Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry of covalent adducts of proteins and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a reactive end-product of lipid peroxidation

Covalent adduction of the model protein apomyoglobin by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a reactive end-product of lipid peroxidation, was characterized by nanoelectrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR). The high mass resolving power and mass measurement accuracy of the instrument facilitated a detailed compositional analysis of the complex reaction product without the need for deconvolution and transformation to clearly show the pattern of adduction and component molecular weights. Our study has also demonstrated the value of electron capture dissociation over collision-induced dissociation for the tandem mass spectrometric determination of site modification for the 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adduct of oxidized insulin B chain as an example. Figure FTICR allowed characterization of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-modified apomyoglobin (an expanded spectrum of the +15 charge state is shown)     

Accurate mass measurements by Fourier transform mass spectrometry in the study of advanced glycation end products/peptides

The Maillard reaction occurring between sugars and amino groups is important in living systems. When amino groups belonging to protein chains are involved, the Maillard reaction has been invoked as responsible for protein cross-linking and the production of 'toxic' compounds. The reaction leads to the production of a heterogeneous group of substances, usually called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Classical analytical approaches, such as spectroscopic (ultraviolet, fluorescence) and mass spectrometric (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) methods, have shown that the digestion mixture is highly complex. However, there are clear differences between the digestion mixtures of glycated and unglycated human serum albumin (HSA). In the former case, possible glycated peptides belonging to the AGE peptide class may be identified. Tandem mass spectrometric experiments on selected species seemed to be promising as regards structural information, but it was thought of interest to undertake the present investigation, based on liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry, in order to obtain definitive results on their elemental composition. Using this approach, about 20 glycated peptides were detected and their possible structures were postulated by examining the known sequence of HSA.     

Structural characterization and identification of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans in Fructus Schisandrae using electrospray ionization ion trap multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry

The electrospray ionization ion trap multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSⁿ) and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR-MSⁿ) have been applied successfully to the direct investigation of a number of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan constituents from the methanol extracts of the Fructus Schisandrae in the positive ion mode. The detailed structural characterization of the same skeleton and different peripheral substituents had been studied and the precise elemental compositions of ions at high mass resolution had been obtained. So the fragmentation mechanisms could be clarified. And the lignan components in Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. fruits (SCF) and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. fruits (SSF) were identified by comparing the structural information and fragmentation mechanisms. Then a pair of isobaric compounds was differentiated. Meanwhile these two similar fruits were distinguished. The research results demonstrated that ESI-MSⁿ technique is a sensitive, selective and effective tool for the direct analysis and rapid determination of constituents in complex mixtures from nature products. And these should be useful for the identification of similar compounds and differentiation of similar species from Chinese herbs.     

Wide mass range trapping using a 7-T internal source matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometer

A wide mass range trapping experiment using internal source matrix-assisted laser desorption–Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MALDI–FTMS) was evaluated. In this method, the front trap plate potential is ramped up and the rear trap plate potential is simultaneously decreased using a cubic cell to trap ions over a wide range of mass-to-charge ratios. To apply this to MS/MS experiments, a second ion ejection procedure would remove unwanted ions, with the selected remaining ions then fragmented by collision-induced dissociation. In measurements using a 7.2-T unshielded magnet presented here, an approximately equimolar mixture of a set of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) species for the ramped measurements had peak areas of 1.0:1.0:1.0:1.0, as did the previously described integral method which gave peak areas of 1.0:1.1:1.0:1.0, in good agreement with the known composition of the samples deposited on the MALDI probe tip. Comparative MALDI–TOF in reflectron mode results were of similar quality for the equimolar mixture, giving a ratio of 1.0:1.0:1.2:0.9. All methods failed to varying degrees when individual PEG compositions of the trial mixture were changed. However, the previously described integral method showed relatively better results for all but the PEG 8000 doubled mixture.     

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography with Fourier transform mass spectrometry of monosaccharide anhydrides

A fast, selective, and sensitive method for the determination of three monosaccharide anhydrides (galactosan, mannosan, levoglucosan), based on hydrophilic interaction chromatography and Fourier transform mass spectrometry, was successfully developed. The simple experimental stationary phase and mass spectrometry performance screening allowed the selection of the best available chromatographic and mass spectrometry conditions. Thus, the chromatographic separation was performed on a highly selective stationary phase containing a zwitterionic phosphorylcholine group and the monosaccharide anhydrides were detected as [M+HCOO]^? adduct in the negative mode. The method showed accuracy in the range of 84–111 and 89–102% with interbatch precision expressed as relative standard deviations of 5.6–15.4 and 5.0–9.0% for the aerosol extract and snow samples, respectively. The limit of quantification in absolute values ranged from 10 to 30 pg, the limit of quantification, expressed as concentration, ranged was 0.3–0.9 ng/m³ for aerosol and 10–20 ng/mL for snow samples. The method was successfully applied for the determination of monosaccharide anhydrides in aerosol and snow samples.     

Manipulating internal energy of protonated biomolecules in electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The internal energy of protonated leucine enkephalin has been manipulated in electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry with two newly designed pump-probe experiments. Blackbody infrared radiation was applied to pump an ion population into a well-defined internal energy distribution below the dissociation threshold. Following this pumping stage, the internal energy distribution was probed using on-resonance collisional activation to dissociate the ions. These pump-probe experiments were carried out in two different ways: (a) using on-resonance collisional activation with variable kinetic energies to dissociate the ions at a constant initial ion temperature (determining the precursor ion survival percentage as a function of kinetic energy) and (b) using on-resonance collisional activation with a constant kinetic energy to dissociate the ions at variable initial ion temperatures (to investigate the ion survival yield-initial ion temperature dependence). Using this approach, a detailed study of the effects of the initial ion temperature, the probing kinetic energy and the internal energy loss rate on the effective conversion efficiency of (laboratory-frame) kinetic energy to internal energy was conducted. This conversion efficiency was found to be dependent on the initial ion temperature. Depending on the experimental conditions the conversion efficiency (for collisions with argon) was estimated to be about 4.0 +/- 1.7%, which agrees with that obtained from a theoretical modeling. Finally, the reconstructed curves of the ion survival yield versus the mode of the (final) total internal energy distribution of the activated ion population (after pump and probe events) at different pump-probe conditions reveal the internal energy content of the activated ions.     

Peptide and protein characterization by high-rate electron capture dissociation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The analytical utility of the electron capture dissociation (ECD) technique, developed by McLafferty and co-workers, has substantially improved peptide and protein characterization using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The limitations of the first ECD implementations on commercial instruments were eliminated by the employment of low-energy electron-injection systems based on indirectly heated dispenser cathodes. In particular, the ECD rate and reliability were greatly increased, enabling the combination of ECD/FTICR-MS with on-line liquid separation techniques. Further technique development allowed the combination of two rapid fragmentation techniques, high-rate ECD and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD), in a single experimental configuration. Simultaneous and consecutive irradiations of trapped ions with electrons and photons extended the possibilities for ion activation/dissociation and led to improved peptide and protein characterization. The application of high-rate ECD/FTICR-MS has demonstrated its power and unique capabilities in top-down sequencing of peptides and proteins, including characterization of post-translational modifications, improved sequencing of peptides with multiple disulfide bridges and secondary fragmentation (w-ion formation). Analysis of peptide mixtures has been accomplished using high-rate ECD in bottom-up mass spectrometry based on mixture separation by liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. This paper summarizes the current impact of high-rate ECD/FTICR-MS for top-down and bottom-up mass spectrometry of peptides and proteins.     

A review of electron-capture and electron-transfer dissociation tandem mass spectrometry in polymer chemistry

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based studies of synthetic polymers often characterise detected polymer components using mass data alone. However when mass-based characterisations are ambiguous, tandem MS (MS/MS) offers a means by which additional analytical information may be collected. This review provides a synopsis of two particularly promising methods of dissociating polymer ions during MS/MS: electron-capture and electron-transfer dissociation (ECD and ETD, respectively). The article opens with a summary of the basic characteristics and operating principles of ECD and ETD, and relates these techniques to other methods of dissociating gas-phase ions, such as collision-induced dissociation (CID). Insights into ECD- and ETD-based MS/MS, gained from studies into proteins and peptides, are then discussed in relation to polymer chemistry. Finally, ECD- and ETD-based studies into various classes of polymer are summarised; for each polymer class, ECD- and ETD-derived data are compared to CID-derived data. These discussions identify ECD and ETD as powerful means by which unique and diagnostically useful polymer ion fragmentation data may be generated, and techniques worthy of increased utilisation by the polymer chemistry community.     

Application of electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for the rapid and sensitive determination of cobalt in urine

Recently, cobalt (Co) is reported to be taken as a supplement by athletes for improving anaerobic performance. For the diagnosis of abuse, the limit of detection (LOD) of Co in the analysis should be lower than the concentrations of Co in plasma and urine of normal persons. A simple, rapid and sensitive method has been developed for the determination of Co in urine. Co was complexed with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and extracted with isoamyl alcohol in the presence of citric acid. The detection of Co was achieved by injecting a 1-μL aliquot of isoamyl alcohol containing Co-DDC complex directly into an electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-MS-MS) instrument without chromatographic separation. The quantification was performed using selected reaction monitoring at m/z 291 of the product ion Co(C₄H₁₀NCS)₂⁺ which was produced by collision-induced dissociation from the precursor ion Co(DDC)₂⁺ at m/z 355. ESI-MS-MS data were obtained in less than 10 min with an LOD of 0.05 μg L⁻¹ and a linear calibration range of 0.1-100 μg L⁻¹ using 10 μL of urine. The procedure was validated with certified reference materials (SRM 2670a and SRM 1643e). This method is suitable for the analysis of Co in the laboratories already equipped with an ESI-MS-MS instrument.     

High-sensitivity matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry analyses of small carbohydrates and amino acids using oxidized carbon nanotubes prepared by chemical vapor deposition as matrix

In matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) analyses of small oligosaccharides and amino acids, high sensitivities for oligosaccharides (10 fmol) were obtained by introducing oxidized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with short and open-end structure as valuable matrix. The CNTs were deposited in porous anodic alumina (PAA) templates by chemical vapor deposition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that those CNTs include low levels of amorphous carbon. Thus, the background interference signals generally caused by amorphous carbon powder in CNTs can be reduced effectively. Experiments also confirmed that the FTMS signal intensity of CNTs prepared in PAA template is much lower than that of commercial multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MCNTs). Moreover, the purified process for CNTs with mixed acid (H₂SO₄ and HNO₃) also contributed to the minimization of background. Intense signals corresponding to alkali cation adduct of neutral carbohydrates and amino acids have been acquired. In addition, reliable quantitative analyses for urine and corn root were also achieved successfully. The present work will open a new way to the application of oxidized CNTs as an effective matrix in MALDI MS research.     

Comprehensive characterization of natural organic matter by MALDI- and ESI-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Natural organic matter (NOM) is a complex and non-uniform mixture of organic compounds which plays an important role in environmental processes. Due to the complexity, it is challenging to obtain fully detailed structural information about NOM. Although Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) has been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for providing molecular information about NOM, multiple ionization methods are needed for comprehensive characterization of NOM at the molecular level considering the ionizing selectivity of different ionization methods. This paper reports the first use of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) method coupled with FT-ICR-MS for molecular characterization of NOM within a mass range of 200–800 Da. The mass spectral data obtained by MALDI were systematically compared with data generated by electrospray ionization (ESI). It showed that complementary molecular information about NOM which could not be detected by ESI, were provided by MALDI. More unsaturated and aromatic constituents of NOM with lower O/C ratio (O/C ratio < 0.5) were preferentially ionized in MALDI negative mode, whereas more polar constituents of NOM with higher O/C ratio were preferentially ionized in ESI negative mode. Molecular anions of NOM appearing at even m/z in MALDI negative ion mode were detected. The results show that NOM molecules with aromatic structures, moderate O/C ratio (0.7 > O/C ratio > 0.25) and lower H/C ratio were liable to form molecular anions at even m/z, whereas those with higher H/C ratio are more likely to form deprotonated ions at odd m/z. It is speculated that almost half of the NOM molecules identified by MALDI may be aromatic or condensed aromatic compounds with special groups which are liable to absorb electron from other molecules to generate free radical anions during MALDI ionization.     

X-ray ionization and fragmentation for use with time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In this paper, we introduce laser desorption X-ray ionization for producing ions from the previously undetected neutral species present during laser desorption mass spectrometry. Studies involving the laser desorption of simple sugars were conducted to illustrate the differences between spectra with and without the X-ray source. Ionization was made possible by placing a 200 mCi Am X-ray source directly into the ionization chamber of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer.     

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry in the speciation of high molecular weight sulfur heterocycles in vacuum gas oils of different boiling ranges

The analysis of sulfur aromatics in vacuum gas oils (VGO) distilled from an Iranian light crude oil is discussed. The VGOs were fractionated into three boiling ranges, 390–460, 460–520, and 520–550 °C, and were analyzed using liquid chromatographic separation on a Pd(II)-bonded stationary phase followed by identification with electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). It was possible to detect a large number of thiophenes, including a substantial number of isomers, in the three VGO fractions. Separation on the palladium phase and inclusion of sulfur-selective derivatization makes electrospray ionization of these nonpolar compounds possible. An elemental composition can be assigned to a large number of S₁ compounds without ambiguity in the presence of abundant hydrocarbons. With an increase in boiling temperature, an increase in the size of the aromatic system and the number of side chain carbon atoms was observed. In addition, the masses of higher magnitude shifted toward larger aromatic systems with an increase in boiling range. A comparison of FT-ICR MS and comprehensive gas chromatography is also given. This work is dedicated to Prof. B. Krebs on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Determination of cyanide, in urine and gastric content, by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry after direct flow injection of dicyanogold

A rapid and sensitive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-MS-MS) procedure was developed for the determination of cyanide (CN⁻). CN⁻ in biological fluids was reacted with NaAuCl₄ to produce dicyanogold, Au(CN)₂⁻, which was extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). One microliter of the extract was injected directly into an ESI-MS-MS instrument. Quantification of CN⁻ was performed by selected reaction monitoring of the product ion CN⁻ at m/z 26 that derived from precursor ion Au(CN)₂⁻ at m/z 249. CN⁻ could be measured in the quantification range of 10⁻⁷ to 5 × 10⁻⁵ M with the limit of detection at 4 × 10⁻⁸ M using 10 μL of urine within 10 min. A victim's urine and gastric content were diluted with water to 4-fold and 500-fold and measured, respectively.     

Complementary precursor ion and neutral loss scan mode tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of glycerophosphatidylethanolamine lipids from whole rat retina

A “shotgun” tandem mass spectrometry (MS) approach involving the use of multiple lipid-class-specific precursor ion and neutral loss scan mode experiments has been employed to identify and characterize the glycerophosphatidylethanolamine (GPEtn) lipids that were present within a crude lipid extract of a normal rat retina, obtained with minimal sample handling prior to analysis. Characterization of these lipids was performed by complementary analysis of their protonated and deprotonated precursor ions, as well as their various ionic adducts (e.g., Na⁺, Cl^-), using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. Notably, the application of novel precursor ion and neutral loss scans of m/z 164 and m/z 43, respectively, for the specific identification of sodiated GPEtn precursor ions following the addition of 500 μM NaCl to the crude lipid extracts was demonstrated. The use of these novel MS/MS scans in parallel provided simplified MS/MS spectra and enhanced the detection of 1-alkenyl, 2-acyl (plasmenyl) GPEtn lipids relative to the positive ion mode neutral loss m/z 141 commonly used for GPEtn analysis. Furthermore, the novel use of a “low energy” neutral loss scan mode experiment to monitor for the exclusive loss of 36m/z (HCl) from [M+Cl]^- GPEtn adducts was demonstrated to provide a more than 25-fold enhancement for the detection of GPEtn lipids in negative ion mode analysis. Subsequent “high-energy” pseudo MS³ product ion scans on the precursor ions identified from this experiment were then employed to rapidly characterize the fatty acyl chain substituents of the GPEtn lipids. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Detection of volatile organic compounds by temperature-programmed desorption combined with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

A temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) device connected to a mass spectrometer was used to detect volatile organic compounds from air samples. The main aim was to develop an analytical method, by which both non-polar and polar organic components can be detected in the same run. In TPD, the adsorbed compounds are desorbed from the resin more slowly than in the conventional trapping techniques, such as purge-and-trap technique, in which the resin is flash-heated and the compounds are desorbed at the same time to a cryogenic trap or an analytical column. In TPD, the adsorbent resin acts also as an analytical column. In this way it is possible to obtain more rapid analysis, and also a more simple instrumentation, which can be used on-line and on-site. In this work, a new version of TPD device, which uses a resistor for heating and a Peltier element for rapid cooling, was designed and constructed. Various adsorbent resins were tested for their adsorption and desorption properties of both polar and non-polar compounds. When using a mixture of adsorbent resins, Tenax TA and HayeSep D, it was possible to analyze both polar, low-molecular weight compounds, such as methanol and ethanol, and non-polar volatile organic compounds, such as benzene and toluene, in the same run within 15 min including sampling. The same TPD principle was also tested using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer as an analytical instrument, and the results showed that it was possible to obtain a separation of similar compounds, such as hexane and heptane, and still retaining the same sensitivity as the original on-line FTIR instrument.     

Study of the fragmentation mechanism of novel functionalized macrocycles by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (L-SIMS) of six new functionalized macrocycles was investigated. All six compounds yielded abundant fragment ions and protonation molecular ions [M + H](+) under L-SIMS conditions. The proposed fragmentation mechanisms were supported by high-resolution accurate mass data from Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometric and MS(n) experiments on using sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation.     

Investigations with O-linked protein glycosylations by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Posttranslational modifications such as glycosylation can play a fundamental role in signaling pathways that transform an ordinary cell into a malignant one. The development of a protocol to detect these changes in the preliminary stages of disease can lead to a sensitive and specific diagnostic for the early detection of malignancies such as ovarian cancer in which differential glycan patterns are linked to etiology and progression. Small variations in instrument parameters and sample preparation techniques are known to have significant influence on the outcome of an experiment. For an experiment to be effective and reproducible, these parameters must be optimized for the analyte(s) under study. We present a detailed examination of sample preparation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI-FT-ICR-MS) analysis of O-linked glycans globally cleaved from mucin glycoproteins. Experiments with stable isotope-labeled biomolecules allowed for the establishment of appropriate acquisition times and excitation voltages for MALDI-FT-ICR-MS of oligosaccharides. Quadrupole ion guide optimization studies with mucin glycans identified conditions for the comprehensive analysis of the entire mass range of O-linked carbohydrates in this glycoprotein. Separately optimized experimental parameters were integrated in a method that allowed for the effective study of O-linked glycans. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plasma-source mass spectrometry for speciation analysis: state-of-the-art

Current and emerging capabilities of plasma-source mass spectrometry (PS-MS) as it is employed for elemental speciation analysis are reviewed. Fundamental concepts and their advantageous aspects, experimental conditions, and analytical performance are described and illustrated by recent examples from the literature. Novel instrumentation, techniques, and strategies for inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), microwave-induced plasma (MIP) mass spectrometry, glow-discharge (GD) mass spectrometry, and electrospray ionization (ESI), among others, are described. The use of ionization sources that provide tunable ionization, others that can be modulated between different sets of operating conditions, and others used in parallel is also examined.     

Profiling of N-linked oligosaccharides using phenylhydrazine derivatization and mass spectrometry

N-linked oligosaccharide standards obtained from commercial sources were derivatized with phenylhydrazine (PHN) and analyzed by on-line reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This procedure was then applied to mixtures of N-glycans enzymatically released from hen ovalbumin. Under ESI-MS conditions, phenylhydrazones of asialylated oligosaccharide standards and ovalbumin glycans produced mainly [M + 2H]2+ molecular ions at low cone voltage values, while minimal fragmentation was observed. Reversed-phase HPLC/ESI-MS total and selected ion chromatograms obtained for derivatized N-glycans from ovalbumin showed partial but useful separation. Overall glycan profiles obtained by ESI-MS were compared with results obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MS. Qualitatively, profiles were similar from one technique to the other in terms of relative abundance of glycans versus composition. Post-source decay (PSD) analysis of the [M + Na]+ ions of PHN-glycans showed dominant B, C and internal B/Y, C/Y cleavages. These patterns were helpful in relating fragmentation to proposed structures. Cross-ring cleavage fragment ions (A-type) were also observed in most cases. The PHN derivatization method is fast and simple. It produces abundant parent ions in both MALDI-MS and ESI-MS, while avoiding the presence of salt contaminants during the labeling procedure.