Electron capture dissociation and collision-induced dissociation of metal ion (Ag+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+) complexes of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers

The electron capture dissociation (ECD) and collision-induced dissociation (CID) of complexes of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with metal ions Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ were determined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Complexes were of the form [PD + M + mH]⁵⁺ where PD = generation two PAMAM dendrimer with amidoethanol surface groups, M = metal ion, m = 2−4. Complementary information regarding the site and coordination chemistry of the metal ions can be obtained from the two techniques. The results suggest that complexes of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ are coordinated via both core tertiary amines, whereas coordination of Ag⁺ involves a single core tertiary amine. The Zn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ complexes do not appear to involve coordination by the dendrimer core.     

Electron attachment step in electron capture dissociation (ECD) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD)

We have made use of classical dynamics trajectory simultions and ab initio electronic structure calculations to estimate the cross sections with which electrons are attached (in electron capture dissociation (ECD)) or transferred (in electron transfer dissociation (ETD)) to a model system that contained both an S-S bond that is cleaved and a -NH(3)(+) positively charged site. We used a Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg curve-crossing approximation to estimate the ETD rates for electron transfer from a CH(3)(-) anion to the -NH(3)(+) Rydberg orbital or the S-S sigma* orbital. We draw conclusions about ECD from our ETD results and from known experimental electron-attachment cross sections for cations and sigma-bonds. We predict the cross section for ETD at the positive site of our model compound to be an order of magnitude larger than that for transfer to the Coulomb-stabilized S-S bond site. We also predict that, in ECD, the cross section for electron capture at the positive site will be up to 3 orders of magnitude larger than that for capture at the S-S bond site. These results seem to suggest that attachment to such positive sites should dominate in producing S-S bond cleavage in our compound. However, we also note that cleavage induced by capture at the positive site will be diminished by an amount that is related to the distance from the positive site to the S-S bond. This dimunition can render cleavage through Coulomb-assisted S-S sigma* attachment competitive for our model compound. Implications for ECD and ETD of peptides and proteins in which SS or N-C(alpha) bonds are cleaved are also discussed, and we explain that such events are most likely susceptible to Coulomb-assisted attachment, because the S-S sigma* and C=O pi* orbitals are the lowest-lying antibonding orbitals in most peptides and proteins.     

Viologen-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer encapsulated with gold nanoparticles for nonenzymatic determination of hydrogen peroxide

The development of an accurate and low-cost monitoring technique for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a crucial demand in environment, food industry, medicine and biology. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of viologen terminated second (G2.0) and third generation (G3.0) poly(amidoamine) PAMAM dendrimers, followed by encapsulation with gold nanoparticles to form G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs. The G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs were deposited over glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to form G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE modified electrodes, respectively. The electrochemical behavior of G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCEs were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Both the G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCEs showed a pair of well-defined redox peaks in 0.1 M phosphate buffer corresponding to the redox behavior of viologen V²⁺?V^?+ radical. G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE has shown a higher current response than that of the G2.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE and further the G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE demonstrated impressive electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of H₂O₂, based on which a nonenzymatic sensor for the detection of H₂O₂ has been developed. The developed nonenzymatic sensor has displayed excellent performance towards H₂O₂ detection in the broad linear range of 0.1 mM – 6.2 mM with a low detection limit of 27 μM and high sensitivity of 202.7 μA mM^?1 cm^?2. The G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE modified electrode with its extensive dendritic structure creating tailored sanctuary to accommodate a large number of viologen mediator and AuNPs exhibited good operational and long term stability and further the quantification of H₂O₂ in real samples has been verified by standard addition method.     

Detection and characterization of methionine oxidation in peptides by collision-induced dissociation and electron capture dissociation

Electron capture dissociation (ECD) and collision-induced dissociation (CID), the two complementary fragmentation techniques, are demonstrated to be effective in the detection and localization of the methionine sulfoxide [Met(O)] residues in peptides using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry. The presence of Met(O) can be easily recognized in the low-energy CID spectrum showing the characteristic loss of methanesulfenic acid (CH(3)SOH, 64 Da) from the side chain of Met(O). The position of Met(O) can then be localized by ECD which is capable of providing extensive peptide backbone fragmentation without detaching the labile Met(O) side chain. We studied CID and ECD of several Met(O)-containing peptides that included the 44-residue human growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) and the human atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). The distinction and complementarity of the two fragmentation techniques were particularly remarkable in their effects on ANP, a disulfide bond-containing peptide. While the predominant fragmentation pathway in CID of ANP was the loss of CH(3)SOH (64 Da) from the molecular ion, ECD of ANP resulted in many sequence-informative products, including those from cleavages within the disulfide-bonded cyclic structure, to allow for the direct localization of Met(O) without the typical procedures for disulfide bond reduction followed by [bond]SH alkylation.     

Electron capture dissociation of peptides metalated with alkaline-earth metal ions

The possible use of divalent alkaline-earth metal ions, including Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+, as charge carrier for electron capture dissociation of peptides was investigated. Model peptides of RGGGVGGGR and NGGGWGGGN were used to simplify the interpretation of spectral information. It was demonstrated that useful electron capture dissociation (ECD) tandem mass spectra of these metalated peptides could be generated. Interestingly, peptides metalated with different alkaline-earth metal ions generated very similar ECD tandem mass spectra. Metalated c-ions and z-ions were the predominant fragment ions. Only Mg2+-metalated peptides gave somewhat different results. Some nonmetalated c-ions were observed from ECD of [RGGGVGGGR + Mg]2+ but not from [NGGGWGGGN + Mg]2+. Together with some ab initio calculations, it was established that the bound metal ions might activate the acidity of the amide hydrogen. With the presence of high proton affinity moiety, such as N-terminal amino group and/or side chain of the arginine residues, the metalated peptide ions could exist predominantly in their zwitterion forms, in which one or two backbone amide group(s) was deprotonated and the high proton affinity functional group(s) was protonated. It was believed that electron capture leads primarily to the reduction of the mobile proton rather than the metal ions. With this zwitterion model, the formation of nonmetalated c-fragments and the generation of similar ECD spectra for peptides metalated with various alkaline-earth metal ions could readily to be explained. Another interesting observation in the ECD mass spectra of metalated peptides is related to the enhanced formation of the minor ECD products, i.e., (c - 1)(+*) and (z + 1)+ ions. Together with ab initio calculations using a truncated peptide model, various possible reaction mechanisms for the formation of these minor ECD products were evaluated. It was concluded that hydrogen transfer between the initiated formed c and z(.) species plays an important role in the formation (c - 1)(+*) and (z + 1)+ ions. Although peptides metalated with these metal ions do not have better ECD efficiency compared to the multiply-protonated peptides, it provides practical accessibility of ECD methods to analyze small peptides with no basic amino acid residues.     

Equilibrium and kinetics studies of Cu(II) ions adsorption on polyamidoamine dendrimer starch

A polyamidoamine dendrimer starch (PSt) was prepared with epichlorohydrin as cross-linking agent and characterized by FTIR and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption behavior of PSt for Cu(II) ions was then studied. Effects of adsorption time, initial concentration of Cu(II) ions, and temperature on the adsorption of Cu(II) ions by PSt were researched, and the equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption process were further investigated. The results showed that PSt can effectively adsorb Cu(II) ions from the solution. The adsorption process can be well described by Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacities of G1PSt, G2PSt, and G4PSt were 3.0571, 3.4228, and 3.9527 mmol/g, respectively. The adsorption of Cu(II) ions on PSt was endothermic in nature. In addition, the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were applied to test the experimental data. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided a better correlation of the experimental data in comparison with the pseudo-first-order model.     

Structural characterization of the GM1 ganglioside by infrared multiphoton dissociation, electron capture dissociation, and electron detachment dissociation electrospray ionization FT-ICR MS/MS

Gangliosides play important biological roles and structural characterization of both the carbohydrate and the lipid moieties is important. The FT-ICR MS/MS techniques of electron capture dissociation (ECD), electron detachment dissociation (EDD), and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) provide extensive fragmentation of the protonated and deprotonated GM1 ganglioside. ECD provides extensive structural information, including identification of both halves of the ceramide and cleavage of the acetyl moiety of the N-acetylated sugars. IRMPD provides similar glycan fragmentation but no cleavage of the acetyl moiety. Cleavage between the fatty acid and the long-chain base of the ceramide moiety is seen in negative-ion IRMPD but not in positive-ion IRMPD of GM1. Furthermore, this extent of fragmentation requires a range of laser powers, whereas all information is available from a single ECD experiment. However, stepwise fragmentation by IRMPD may be used to map the relative labilities for a series of cleavages. EDD provides the alternative of electron-induced fragmentation for negative ions with extensive fragmentation, but suffers from low efficiency as well as complication of data analysis by frequent loss of hydrogen atoms. We also show that analysis of MS/MS data for glycolipids is greatly simplified by classification of product ion masses to specific regions of the ganglioside based solely on mass defect graphical analysis.     

Backbone and side-chain cleavages in electron detachment dissociation (EDD)

Ab-initio electronic structure methods are used to explore potential energy profiles pertinent to the fragmentations of gas-phase radicals thought to be formed in the new negative-ion mode EDD mass spectroscopic studies of peptides. Barriers to fragmentation as well as the associated overall energy differences are computed for the observed Calpha-C backbone bond cleavage as well as for side-chain loss for a variety of side chains (valine, arginine, glutamic acid, and tyrosine). It is found that Calpha-C bond cleavage is favored over side-chain loss, although loss of a tyrosine side chain may compete with Calpha-C cleavage because the tyrosine radical formed can delocalize its unpaired electron over its aromatic ring. In addition, it is found that fragmentation of the nitrogen-centered radicals formed in EDD results in cleavage to produce so-called a*/x fragments rather than a/x* fragments both because producing the former involves a significantly smaller barrier and is nearly thermoneutral, while cleavage to yield a/x* is significantly endothermic.     

Detailed unfolding and folding of gaseous ubiquitin ions characterized by electron capture dissociation

The unfolding enthalpy of the native state of ubiquitin in solution is 5 to 8 times that of its gaseous ions, as determined by electron capture dissociation (ECD) mass spectrometry. Although two-state folding occurs in solution, the three-state gaseous process proposed for this by Clemmer and co-workers based on ion mobility data is supported in general by ECD mass spectra, including relative product yields, distinct Delta H(unfolding) values between states, site-specific melting temperatures, and folding kinetics indicating a cooperative process. ECD also confirms that the 13+ ions represent separate conformers, possibly with side-chain solvated alpha-helical structures. However, the ECD data on the noncovalent bonding in the 5+ to 13+ ions, determined overall in 69 of the 75 interresidue sites, shows that thermal unfolding proceeds via a diversity of intermediates whose conformational characteristics also depend on charge site locations. As occurs with increased acidity in solution, adding 6 protons to the 5+ ions completely destroys their tertiary noncovalent bonding. However, solvation of the newly protonated sites to the backbone instead increases the stability of the secondary structure (possibly an alpha-helix) of these gaseous ions, while in solution these new sites aid denaturation by solvation in the aqueous medium. Extensive ion equilibration can lead to even more compact and diverse conformers. The three-state unfolding of gaseous ubiquitin appears to involve ensembles of individual chain conformations in a "folding funnel" of parallel reaction paths. This also provides a further caution for characterizing solution conformers from their gas-phase behavior.     

Liquid chromatography electron capture dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ECD-MS/MS) versus liquid chromatography collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-CID-MS/MS) for the identification of proteins

Electron capture dissociation (ECD) offers many advantages over the more traditional fragmentation techniques for the analysis of peptides and proteins, although the question remains: How suitable is ECD for incorporation within proteomic strategies for the identification of proteins? Here, we compare LC-ECD-MS/MS and LC-CID-MS/MS as techniques for the identification of proteins. Experiments were performed on a hybrid linear ion trap-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Replicate analyses of a six-protein (bovine serum albumin, apo-transferrin, lysozyme, cytochrome c, alcohol dehydrogenase, and β-galactosidase) tryptic digest were performed and the results analyzed on the basis of overall protein sequence coverage and sequence tag lengths within individual peptides. The results show that although protein coverage was lower for LC-ECD-MS/MS than for LC-CID-MS/MS, LC-ECD-MS/MS resulted in longer peptide sequence tags, providing greater confidence in protein assignment.     

Influence of charge state and sodium cationization on the electron detachment dissociation and infrared multiphoton dissociation of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides

Electron detachment dissociation (EDD) Fourier transform mass spectrometry has recently been shown to be a useful method for tandem mass spectrometry analysis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). EDD produces abundant glycosidic and cross-ring fragmentations that are useful for localizing sites of sulfation in GAG oligosaccharides. Although EDD fragmentation can be used to characterize GAGs in a single tandem mass spectrometry experiment, SO3 loss accompanies many peaks and complicates the resulting mass spectra. In this work we demonstrate the ability to significantly decrease SO3 loss by selection of the proper ionized state of GAG precursor ions. When the degree of ionization is greater than the number of sulfate groups in an oligosaccharide, a significant reduction in SO3 loss is observed in the EDD mass spectra. These data suggested that SO3 loss is reduced when an electron is detached from carboxylate groups instead of sulfate. Electron detachment occurs preferentially from carboxylate versus sulfate for thermodynamic reasons, provided that carboxylate is in its ionized state. Ionization of the carboxylate group is achieved by selecting the appropriate precursor ion charge state, or by the replacement of protons with sodium cations. Increasing the ionization state by sodium cation addition decreases, but does not eliminate, SO3 loss from infrared multiphoton dissociation of the same GAG precursor ions.     

Synthesis of polyamidoamine dendrimer (PAMAM/CuS/AA) nanocomposite and its application in the removal of Isma acid fast yellow G Dye

The adsorption of Isma acid fast yellow G dye was studied using polyamidoamine (PAMAM)/Copper sulfide (CuS)/AA nanocomposite containing different amounts of CuS by batch technique. PAMAM dendrimer/CuS/AA nanocomposites were synthesized via gamma irradiation cross‐linking method with the aid of sonication. The nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy X‐ray, thermal gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet‐visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The size of the CuS nanoparticles was formed in the range of 12–19 nm. The adsorption capacity of the nanocomposites was evaluated as a function of initial dye concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage, and time. It was verified that the adsorption rate fits a pseudo‐second‐order kinetics for initial Isma acid fast yellow G dye concentrations. Results indicated that the adsorption of Isma acid fast yellow G dye fitted well to the Langmuir model. Our results demonstrate that the PAMAM dendrimer/CuS/AA nanocomposite is very promising for removing organic dyes from wastewater. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) succinamic acid dendrimers generation 4 with human serum albumin

Dendrimers, a relatively new group of highly branched three dimensional polymers, are intensively investigated to use them in biomedical and physicochemical sciences. Their specific architecture gives them the ability to interact with many different types of molecules. In our studies the interaction between PAMAM succinamic acid dendrimers generation 4 (PAMAM-SAH G4) and human serum albumin (HSA) was examined. Experiments showed that a single molecule of a HSA can bind approximately 6 particles of dendrimers. The fluorescence studies demonstrated that dendrimers lead to a decrease in protein fluorescence but changes in fluorescence anisotropy were not observed. Alterations in the spectrum of circular dichroism indicated changes in the secondary protein structure. The results clearly show that this generation of dendrimers possesses a strong ability to interact with human serum albumin.     

Electron capture dissociation product ion abundances at the X amino acid in RAAAA-X-AAAAK peptides correlate with amino acid polarity and radical stability

We present mechanistic studies aimed at improving the understanding of the product ion formation rules in electron capture dissociation (ECD) of peptides and proteins in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. In particular, we attempted to quantify the recently reported general correlation of ECD product ion abundance (PIA) with amino acid hydrophobicity. The results obtained on a series of model H-RAAAAXAAAAK-OH peptides confirm a direct correlation of ECD PIA with X amino acid hydrophobicity and polarity. The correlation factor (R) exceeds 0.9 for 12 amino acids (Ile, Val, His, Asn, Asp, Glu, Gln, Ser, Thr, Gly, Cys, and Ala). The deviation of ECD PIA for seven outliers (Pro is not taken into consideration) is explained by their specific radical stabilization properties (Phe, Trp, Tyr, Met, and Leu) and amino acid basicity (Lys, Arg). Phosphorylation of Ser, Thr, and Tyr decreases the efficiency of ECD around phosphorylated residues, as expected. The systematic arrangement of amino acids reported here indicates a possible route toward development of a predictive model for quantitative electron capture/transfer dissociation tandem mass spectrometry, with possible applications in proteomics.     

Unimolecular (metastable) and collision-induced dissociation of ArN+2 cluster ions

Unimolecular and collision-induced dissociations of ArN⁺₂ producedby electron impact ionization (ArN⁺₂ → Ar⁺ and ArN⁺₂ → N⁺₂) were investigated quantitatively using a double-focusing sector type mass spectrometer. Information gained is relevant for the detection efficiency of clusters and for the development of appropriate theoretical fragmentation models.     

Activated ion electron capture dissociation (AI ECD) of proteins: Synchronization of infrared and electron irradiation with ion magnetron motion

Here, we show that to perform activated ion electron capture dissociation (AI-ECD) in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer equipped with a CO₂ laser, it is necessary to synchronize both infrared irradiation and electron capture dissociation with ion magnetron motion. This requirement is essential for instruments in which the infrared laser is angled off-axis, such as the Thermo Finnigan LTQ FT. Generally, the electron irradiation time required for proteins is much shorter (ms) than that required for peptides (tens of ms), and the modulation of ECD, AI ECD, and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) with ion magnetron motion is more pronounced. We have optimized AI ECD for ubiquitin, cytochrome c, and myoglobin; however the results can be extended to other proteins. We demonstrate that pre-ECD and post-ECD activation are physically different and display different kinetics. We also demonstrate how, by use of appropriate AI ECD time sequences and normalization, the kinetics of protein gas-phase refolding can be deconvoluted from the diffusion of the ion cloud and measured on the time scale longer than the period of ion magnetron motion.     

Influence of charge state and amino acid composition on hydrogen transfer in electron capture dissociation of peptides

Although conventional N-Cα bond cleavage in electron capture dissociation (ECD) of multiply-charged peptides generates a complementary c′ and z′ fragment pair, the N-Cα cleavage followed by hydrogen transfer from c′ to z′ fragments produces other fragments, namely c′ and z′. In this study, the influence of charge state and amino acid composition on hydrogen transfer in ECD is described using sets of peptides. Hydrogen transferred ionic species such as c′ and z′ were observed in ECD spectra of doubly-protonated peptides, while the triply-protonated form did not demonstrate hydrogen transfer. The extent of hydrogen transfer in ECD of doubly-protonated peptides was dependent on constituent amino acids. The ECD of doubly-protonated peptides possessing numerous basic sites showed extensive hydrogen transfer compared with ECD of less basic peptides. The extent of hydrogen transfer is discussed from the viewpoints of the structure of peptide ions, the possibility of internal hydrogen bonding and intermediate lifetime of complex [c′+z′].     

Sensor activity, photodegradation and photostabilisation of a PAMAM dendrimer comprising 1,8-naphthalimide functional groups in its periphery

The colouristic and fluorescent characteristics of a new composite material based on a PAMAM dendrimer of second generation whose periphery is modified with 4-N,N-dimethylaminoethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide and polyamide-6 have been investigated. This dendrimer has been investigated with regard to its application as a heterogenic sensor capable of detecting metal cations and protons in aqueous solutions. In the presence of metal cations (Ni²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Co²⁺) and protons the fluorescence intensity of the composite increases due to their coordination with dendrimer molecule. The results obtained reveal the capacity of this system to act as a sensitive sensor of environmental pollution by metal cations and protons. It has been shown that in N,N-dimethylformamide solution the metal cations inhibit the processes of photodegradation of the dendrimer.     

An ESR study of electron loss and electron capture by silver (I) ions in methyl cyanide

Exposure of solutions of silver (I) perchlorate in methyl cyanide to ⁶⁰Co γ-rays at 77 K gave Ag(II) and Ag(O) centres in addition to radicals formed from the solvent. Their ESR spectra showed hyperfine features from ¹⁰⁹Ag and ¹⁰⁷Ag together with features from four equivalent ¹⁴N nuclei. The results are contrasted with those previously reported for solutions of silver (I) nitrate in methyl cyanide, which gave Ag(II) and Ag(O) centres whose ESR spectra were devoid of any ¹⁴N hyperfine features.     

Gaseous cation chemistry and chain-length effects in electron ionization and collision-induced dissociation mass spectra of symmetric 1,n-bis(9-anthracenyl)alkanes

The behavior of the gaseous cations resulting from EI (30 and 70 eV) of the bichromophoric title compounds 1–5 (for n = 1–5, respectively) is examined by ion‐trap mass spectrometry, including collision‐induced dissociation (CID) with variation in collision energy. These results are compared with those from anthracene and 9‐methylanthracene and with previously reported mass spectrometric results for 3 and dicarbazolylalkanes. Rather than using the kinetic method to obtain ion energetics where the fragmentation mechanism is clear, as commonly done, the method is used here with relative complementary‐ion abundances from CID to test the proposed fragmentation mechanisms using B3LYP calculations of relative ionization energies and optimized geometries of ionic and neutral fragments. Hydrogen migrations are common, and skeletal rearrangements including formation of expanded, fused and spiro rings are proposed in several cases. Of the chain cleavages, α‐homolysis giving C₁₅H₁₁⁺, likely as dibenzotropylium, is most important for each of 1–5 except 3, where β‐cleavage to C₁₆H₁₃⁺ dominates with a proposed methyldibenzotropylium structure. α‐Cleavage was important also in the dicarbazolylalkanes. A previous inference of a McLafferty rearrangement to explain C₁₅H₁₂^+? from 3 is not supported by the present results. The fragmentation behavior of 1–5 depends strongly on n and implies significant interchromophoric interaction between anthracenyl groups. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.