Negative Ion Fragmentation of Cysteic Acid Containing Peptides: Cysteic Acid as a Fixed Negative Charge

We present here a study of the collision induced dissociation (CID) of deprotonated cysteic acid containing peptides produced by MALDI. The effect of cysteic acid (C_ox) position is interrogated by considering the positional isomers, C_oxLVINVLSQG, LVINVLSQGC_ox, and LVINVC_oxLSQG. Although considerable variation between the CID spectra is observed, the mechanistic picture that emerges involves charge retention at the deprotonated cysteic acid side chain. Fragmentation occurs in the proximity of the cysteic acid group by charge directed mechanisms as well as remote from this group to form ions, which may be rationalized by charge remote mechanisms. Additionally, the formation of the SO₃^–• ion is observed in all cases. Fragmentation of C_oxLVINVLSQC_ox provides both N- and C-terminal, y and b ions, respectively indicating that the negative charge may be retained at either of the cysteic acids; however, there is some evidence that charge retention at the C-terminal cysteic acid may be preferred. Fragmentation of tryptic type peptides containing a C-terminal arginine or lysine residue is considered through comparison of three peptides C_oxLVINKLSQG, C_oxLVINVLSQK, and C_oxLVINVLSQR. Lastly, we rationalize the formation of b _n–1 + H₂O and a _n–1 ions through a mechanism involving rearrangement of the C-terminal residue to form a mixed anhydride intermediate.     

Amino acid influence on copper binding to peptides: Cysteine versus arginine

Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and theoretical calculations [density functional theory (DFT)] were utilized to investigate the influence of cysteine side chain on Cu⁺ binding to peptides and how Cu⁺ ions competitively interact with cysteine (−SH/SO₃H) versus arginine. Results from theoretical and experimental (fragmentation reactions) studies on [M+Cu]⁺ and [M+2Cu−H]⁺ ions suggest that cysteine side chains (−SH) and cysteic acid (−SO₃H) are important Cu⁺ ligands. For example, we show that Cu⁺ ions are competitively coordinated to the −SH or SO₃H groups; however, we also present evidence that the proton of the SH/SO₃H group is mobile and can be transferred to the arginine guanidine group. For [M+2Cu−H]⁺ ions, deprotonation of the −SH/SO₃H group is energetically more favorable than that of the carboxyl group, and the resulting thiolate/sulfonate group plays an important role in the coordination structure of [M+2Cu−H]⁺ ions, as well as the fragmentation patterns.     

A new copper containing MALDI matrix that yields high abundances of [Peptide + Cu]+ ions

The dinuclear copper complex (α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) copper salt (CHCA)₄Cu₂), synthesized by reacting CHCA with copper oxide (CuO), yields increased abundances of [M + xCu − (x−1)H]⁺ (x = 1–6) ions when used as a matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (355 nm Nd:YAG laser). The yield of [M + xCu − (x−1)H]⁺ (x = 1∼6) ion is much greater than that obtained by mixing peptides with copper salts or directly depositing peptides onto oxidized copper surfaces. The increased ion yields for [M + xCu − (x−1)H]⁺ facilitate studies of biologically important copper binding peptides. For example, using this matrix we have investigated site-specific copper binding of several peptides using fragmentation chemistry of [M + Cu]⁺ and [M + 2Cu − H]⁺ ions. The fragmentation studies reveal interesting insight on Cu binding preferences for basic amino acids. Most notable is the fact that the binding of a single Cu⁺ ion and two Cu⁺ ions are quite different, and these differences are explained in terms of intramolecular interactions of the peptide-Cu ionic complex.     

$$ {{\text{C}}_{\alpha }} - {\text{C}} $$ Bond Cleavage of the Peptide Backbone in MALDI In-Source Decay Using Salicylic Acid Derivative Matrices

The use of 5-formylsalicylic acid (5-FSA) and 5-nitrosalicylic acid (5-NSA) as novel matrices for in-source decay (ISD) of peptides in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is described. The use of 5-FSA and 5-NSA generated a- and x-series ions accompanied by oxidized peptides [M – 2 H + H]⁺. The preferential formation of a- and x-series ions was found to be dependent on the hydrogen-accepting ability of matrix. The hydrogen-accepting ability estimated from the ratio of signal intensity of oxidized product [M – 2 H + H]⁺ to that of non-oxidized protonated molecule [M + H]⁺ of peptide was of the order 5-NSA > 5-FSA > 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) ≒ 2,5-dihydroxyl benzoic acid (2,5-DHB) ≒ 0. The results suggest that the hydrogen transfer reaction from peptide to 5-FSA and 5-NSA occurs during the MALDI-ISD processes. The hydrogen abstraction from peptides results in the formation of oxidized peptides containing a radical site on the amide nitrogen with subsequent radical-induced cleavage at the \textC_a - \textC {{\text{C}}_{\alpha }} - {\text{C}} bond, leading to the formation of a- and x-series ions. The most significant feature of MALDI-ISD with 5-FSA and 5-NSA is the specific cleavage of the \textC_a - \textC {{\text{C}}_{\alpha }} - {\text{C}} bond of the peptide backbone without degradation of side-chain and post-translational modifications (PTM). The matrix provides a useful complementary method to conventional MALDI-ISD for amino acid sequencing and site localization of PTMs in peptides.     

On Water Structure in Concentrated Salt Solutions

In concentrated salt solutions the average distances between the ions, d ^av=1.1844⋅(∑ν _i c _i )^−1/3 nm, are commensurate with the sizes of the solvated ions, so that no ‘bulk solvent’ remains. This is illustrated with two saturated aqueous solutions, where 16.67 mol⋅dm⁻³ CsF at 75 °C has d ^av(Cs–F)=0.368 nm and 14.54 mol⋅dm⁻³ LiI at 80 °C has d ^av(Li–I)=0.385 nm. The minimal distance required for the bare ions (sum of their radii) are 0.303 nm for CsF and 0.289 nm for LiI. Hence no water molecule, diameter 0.276 nm, can be fitted between the ions to form linear or slightly bent hydrogen bonds. Some recent work ignoring such constraints, even in 3–6 mol⋅dm⁻³ solutions, is criticized on this account.     

In-source decay and fragmentation characteristics of peptides using 5-aminosalicylic acid as a matrix in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The use of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) as a new matrix for in-source decay (ISD) of peptides including mono- and di-phosphorylated peptides in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) is described. The use of 5-ASA in MALDI-ISD has been evaluated from several standpoints: hydrogen-donating ability, the outstanding sharpness of molecular and fragment ion peaks, and the presence of interference peaks such as metastable peaks and multiply charged ions. The hydrogen-donating ability of several matrices such as α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB), 1,5-diaminonaphthalene (1,5-DAN), sinapinic acid (SA), and 5-ASA was evaluated by using the peak abundance of a reduction product [M + 2H + H]⁺ to that of non-reduced protonated molecule [M + H]⁺ of the cyclic peptide vasopressin which contains a disulfide bond (S-S). The order of hydrogendonating ability was 1,5-DAN > 5-ASA > 2,5-DHB > SA = CHCA. The chemicals 1,5-DAN and 5-ASA in particular can be classified as reductive matrices. 5-ASA gave peaks with higher sharpness for protonated molecules and fragment ions than other matrices and did not give any interference peaks such as multiply-protonated ions and metastable ions in the ISD mass spectra of the peptides used. Particularly, 1,5-DAN and 5-ASA gave very little metastable peaks. This indicates that 1,5-DAN and 5-ASA are more “cool” than other matrices. The 1,5-DAN and 5-ASA can therefore be termed “reductive cool” matrix. Further, it was confirmed that ISD phenomena such as N-Cα bond cleavage and reduction of S-S bond is a single event in the ion source. The characteristic fragmentations, which form a− and (a + 2)-series ions, [M + H − 15]⁺, [M + H − 28]⁺, and [M + H − 44]⁺ ions in the MALDI-ISD are described.     

Resonance capture of electrons by cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese and -rhenium derivatives

Negative ion mass spectra of cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese and-rhenium derivatives RC₅H₄M(CO)₃ (R=H, CN, COOH, COMe, COOMe, CH₂OH, CHO; M=Mn, Re) were studied. The subsequent detachment of carbonyl groups is the main process of the fragmentation of these compounds under the conditions of the resonance capture of electrons. On going fron the rhenium complexes to manganese derivatives, the maxima of the yields of the ions [M-nCO]⁻ (n=1–3) shift to the lower energy region indicating that the stability of the Re−CO bond is higher than that of Mn−CO. The average lifetimes of the molecular negative ions relative to the autodetachment of an electron (τ_a) and to dissociation (τ_d) were measured. It was found that electron-accepting substituents increase the τ_a value and decrease τ_d. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1161–1164, June, 1997.     

Ions with a strong symmetrical H bond in the HCl−BuiOH system by IR spectroscopy data

Ion-molecular interactions in the HCl−BuⁱOH system with different compositions (from neat isobutyl alcohol to 37 mol.% HCl) were studied by Multiple Attenuated Total Reflectance (MATR) IR spectroscopy at 30 °C. Proton disolvates (Buⁱ(H)O…H…O(H)Buⁱ)⁺ with strong symmetrical H bonds are formed upon the addition of HCl to BuⁱOH. At high concentrations of HCl (C ⁰ _HCl>33 mol.%), (Cl…H…Cl)⁻ ions are formed along with (BuⁱOH)₂H⁺. The spectra of positively and negatively charged proton disolvates were compared to those of similar ions in the HCl−PrⁱOH and HCl−MeOH systems. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2496–2500, December, 1998.     

Differential kinetic thermal lens determination of aniline and 4-nitroaniline

Thermal lens spectrometry was used for the differential kinetic determination of aniline (over the concentration range of 8 × 10⁻⁴–3.2 × 10⁻³ M) and 4-nitroaniline (2 × 10⁻⁴–1.6 × 10⁻³ M) present in combination in a single sample based on the oxidation reaction with periodate ions in an acidic medium (this determination is not possible with the spectrophotometric monitoring of the rate of reaction). The thermal lens procedure (λ_e = 488.0 nm; 80 mW) was characterized by good performance characteristics in the determination of aniline (c _min = 3 × 10⁻⁴ M; c _d = 8 × 10⁻⁴ M) and 4-nitroaniline (c _min = 7 × 10⁻⁵ M; c _d = 2 × 10⁻⁴ M), simplicity, and rapidity.     

Studies on phosphatidylglycerol with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization: Fragmentation processes and structural characterization

Negative-ion low-energy collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) tandem mass spectrometry of electrospray-produced ions permits structural characterization of phosphatidylglycerol (PG). The major ions that identify the structures arise from neutral loss of free fatty acid substituents ([M − H − R _x CO₂H]⁻) and neutral loss of the fatty acids as ketenes ([M − H − R′ _x CH = C = O]⁻), followed by consecutive loss of the glycerol head group. The abundances of the ions arising from neutral loss of the sn-2 substutient as a free fatty acid ([M − H − R₂CO₂H]⁻) or as a ketene ([M − H − R′₂CH = C = O]⁻) are greater than those of the product ions from the analogous losses at sn-1. Nucleophilic attack of the anionic phosphate site on the C-1 or the C-2 of the glycerol to which the carboxylates attached expels the sn-1 (R₁CO₂⁻) or the sn-2 (R₂CO₂⁻) carboxylate anion, resulting in a greater abundance of R₂COO⁻ than R₁COO⁻. These features permit assignments of fatty acid substituents and their position in the glycerol backbone. The results are also consistent with our earlier findings that pathways leading to those losses at sn-2 are sterically more favorable than those at sn-1. Fragment ions at m/z 227, 209 and 171 reflect the glycerol polar head group and identify the various PG molecules. Both charge-remote fragmentation (CRF) and charge-drive fragmentation (CDF) processes are the major pathways for the formation of [M − H − R _x COOH]⁻ ions. The CRF process involves participation of the hydrogen atoms on the glycerol backbone, whereas the CDF process involves participation of the exchangeable hydrogen atoms of the glycerol head group. The proposed fragmentation pathways are supported by CAD tandem mass spectrometry of the analogous precursor ions arising from the H-D exchange experiment, and further confirmed by source CAD in combination with tandem mass spectrometry.     

The promotion of d-type ions during the low energy collision-induced dissociation of some cysteic acid-containing peptides

Low energy collisionally activated dissociations (CAD) of doubly protonated peptides incorporating cysteic acid and arginine residues have been studied. Deuterium labeling experiments have established that loss of the elements of H₂SO₃ occurs with cleavage of one CH bond and transfer of the hydrogen to a neutral fragment. Prominent d-type ions were observed corresponding to cleavage at the cysteic acid residue. The analysis of structural analogs suggested that the unexpectedly low energy requirement for this process is attributable to a charge-proximal process promoted by intra-ionic interaction of the arginine and cysteic acid side chains. CAD (in the collision hexapole of a tandem quadrupole instrument) of electrospray source-formed fragment ions established that the d-type ions can form via b-type ions; there was no evidence of formation via (a _n + 1) or (b _n — H₂SO₃) ions. The equivalent d-ion was observed, albeit with lesser abundance, when the cysteic acid residue was replaced by aspartic acid, but not by glutamic acid.     

Formation of Peptide Radical Cations (M<Superscript>+·</Superscript>) in Electron Capture Dissociation of Peptides Adducted with Group IIB Metal Ions

Peptides adducted with different divalent Group IIB metal ions (Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺) were found to give very different ECD mass spectra. ECD of Zn²⁺ adducted peptides gave series of c-/z-type fragment ions with and without metal ions. ECD of Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ adducted model peptides gave mostly a-type fragment ions with M^+• and fragment ions corresponding to losses of neutral side chain from M^+•. No detectable a-ions could be observed in ECD spectra of Zn²⁺ adducted peptides. We rationalized the present findings by invoking both proton-electron recombination and metal-ion reduction processes. As previously postulated, divalent metal-ions adducted peptides could adopt several forms, including (a) [M + Cat]²⁺, (b) [(M + Cat – H) + H]²⁺, and (c) [(M + Cat – 2H) + 2H]²⁺. The relative population of these precursor ions depends largely on the acidity of the metal–ion peptide complexes. Peptides adducted with divalent metal-ions of small ionic radii (i.e., Zn²⁺) would form predominantly species (b) and (c); whereas peptides adducted with metal ions of larger ionic radii (i.e., Hg²⁺) would adopt predominantly species (a). Species (b) and (c) are believed to be essential for proton-electron recombination process to give c-/z-type fragments via the labile ketylamino radical intermediates. Species (c) is particularly important for the formation of non-metalated c-/z-type fragments. Without any mobile protons, species (a) are believed to undergo metal ion reduction and subsequently induce spontaneous electron transfer from the peptide moiety to the charge-reduced metal ions. Depending on the exothermicity of the electron transfer reaction, the peptide radical cations might be formed with substantial internal energy and might undergo further dissociation to give structural related fragment ions.     

2-(5-Benzoacridine)ethyl-p-toluenesulfonate as sensitive reagent for the determination of bile acids by HPLC with fluorescence detection and online atmospheric chemical ionization-mass spectrometric identification

2-(5-Benzoacridine)ethyl-p-toluenesulfonate (BAETS), a dual-sensitive probe, was reacted with bile acids in the presence of K₂CO₃ catalyst in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent to give BAETS–bile acid derivatives. Derivatives exhibited intense fluorescence (FL) with an excitation maximum at λ _ex 270 nm and an emission maximum at λ _em 510 nm. MS analysis using APCI-MS indicated that derivatives had excellent APCI-MS ionizability with percentage ionization δ values changing from 0 to 88.83% in aqueous acetonitrile and from 0 to 89.15% in aqueous methanol. The collision induced dissociation spectra of m/z [M + H]⁺ contained specific fragment ions at m/z [M + H−H₂O]⁺, [M + H−2H₂O]⁺, [M + H−3H₂O]⁺, 347.3, and 290.1. Repeatability was good for LC separation of BAETS–bile acid derivatives with aqueous acetonitrile as mobile phase. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of retention time and peak area at 6.6 nmol mL⁻¹ levels with fluorescence detection (FL) were from 0.045 to 0.072% and from 2.16 to 2.73%, respectively. Excellent linear responses were observed, with regression coefficients >0.9995. The FL detection limits (S/N = 3) were in the range of 18.0–36.1 fmol. The online APCI-MS detection limits are in the range of 500–790 fmol (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3).     

Theoretical study of the structure and stability of cage-substituted icosahedral closo-boranes, alanes, and gallanes MiM′12 ? iH 122? (M, M′ = B, Al, and Ga; i = 0–12)

The equilibrium geometric parameters and energetic and spectroscopic characteristics of low-lying conformers for several series of model cage-substituted (mixed) borane, alane, and gallane closo-dianions M _i M′_{12 − i} H₁₂²⁻(M, M′ = B, Al, Ga), as well as of “bare” gallium-aluminum anions Ga _i Al_12−i ⁻ with i = 0–12, were calculated within the B3LYP approximation of the density functional theory using 6–31G* and 6–311+G** basis sets. Differences in structure and stability between alanoborane clusters of similar composition are revealed. In clusters where the M and M’ heteroatoms are close in size and electronegativity (in gallonoalanes and gallium-aluminum anions), successive substitutions of M′ for M are accompanied by small energy changes and occur quasi-stochastically in different positions of the cage. When the substituents are significantly different (in alanoboranes), mixed clusters are unstable against disproportionation into homonuclear “predecessors” M₁₂H₁₂²⁻ and M′₁₂H₁₂²⁻, and the most favorable M _i M′_{12 − i} H₁₂²⁻ structures among them are those in which M _i M′_{12 − i} the cages are subdivided into homonuclear “subclusters” M _i and M′t′_12−i with a maximal number of homonuclear bonds (M-M and M′-M′) and a minimal number of heteronuclear bonds (M-M′).     

Metastable Atom-Activated Dissociation Mass Spectrometry of Phosphorylated and Sulfonated Peptides in Negative Ion Mode

The dissociation behavior of phosphorylated and sulfonated peptide anions was explored using metastable atom-activated dissociation mass spectrometry (MAD-MS) and collision-induced dissociation (CID). A beam of high kinetic energy helium (He) metastable atoms was exposed to isolated phosphorylated and sulfonated peptides in the 3– and 2– charge states. Unlike CID, where phosphate losses are dominant, the major dissociation channels observed using MAD were C_α – C peptide backbone cleavages and neutral losses of CO₂, H₂O, and [CO₂ + H₂O] from the charge reduced (oxidized) product ion, consistent with an electron detachment dissociation (EDD) mechanism such as Penning ionization. Regardless of charge state or modification, MAD provides ample backbone cleavages with little modification loss, which allows for unambiguous PTM site determination. The relative abundance of certain fragment ions in MAD is also demonstrated to be somewhat sensitive to the number and location of deprotonation sites, with backbone cleavage somewhat favored adjacent to deprotonated sites like aspartic acid residues. MAD provides a complementary dissociation technique to CID, ECD, ETD, and EDD for peptide sequencing and modification identification. MAD offers the unique ability to analyze highly acidic peptides that contain few to no basic amino acids in either negative or positive ion mode.     

Toward total structural analysis of cardiolipins: multiple-stage linear ion-trap mass spectrometry on the [M − 2H + 3Li]<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions

ESI multiple-stage linear ion-trap (LIT) mass spectrometric approaches for a near-complete structural characterization of cardiolipins (CLs), including identification of the fatty acyl substituents, assignment of the fatty acid substituents on the glycerol backbone, and location of the double-bond(s) or cyclopropyl group along the fatty acid chain are described. Upon collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) on the [M − 2H + 3Li]⁺ ions of CL in an ion-trap (MS²), two sets of fragment ions (designated as (a + 136) and (b + 136) ions) analogous to those previously reported for the [M − 2H + 3Na]⁺ ions were observed, leading to assignment of the phosphatidyl moieties attached to 1′- or 3′-position of the central glycerol. Further dissociation of the (a + 136) (or (b + 136)) ions (MS³) gives rise to the (a + 136 − R_{1(or 2)}CO₂Li) (or b + 136 − R_{1(or 2)}CO₂Li) ion pairs that identify the fatty acid moieties and their position on the glycerol backbone. This is followed by MS⁴ on the (a + 136 − R_{1(or 2)}CO₂Li) (or b + 136 − R_{1(or 2)}CO₂Li) ion to eliminate a tricylic glycerophosphate ester residue (136 Da) to yield the (a − R_{1(or 2)}CO₂Li) ion, which is then subjected to MS⁵. The MS5 spectrum contains the structural information that locates the double-bond(s) or cyclopropyl group of the fatty acid substituents. Finally, the subsequent MS⁶ on the dilithiated fatty acid ions generated from MS⁵ also yields feature ions that confirm the assignment.     

A mass spectrometry study of alkanes in air plasma at atmospheric pressure

The positive APCI-mass spectra in air of linear (n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane), branched [2,4-dimethylpentane, 2,2-dimethylpentane and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (i-octane)], and cyclic (cyclohexane) alkanes were analyzed at different mixing ratios and temperatures. The effect of air humidity was also investigated. Complex ion chemistry is observed as a result of the interplay of several different reagent ions, including atmospheric ions O₂^+•, NO⁺, H₃O⁺, and their hydrates, but also alkyl fragment ions derived from the alkanes. Some of these reactions are known from previous selected ion/molecule reaction studies; others are so far unreported. The major ion formed from most alkanes (M) is the species [M − H]⁺, which is accompanied by M^+• only in the case of n-octane. Ionic fragments of C _n H_2n ^+1/+ composition are also observed, particularly with branched alkanes: the relative abundance of such fragments with respect to that of [M − H]⁺ decreases with increasing concentration of M, thus suggesting that they react with M via hydride abstraction. The branched C₇ and C₈ alkanes react with NO⁺ to form a C₄H₁₀NO⁺ ion product, which upon collisional activation dissociates via HNO elimination. The structure of t-Bu⁺(HNO) is proposed for such species, which is reasonably formed from the original NO⁺(M) ion/molecule complex via hydride transfer and olefin elimination. Finally, linear alkanes C₅–C₈ give a product ion corresponding to C₄H₇⁺(M), which we suggest is attributed to addition of [M − H]⁺ to C₄H₈ olefin formed in the charge-transfer-induced fragmentation of M. The results are relevant to applications of nonthermal plasma processes in the fields of air depuration and combustion enhancement.     

Batch and dynamic extraction of uranium(VI) from nitric acid medium by commercial phosphinic acid resin,Tulsion CH-96

Batch and dynamic extractions of uranium(VI) in 10⁻³–10⁻²M concentrations in 3–4M nitric acid medium have been investigated using a commercially available phosphinic acid resin (Tulsion CH-96). The extraction of uranium(VI) has been studied as a function of time, batch factor (V/m), concentrations of nitric acid and uranium(VI) ion. Dual extraction mechanism unique to phosphinic acid resin has been established for the extraction of uranium(VI). Distribution coefficient (K _d ) of uranium(VI) initially decreases with increasing concentration of nitric acid, reaches a minimum value at 1.3M, followed by increases in K _d . A maximum K _d value of ∼2000 ml/g was obtained at 5.0M nitric acid. Batch extraction data has been fitted into the linearized Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The performance of the resin under dynamic extraction conditions was assessed by following the breakthrough behavior of the system. Effect of flow rate, concentrations of nitric acid and uranium ion in the feed on the breakthrough behavior of the system was studied and the data was fitted using Thomas model.     

Formation and Fragmentation of Radical Peptide Anions: Insights from Vacuum Ultra Violet Spectroscopy

We have studied the photodissociation of gas-phase deprotonated caerulein anions by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons in the 4.5 to 20 eV range, as provided by the DESIRS beamline at the synchrotron radiation facility SOLEIL (France). Caerulein is a sulphated peptide with three aromatic residues and nine amide bonds. Electron loss is found to be the major relaxation channel at every photon energy. However, an increase in the fragmentation efficiency (neutral losses and peptide backbone cleavages) as a function of the energy is also observed. The oxidized ions, generated by electron photodetachment were further isolated and activated by collision (CID) in a MS³ scheme. The branching ratios of the different fragments observed by CID as a function of the initial VUV photon energy are found to be independent of the initial photon energy. Thus, there is no memory effect of the initial excitation energy on the fragmentation channels of the oxidized species on the time scale of our tandem MS experiment. We also report photofragment yields as a function of photon energy for doubly deprotonated caerulein ions, for both closed-shell ([M–2H]^2–) non-radical ions and open-shell ([M–3H]^2–•) radical ions. These latter ions are generated by electron photodetachment from [M–3H]^3– precursor ions. The detachment yield increases monotonically with the energy with the appearance of several absorption bands. Spectra for radical and non-radical ions are quite similar in terms of observed bands; however, the VUV fragmentation yield is enhanced by the presence of a radical in caerulein peptides.     

Determination of steryl sulphates in invertebrate tissue by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the identification and quantification of underivatised steryl sulphates in invertebrates by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS) involving a single cleanup step has been developed. Negative electrospray ionisation and positive and negative atmospheric-pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) spectra of steryl sulphate showed pseudomolecular ions ([M+H–H₂SO₄]⁺or [M–H]⁻). Collision-induced dissociation (CID) was efficient only in positive APCI. LC-MS in negative APCI was least susceptible to interference and possible differences in response factors. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) based on cholest-5-enyl-3-sulphate in positive and negative APCI modes are 3.66 and 0.73 pmol μL⁻¹, respectively. Calibration plots and response factors for cholest-5-enyl-3-sulphate relative to the internal standard, cholecalciferyl-3-sulphate, in both positive and negative polarities, were linear in the concentration range from 1.22 to 16.4 pmol μL⁻¹ with good coefficients of determination (R ²>0.98). It is suggested that the structure elucidation of steryl sulphates is best achieved in CID positive APCI mode, whereas their quantification should be carried out using negative APCI.