Reduction of copper(II) complexes by electron capture in an electrospray ionization source

The relative proportion of 1:1 Cu(I)– and Cu(II)–peptide complexes PeptCu(I)⁺ and [Pept?H+Cu(II)]⁺ yielded by electrospray ionization of copper sulfate and GlyHisLys solutions in water/methanol was examined under different source conditions. Two factors leading to an increase in Cu(I) complex ratio were found. (1) Increase of nozzle–skimmer voltages caused collision-induced dissociation of Cu(II) complexes, and most probably favor ligand-to-metal electron transfers that result in the decoordination of oxydated ligands to form PeptCu⁺. (2) Independent of these “innersphere” processes that involve only electron exchange inside the coordination sphere around the metal cation, an increase in source voltages with a concomitant increase of current and, supposedly, electron counterflow between the counterelectrode and the capillary caused an increase in PeptCu⁺ relative proportion. The hypothesis that an “outersphere” electron capture might happen in these conditions was verified by using discharge supressing SF₆ gas as nebulizing gas. The electronegative gas reduced the current brought on by high voltages and inhibited the PeptCu⁺ increase phenomenon.     

On the maximum charge state and proton transfer reactivity of peptide and protein ions formed by electrospray ionization

A relatively simple model for calculation of the energetics of gas-phase proton transfer reactions and the maximum charge state of multiply protonated ions formed by electrospray ionization is presented. This model is based on estimates of the intrinsic proton transfer reactivity of sites of protonation and point charge Coulomb interactions. From this model, apparent gas-phase basicities (GB^app) of multiply protonated ions are calculated. Comparison of this value to the gas-phase basicity of the solvent from which an ion is formed enables a maximum charge state to be calculated. For 13 commonly electrosprayed proteins, our calculated maximum charge states are within an average of 6% of the experimental values reported in the literature. This indicates that the maximum charge state for proteins is determined by their gas-phase reactivity. Similar results are observed for peptides with many basic residues. For peptides with few basic residues, we find that the maximum charge state is better correlated to the charge state in solution. For low charge state ions, we find that the most basic sites Arg, Lys, and His are preferentially protonated. A significant fraction of the less basic residues Pro, Trp, and Gln are protonated in high charge state ions. The calculated GB^app of individual protonation sites varies dramatically in the high charge state ions. From these values, we calculate a reduced cross section for proton transfer reactivity that is significantly lower than the Langevin collision frequency when the GB^app of the ion is approximately equal to the GB of the neutral base.     

Transition metal(II) complexes of (E)-cinnamoylferrocene (S)-methylcarbodithioylhydrazone

A new organometallic ligand, (E)-cinnamoylferrocene (S)-methylcarbodithioylhydrazone (HCfmc) and six transition metal(II) complexes thereof M(Cfmc)2·nH2O (M=Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+; n=0–2) have been prepared and characterized by elemetal analyses, i.r., u.v., 1H-n.m.r. spectra, electrochemical properties, fluorescence spectra and molar conductances. The HCfmc ligand acts as a bidentate donor, coordinating to the metal ions via nitrogen and sulfur atoms with a trans-configuration.     

Investigation of disulfonamide ligands derived from o-phenylenediamine and their Pb(II) complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

An electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) method, in both positive and negative ion modes, was developed for characterization of disulfonamide ligands derived from o-phenylenediamine and their Pb(II) complexes. For the ligands, negative ion mode ESI-MS in methanolic solutions gave simple and easily interpretable mass spectra. However, the spectra of Pb complexes were not readily interpretable under the same conditions. Protonated ligands and their Pb(II) complexes were observed in methanolic solutions by ESI-MS in positive ion mode. The formation of Na(+), K(+), or NH(4) (+) adducts was also observed, complicating the mass spectra and decreasing the signal intensity. In order to optimize the detection of the ligands and the Pb complexes, a method was developed by adding NaOAc in the solutions. The presence of 0.2 mM NaOAc simplified the mass spectra of the ligands and the Pb complexes, and significantly increased sensitivity in both negative and positive ion modes. This modification makes ESI-MS in both modes suitable for characterization of sulfonamide ligands and their Pb complexes, thus providing a potentially powerful tool for evaluating formation of metal complexes and screening combinatorial ligand libraries.     

Direct observation of a series of non-covalent complexes formed by phosphorylated flavonoid-protein interactions through electrospray ionization tandem mass spectroscopy

In the work described in this paper, 7-hydroxyflavone and chrysin were phosphoylated by a modified Atheron-Todd reaction. Three new phosphorylated flavonoids (PF) were obtained, and the structures of the target products were determined by X-ray and NMR data and electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectroscopy (MS). The mixed solutions of the phosphorylated flavonoids and different proteins such as insulin, lysozyme, and cytochrome c were injected in an ion trap mass spectrometer. The results show that all the phosphorylated flavonoids could form non-covalent complexes with the proteins mentioned above, while non-covalent complexes were not detected from the mixed solution of the chrysin or 7-hydroxyflavone with proteins. The research shows that the phosphorylated flavonoids could enhance the interaction with proteins. It may imply their important role in biological processes. The method described in this paper provides us additional information for studying such interactions for phosphorylated flavonoids in this important field.     

Interactions of platinum(II) complexes with sulfur-containing peptides studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry

Reactions of two platinum(II) complexes, cis-[Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]2+ (Pt1) and cis-[Pt(en)(H2O)2]2+ (Pt2), with several sulfur-containing peptides, have been investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The species produced in the reactions were detected with ESI-MS, and MS/MS analysis was performed to probe structural information. Collision-induced dissociation revealed different dissociation pathways for the main reaction products of the two platinum(II) complexes with the same peptides. The major difference is the prominent loss of ammonia ligand for complexes of Pt1 due to the strong trans effect of sulfur, whereas the loss of ethylenediamine (en) ligand from Pt2 complexes is less favored, reflecting the chelating effect of the bidentate ligand. Despite the differences in dissociation patterns, Pt1 and Pt2, in general, form structurally similar complexes with the same peptides. In the reactions with Met-Arg-Phe-Ala they both produce a N,S-chelate ring through the N-terminal NH2 and sulfur of the Met residue, and in the reactions with Ac-Met-Ala-Ser they bind to the sulfur of Met and deprotonate an amide nitrogen upstream from the anchor site. Both of them are able to promote hydrolysis of the peptides. In reactions with glutathione they both form four-membered Pt2S2 rings and Pt-S-Pt bonding through the bridging thiolate ligand, although the reaction rate is much slower for Pt2 due to steric hindrance of the en ligand.     

Ligand size distribution of phenanthroline-functionalized polyethylene glycol-iron(II) complexes determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and computer simulation

The complex formation in solution, and the gas-phase dissociation of a phenanthrolineterminated poly(ethylene glycol) with Fe²⁺ ions were investigated. The size distribution of poly(ethylene glycol)-α-monomethyl-ω-5-[1,10]phenanthroline (mPEG_phen) was determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Based on the measured ligand size distribution of mPEG_phen by ESI-MS, the 1:3 complex formation (Fe²⁺/mPEG_Phen) was computer-simulated as a pure random assembly process. The simulated distribution fits excellently to that of the complex Fe(mPEG_phen)₃²⁺ determined from the ESI-MS intensities. In addition, the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the Fe(mPEG_phen)₃²⁺ complex was also studied by tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and by computer simulation, as well. The ESI-MS/MS intensity distribution of the Fe(mPEG_phen)₂²⁺ formed from Fe(mPEG_phen)₃²⁺ by the loss of an mPEG_phen ligand under CID conditions fits quite well to the calculated one.     

Site-specifically cleavage of oxidized insulin B chain with Zn（Ⅱ） ion studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry investigation showed that the binding sites of Zn^2＋ with oxidized insulin B chain are His 5, His 10, and Arg 22, which lead to the selective cleavages of the peptide bonds at Ash 3- Gin 4, His 5-Leu 6, Gly 8-Ser 9, and Glu 21-Arg 22 of oxidized insulin B chain.     

Study of diketone/metal ion complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: Influence of Keto-Enol tautomerism and chelation

The formation and collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) behavior of a series of complexes containing cyclic or linear diketone ligands and alkali, alkaline earth, or transition metal ions are investigated. Electrospray ionization (ESI) is utilized for introduction of the metal ion complexes into a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The proximity of the carbonyl groups is crucial for formation and detection of ion complexes by ESI. For example, no metal ion complexes are observed for 1,4-cyclohexanedione, but they are readily detected for the isomers, 1,2-and 1,3-cyclohexanedione. Although the diketones form stable doubly charged complexes, the formation of singly charged alkaline earth complexes of the type (nL + M²⁺ ? H⁺)⁺ where L = 1,3-cyclohexanedione or 2,4-pentanedione is the first evidence of charge reduction. CAD investigations provide further evidence of charge reduction processes occurring in the gas-phase complexes. The CAD studies indicate that an intramolecular proton transfer between two diketone ligands attached to a doubly charged metal ion, followed by elimination of the resulting protonated ligand, produces the charge reduced complex. For transition metal complexation, the preference for formation of doubly charged versus singly charged complexes correlates with the keto-enol distribution of the diketones in solution.     

Primary and secondary locations of charge sites in angiotensin II (M + 2H)2+ ions formed by electrospray ionization

High-energy tandem mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics calculations are used to determine the locations of charge in metastably decomposing (M + 2H)2+ ions of human angiotensin II. Charge-separation reactions provide critical information regarding charge sites in multiple charged ions. The most probable kinetic energy released (Tm.p.) from these decompositions are obtained using kinetic energy release distributions (KERDs) in conjunction with MS/MS (MS2), MS/MS/MS (MS3), and MS/MS/MS/MS (MS4) experiments. The most abundant singly and doubly charged product ions arise from precursor ion structures in which one proton is located on the arginine (Arg) side chain and the other proton is located on a distal peptide backbone carbonyl oxygen. The MS3 KERD experiments show unequivocally that neither the N-terminal amine nor the aspartic acid (Asp) side chain are sites of protonation. In the gas phase, protonation of the less basic peptide backbone instead of the more proximal and basic histidine (His) side chain is favored as a result of reduced coulomb repulsion between the two charge sites. The singly and doubly charged product ions of lesser abundance arise from precursor ion structures in which one proton is located on the Arg side chain and the other on the His side chain. This is demonstrated in the MS3 and MS4 mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry experiments. Interestingly, (b7" + OH)2+ product ions, like the (M + 2H)2+ ions of angiotensin II, are observed to have at least two different decomposing structures in which charge sites have a primary and secondary location.     

DFT B3LYP calculation of the spatial structure of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) template complexes formed in ternary systems metal(II) ion-dithiooxamide-formaldehyde

The hybrid density functional theory B3LYP method with the 6-31G(d) basis set and the Gaussian 98 program has been used for calculating the geometric parameters of the Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes with NNSS-donor macrocyclic ligands forming in the course of template processes in the M(II)-dithiooxamide-formaldehyde systems. The bond lengths and bond angles in the complexes with the MN₂S₂ metal chelate core are reported. For all M(II) ions, the extra six-membered chelate ring that form as a result of template assembly is rotated through a rather large angle with respect to two five-membered rings and the ring itself is not planar.     

Multiply charged ions of ruthenium(II), rhodium(III) and cobalt(III) complexes in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Multiply charged ions from electrospray ionization (ESI) were observed for ruthenium-bidentate ligand complexes, such as [RuL₂B]X₂ and [(RuL₂)₂B]X₄, where L is 2,2′-bipyridine, B are tetradentate ligands of 2,2′-bis(2′-pyridyl)bibenzimidazole and 2,6-bis(2′-pyridyl)benzodiimidazole, bidentate ligand of 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole and related compounds and X is CIO₄^- or CI^-. ESI mass spectra showed a simple mass pattern for easy structural assignment and detecting impurities. The mass spectra for binuclear complexes provide a charge state distribution ranging from 4+ to 2+ for Ru(II)—Ru(II) compounds and 5+ to 2+ for Ru(II)—Rh(III) compounds. It was found that different multiply charged ions are generated by loss of counterions and by protonation/deprotonation at the proton site of ligands B. The abundances of these ions are qualitatively explained in terms of the acidity of metal complexes depending on the bridging ligand structures and the charge of the metal ions. Ions produced by removal of ligands were hardly observed.     

Rod-like phases formed by Ni(II) and VO(II) complexes of tetradentate enaminoketone ligands

Most of the nickel(II) complexes of tetradentate enaminoketone ligands obtained, although not strictly calamitic and with a rather low length to width ratio, form enantiotropic rod-like nematic and smectic A phases. Corresponding vanadyl(II) complexes exhibit only monotropic mesophases. The vanadyl complexes, due to their non-planar structure, are chiral with an asymmetry centre placed at the metal ion.     

Determination of N9/N7-isomer ratio of alkyl (guaninyl)acetates by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

N9- and N7-substituted (guaninyl)acetic esters were studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) in order to determine their ratio in alkylation reactions. The loss of ammonia is significantly different for the N9- and N7-alkylated guanine regioisomer pairs. More importantly, the abundance of the [MH-17]+ ion is in linear correlation with the N9-isomer content. Therefore, the ratio of regioisomers can be determined in a mixture containing these compounds.     

Detection of Al(III) and Ga(III) complexes with morin by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The Al(III) and Ga(III) complexes formed by morin (M) in aqueous solution were investigated by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In the full scan mass spectra, Al:M showed 1:2 and 2:3 stoichiometric ratios. When (S)-N-acetylserine methyl ester (Ser), as a partial mimic of the serine residue in silk, was added to Al:M and Ga:M complexes in aqueous solution, the mass spectra of Ser:Al:M showed 1:1:1 and 1:1:2 stoichiometric ratios. The patterns of the mass spectra of Ga:M and Ser:Ga:M complexes were similar to those for the corresponding Al(III) complexes. Calculated heats of formation of potential structures of the complexes, with and without bound water, were obtained using semiempirical PM3 calculations.     

Evaluation of the metal binding properties of a histidine-rich fusogenic peptide by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICRMS) was used to investigate metal ion interactions of the 18 amino acid peptide fragment B18 (LGLLLRHLRHHSNLLANI), derived from the membrane-associated protein bindin. The peptide sequence B18 represents the minimal membrane-binding motif of bindin and resembles a putative fusion peptide. The histidine-rich peptide has been shown to self-associate into distinct supramolecular structures, depending on the presence of Zn(2+) and Cu(2+). We examined the binding of B18 to the metal ions Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+) and La(3+). For Cu(2+), we compared the metal binding affinities of the wild-type B18 peptide with those of its mutants in which one, two or three histidine residues have been replaced by serines. Upon titration of B18 with Cu(2+) ions, we found sequential binding of two Cu(2+) ions with dissociation constants of approximately 34 and approximately 725 micro M. Mutants of B18, in which one histidine residue is replaced by serine, still exhibit sequential binding of two copper ions with affinities for the first Cu(2+) ion comparable to that of wild-type B18 peptide, but with a greatly reduced affinity for the second Cu(2+) ion in mutants H112S and H113S. For mutants in which two histidines are replaced by serines, the affinity for the first Cu(2+) ion is reduced approximately 3-10 times in comparison with B18. The mutant in which all three histidine residues are replaced by serines exhibits an approximately 14-fold lower binding for the first Cu(2+) ion compared with B18. For the other metal ions under investigation (Zn(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+) and La(3+)), a modest affinity to B18 was detected binding to the peptide in a 1 : 1 stoichiometry. Our results show a high affinity of the wild-type fusogenic peptide B18 for Cu(2+) ions whereas the Zn(2+) affinity was found to be comparable to that of other di- and trivalent metal ions.     

Determination of conditional stability constants for some divalent transition metal ion‐EDTA complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Conditional stability constants of coordination complexes comprising divalent transition metals, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were determined utilizing electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The deviation of signal response of a reference complex was monitored at addition of a second metal ion. The conditional stability constant for the competing metal was then determined through solution equilibria equations. The method showed to be applicable to a system where Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ competed for EDTA at pH 5. When Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ competed for EDTA, the equilibrium changed over time. This change was shown to be affected in rate and size by the type of organic solvent added. In this work, 30% of either methanol or acetonitrile was used. It was found that if calibration curves are prepared for both metal complexes in solution and the measurements are repeated with sufficient time space, any change in equilibrium of sample solutions will be discovered. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solution structure of a seven coordinated manganese(II) complex via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The mononuclear complex [Mn(tptz)(CH₃COO)(OH₂)₂]NO₃ (1) was investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in aqueous solution at pH 4.5. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry shows that mononuclear and dinuclear manganese cationic species are present in solution, probably in equilibrium with neutral 1. An experiment showed that the most important reaction in the presence of oxone (2KHSO₅·KHSO₄·K₂SO₄) is decoordination.