenylporphin < β-octabromotetraphenylporphin was to a great extent caused by the polarization of molecules, which accompanied saddle-nonplanar distortions of their structure, rather than β-substituent electronic effects. The quantitative characteristics obtained using the suggested system of criteria of the chemical activity of NH bonds (¹H NMR spectral, kinetic, and quantum-chemical criteria) linearly correlated with H₂P acid dissociation constants and could be used for alternative estimation of the acidity of tetrapyrrole compounds.     

Reliable identification of pesticides using linear retention indices as an active tool in gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis

The present research is focused on the current development and employment of a dedicated pesticide mass spectral library, characterized by a double-filter search procedure: the first is based on the degree of spectral similarity and the second on chromatographic retention information (linear retention indices). The highly pure mass spectra contained in the library have been attained by subjecting mixtures of widely used pesticides to comprehensive GC-MS analysis. Linear retention indices for conventional GC-MS analyses were calculated by injecting the same compounds on a single-column GC-MS system. The effectiveness of this approach was verified by analysing a white wine sample spiked with 10 structurally similar pyrethroid compounds, through automated solid-phase microextraction-GC-MS.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of plasma composition of a D. C. arc burning in an air atmosphere

Summary The plasma composition of a d. c. arc burning in air was investigated by mass spectrometry. It has been found that the CO and CO₂ contents result from homogenous chemical reactions and that the content of carbon is about 1%.

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Massenspektrometrische Analyse der Plasmazusammensetzung eines Gleichstrombogens in Luft

Zusammenfassung Die zwischen den Luftbestandteilen und den Elektroden stattfindenden Reaktionen wurden mit Hilfe der Massenspektrometrie untersucht. Es ergab sich, da? die CO- und CO₂-Anteile von homogenen chemischen Reaktionen herrühren. Der Gehalt an Kohlenstoff betr?gt etwa 1%.