Utilization of MS spectra for the multicomponent quantification of diastereomeric N-acetylhexosamines

A rapid and accurate means of quantifying mixtures of diastereomeric N-acetylhexosamine monosaccharides using MS³ product ions is introduced. The method involves derivatizing the monosaccharides with [Co(DAP)₂Cl₂]Cl (where DAP is diaminopropane), and subjecting the derivatized products to collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Each diastereomer provides unique MS³ product ion abundances. The abundances for the pure monosaccharide standards are used in a system of equations in order to quantify mixtures of these diastereomers. Using the system of equations is quite advantageous, as it is the only mass spectrometric method that has been shown to successfully quantify mixtures of more than two isomers. The utility of the method is demonstrated by successfully quantifying various two and three component mixtures of the diastereomeric monosaccharides. Furthermore, the method is used to quantify the recovery of a single diastereomeric monosaccharide from an acidic resin. Although the multicomponent quantification method described herein is used to quantify mixtures of N-acetylhexosamine diastereomers, it could be applied to any group of isomers, provided distinguishing CID spectra are obtained. This is the first known report of utilizing MS³ product ions for quantification of structural isomeric mixtures.     

Investigation of ion/molecule reactions as a quantification method for phosphorylated positional isomers. an FT-ICR approach

A rapid and accurate method of quantifying positional isomeric mixtures of phosphorylated hexose and N-acetylhexosamine monosacchrides by using gas-phase ion/molecule reactions coupled with FT-ICR mass spectrometry is described. Trimethyl borate, the reagent gas, reacts readily with the singly charged negative ions of phosphorylated monosaccharides to form two stable product ions corresponding to the loss of one or two neutral molecules of methanol from the original adduct. Product distribution in the ion/molecule reaction spectra differs significantly for isomers phosphorylated in either the 1- or the 6-position. As a result, the percents of total ion current of these product ions for a mixture of the two isomers vary with its composition. In order to determine the percentage of each isomer in an unknown mixture, a multicomponent quantification method is utilized in which the percents of total ion current of the two product ions for each pure monosaccharide phosphate and the mixture are used in a two-equation, two-unknown system. The applicability of this method is demonstrated by successfully quantifying mock mixtures of four different isomeric pairs: Glucose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate; mannose-1-phosphate and mannose-6-phosphate; galactose-1-phosphate and galactose-6-phosphate; N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate and N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate. The effects of mixture concentrations and ion/molecule reaction conditions on the quantification are also discussed. Our results demonstrate that this assay is a fast, sensitive, and robust method to quantify isomeric mixtures of phosphorylated monosaccharides.     

Differentiation of diastereomeric N-aryltetrahydropyrano/tetrahydrofuranochromenylamines under electron ionization and chemical ionization conditions

A series of diastereomeric 4S,5S,6R/S-tetrahydropyrano- and 3S,4S,5R/S-tetrahydrofuranochromenylamine derivatives (a/b isomers; 1-26) has been studied under electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) conditions. The EI mass spectra of all diastereomeric compounds show two characteristic fragment ions, of which one is formed by retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) reaction from the molecular ion, retaining the charge on the diene fragment, and the other [M-(HNAr)]+ ion by a simple radical loss. The RDA process is more favorable in all b isomers, whereas the radical loss is dominant in all a isomers; based on these two ions it is easy to differentiate the two diastereomers. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of all the molecular ions also show the same trend, which reflects the stereoselectivity in the formation of the two characteristic fragment ions. The results of theoretical calculations performed are in accordance with the experimental observations. The CI experiments (methane and isobutane) on all the diastereomeric compounds also enabled the differentiation of the isomers.     

The determination of glycopeptides by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation

Glycopeptides derived from ribonuclease B and ovomucoid have been subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID) in the second quadrupole of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Doubly charged parent ions gave predictable fragmentation that yielded partial sequence information of the attached oligosaccharide as Hex and HexNAc units. Common oxonium ions are observed in the product ion mass spectra of the glycopeptides that correspond to HexNAc⁺ (m/z 204) and HexHexNAc⁺ (m/z 366). A strategy for locating the glycopeptides in the proteolytic digest mixtures of glycoproteins by ions spray liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is described by utilizing CID in the declustering region of the atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer to produce these characteristic oxonium ions. This LC/CID/MS approach is used to identify glycopeptides in proteolytic digest mixtures of ovomucoid, asialofetuin, and fetuin. LC/CID/MS in the selected ion monitoring mode may be used to identify putative glycopeptides from the proteolytic digest of fetuin.     

Verapamil: new insight into the molecular mechanism of drug oxidation in the human heart

Verapamil is a commonly prescribed cardiovascular drug, but surprisingly its metabolism in the target tissue of pharmacotherapy is basically unknown. We therefore investigated its biotransformation in human heart tissue and correlate the production of metabolites with the gene expression of major drug metabolising enzymes. Using electrospray LC–MS–MS and LC–MS³ experiments, a total of nine metabolites were observed in incubation experiments with verapamil and microsomes isolated from the human heart tissue, and this included a carbinolamine-, N-formyl-, ahemiacetale-, and formate-intermediate of N-demethyl- and O-demethylverapamil. We also observed a hydroxylation product at the benzylic position of atom C-7 (M9). Metabolites M5–M9 are novel and were not observed in previous studies with liver or other human tissues. A fine example of the considerable metabolic competence of human heart is the formation of M1–M4, e.g. dealkylverapamil, norverapamil and isomers of O-demethylverapamil, which were believed to be exclusively produced by the liver.     

高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱法快速筛查保健食品中的西布曲明及其5种衍生物

建立了高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱（HPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS）快速筛查保健食品中的西布曲明及其5种衍生物的方法。样品经甲醇超声提取,高速离心,Hypersil Gold色谱柱（100 mm×2.1 mm,3 μm）分离,以甲醇与0.15%（v/v）甲酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,正离子全扫描/数据依赖二级扫描（Full MS/dd-MS²）模式下进行质谱分析,一级高分辨准分子离子峰定量。8 min内完成对样品中分析物的分离和高精度一级、二级扫描,得到准确质量数和准确碎片离子信息。实验结果表明,6种化合物的精确质量相对偏差均小于1×10^-6,在0.5~20.0 μg/L范围内线性相关系数大于0.999,定量限为25 μg/kg,回收率在93.5%~103.5%,相对标准偏差在1.5%~7.7%,本方法具有前处理简单、快速、准确、高灵敏度、高选择性等特点,可用于保健食品中西布曲明及其衍生物等减肥类非法添加物的定性筛查和定量分析。     

Examining the collision-induced decomposition spectra of ammoniated triglycerides. III. The linoleate and arachidonate series

A series of positionally pure triglycerides (TAGs) of the form LXL, YLY, AXA, and YAY was synthesized and analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. L and A represent the linoleate and arachidate moieties, respectively, and X and Y represent large arrays of fatty acid moieties of various chain lengths, degree of unsaturations, double-bond positions, and cis/trans configurations. The abundances of the collision-induced decomposition (CID) products of ammoniated TAGs were examined as a function of these parameters. The major CID products, the diglyceride (DAG) product ions and the MH(+) ions, are plotted as functions of chain length for the saturated and monounsaturated series of X and Y. The following trends are observed in the data. TAGs with higher degrees of unsaturation tend to show greater relative abundances of MH(+) in the CID spectra of their ammoniated precursor ions. The position of the fatty acid constituents along the glycerol backbone also seems to influence the abundances of the MH(+) ion in the CID spectra of the ammoniated precursor ions. A fatty acid constituent with double bonds along the fatty acid chain positioned close to the carbonyl promotes the formation of the DAG product ion that corresponds to its loss upon CID of the ammoniated precursor ion. Linoleic acid substituents also seem to promote the formation of DAG product ions, but to a lesser extent. Data for the YAY TAGs are used to predict the abundances of the product ions in the CID spectra of ammoniated YAX TAGs. These data are discussed in context of a broader project to develop and validate software algorithims to support a platform for comprehensive analysis of complex mixtures of TAGs.     

Synthesis and analysis of electrospray ionization-generated five-coordinate diastereomeric Ni–N-glycoside complexes using a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer

Five-coordinate Ni N-glycoside complexes, consisting of a single tridentate N-glycoside ligand and a bidentate dap ligand coordinated to a central Ni(II) ion, were synthesized for a series of diastereomeric monosaccharides. Following excitation of the precursor ions in a quadrupole ion trap, reproducibly distinct product ion spectra were obtained for each diastereomeric complex. Neutral losses resulted from cross-ring cleavages of the monosaccharide ring and/or losses of a bidentate dap ligand. Isotopic labeling studies confirmed which particular carbon centers were lost from the precursor ion as a result of the cross-ring cleavages. Synthesis of the Ni–N glycoside complex was achieved using as little as 21 μg of monosaccharide. Production of the representative five-coordinate precursor ion was obtained over a wide range of metal–ligand:monosaccharide molar ratios and product ion spectra remained reproducible over this range.     

Measurement of collision-induced dissociation rates for tantalum oxide ions in a quadrupole ion trap

A study of factors influencing the collision-induced dissociation (CID) rate of strongly bound diatomic ions effected via resonance excitation in a quadrupole ion trap is presented. From these studies, an approach to measuring the CID rates is described wherein product ion recovery is optimized and the effect of competitive processes (e.g., parent ion ejection and product ion reactions) on rate measurements are prevented from influencing rate measurements. Tantalum oxide ions (dissociation ENERGY = 8.2 eV), used as a model system, were formed via reactions of glow discharge generated Ta⁺ ions with residual gases in the ion trap. Neon (0.5 mtorr) was found to be a more favorable target gas for the dissociation of TaO⁺ than He and Ar, but collisional activation of TaO⁺ ions in neon during ion isolation by mass selective instability necessitated ion cooling prior to dissociation. A 25 ms delay time at q_z = 0.2 allowed for kinetic cooling of stored TaO⁺ ions and enabled precise dissociation rate measurements to be made. CID of TaO⁺ was determined to be most efficient at q_z = 0.67 (226 kHz for m/z 197). Suitable resonance excitation voltages and times ranged from 0.56 to 1.2 V_p-p and 1 to 68 ms, respectively. Under these conditions, measurement of rates approaching 80 s⁻¹ for the dissociation of TaO⁺ could be made without significant complications associated with competing processes, such as ion ejection.     

在线固相萃取/液相色谱-线性离子阱质谱法同时定性定量检测全血和尿液中7种抗凝血杀鼠药

建立了同时测定全血和尿液样品中7种抗凝血杀鼠药的在线固相萃取/液相色谱-线性离子阱质谱(on-line SPE/LC-LIT/MS)分析方法。用乙腈沉淀样品中的蛋白质,于稀释、离心、过滤后直接进样。经在线固相萃取柱富集纯化;以C18柱为分析柱,甲醇-乙酸铵水溶液(0.02 mol/L)为流动相进行梯度洗脱;在电喷雾电离(ESI)负离子模式下,记录目标母离子在锁定保留时间窗口内的二级全扫描信号,通过自建数据库进行定性确证,挑选高灵敏度与专属性的二级子离子进行定量,从而实现7种杀鼠药的同时定性和定量分析。7种杀鼠药在各自质量浓度范围内线性关系良好,相关系数为0.9946~0.9997,检出限和定量限分别为0.02~1.00 ng/mL和0.10~4.00 ng/mL, 3个添加水平的回收率为81.0%~113.9%,相对标准偏差为0.1%~6.2% (n=6)。该方法简单方便,灵敏度高,能够满足全血和尿液样品中7种抗凝血杀鼠药的快速筛查和准确定量。     

ESI-MS differential fragmentation of positional isomers of sulfated oligosaccharides derived from carrageenans and agarans

We have prepared a number of isomeric red seaweed galactan-derivative sulfated oligosaccharides to determine whether there were diagnostic differences among the isomeric mass spectra obtained using ESI CID MS/MS (triple quadrupole instrument). Fragmentation of the single or multicharged molecular ions from di-, tetra-, and hexasaccharides indicated that the relative positioning of the sulfate groups and type of monosaccharide unit affect the rate of cleavage of the glycosidic bonds. We also performed a comparative [M-Na]⁻ fragmentation study of positional isomers of sulfated disaccharides that present all four monosulfation possibilities on the galactopyranosidic ring. In this case, negative-ion ESI CID MS/MS approach gave diagnostic product ions from cross-ring cleavages along with the same main B₁ ion (from sulfated Gal_p), at m/z 241, for all isomers. The isomeric disaccharides were also submitted to increased spray energy conditions inducing in-source fragmentation; preformed B₁ ions were then fragmented to give similar product ions as those found in [M-Na]⁻ analysis. Evaluation of the relative abundances mainly for cross-ring fragment ions at m/z 138, 139, 151, 153 allowed clear distinction among the members of the disaccharide series. The different ratios for m/z 151/153 ions were consistent with the predominance of m/z 153 being related to the cases when the bond involved in the cleavage process links a sulfated carbon. A quadrupole ion trap instrument (MSⁿ analysis) was also utilized to compare the results obtained with the triple quadrupole instrument.     

Diastereomer-differentiating photochemistry of beta-arylbutyrophenones: Yang cyclization versus type II elimination

The diastereomers of ketones 2 and 3 are shown to exhibit distinct photochemical reactivities due to conformational preferences; while the anti isomers of 2 and 3 undergo efficient Yang cyclization in 75-90% yields with a remarkable diastereoselectivity (> 90%), the syn isomers predominantly undergo Norrish Type II elimination. The differences in the product profiles of the diastereomers are consistent with a mechanistic picture involving the formation of precursor diastereomeric triplet 1,4-biradicals in which the substituents at alpha and beta-positions stabilize the cisoid (cyclization) or transoid (elimination) geometry. The fact that such a diastereomeric relationship does indeed ensue at the triplet-excited-state itself is demonstrated via the nanosecond laser-flash photolysis of model ketones 1. The diastereomeric discrimination in the product profiles observed for ketones 2 and 3 as well as in the triplet lifetimes observed for ketones 1 can both be mechanistically traced back to different conformational preferences of the ground-state diastereomeric ketones and the intermediary 1,4-biradicals. Additionally, it emerges from the present study that the syn and anti diastereomers of ketones 2 and 3 represent two extremes of a broad range of widely examined butyrophenones, which lead to varying degrees of Yang photocyclization depending on the alkyl substitution pattern.     

Differentiation of isomeric C8-substituted alkylaniline adducts of guanine by electrospray ionization and tandem quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry

Product ion spectra from thirteen C8-substituted alkylaniline adducts of guanine and deoxyguanosine were generated using electrospray ionization and quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry and studied to investigate the possibility of differentiating isomeric adduct structures based upon the relative abundances of fragment ions derived from the alkylaniline-modified guanine bases (BH₂⁺ ions). The structural discrimination of the BH₂⁺ ions formed by attachment of isomeric alkylanilines to the C8 position of guanine is a challenging problem because the ions tend to yield product ion spectra that are qualitatively identical upon collisional activation. In this study, a statistical method, referred to as a similarity index, was used to compare the product ion spectra of isomeric BH₂⁺ ions and differentiate their structures. All the adducts investigated could be distinguished from SIs calculated using 5–6 product ions. These results suggest that a searchable database of product ion spectra may be created and used to characterize DNA adducts from aromatic amines whenever they are detected at levels amenable to mass spectral analysis.     

The distinction of underivatized monosaccharides using electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

A convenient method for distinguishing underivatized isomeric monosaccharides has been established using electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-ITMS). Mass spectra of hexoses (glucose, galactose, and mannose), N-acetylhexosamines (N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylmannosamine) and hexosamines (glucosamine, galactosamine, and mannosamine) dissolved in solvent containing 1 mM ammonium acetate were obtained in the positive ion mode. Glucose was distinguished from galactose and mannose in the MS(2) spectrum of the [M+NH(4)](+) ion at m/z 198. The MS(3) spectra generated from [M+NH(4)-H(2)O-NH(3)](+) at m/z 163 showed that galactose and mannose could be distinguished by the ratio of peak intensities at m/z 145 and 127, while the three N-acetylhexosamine and hexosamine stereochemical isomers could be identified by the relative abundance ratios of product ions observed in MS(3) spectra. The investigation of MS and MS(2) spectra from complexes of these monosaccharides with Na(+) and Pb(2+) failed to distinguish these monosaccharide isomers. Therefore, multiple stage mass analysis by ESI-ITMS using either [M+NH(4)](+) or [M+H](+) was useful to distinguish between the isomers of monosaccharides.     

Analysis of lipid hydroperoxides and long-chain conjugated keto acids by negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry

Lipid hydroperoxides are important products of enzymatic processes and autooxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Analysis of such compounds has proved difficult in the past, but negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was found to be suitable for direct analysis. Abundant [M - H]⁻ ions were observed in full scan mode for hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic (HPETE), hydroperoxyoctadecenoic acid isomers, and 5,12-diHPETE. Loss of water was observed for all species. Collisional activation and tandem mass spectrometry generated unique and characteristic spectra that shared some common features such as loss of small neutral molecules. More importantly, fragment ions that were indicative of the position of the hydroperoxide were observed. Collision-induced decomposition (CID) of [M - H₂O]⁻ for the HPETE isomers was found to be virtually identical to the CID mass spectra of the [M - H]⁻ anions from corresponding keto-eicosatetraenoic acids, which suggests that the hydroperoxide anions decompose via a dehydration intermediate that resembles the keto acid molecular anion. Cleavage of the double bond allylic to the hydroperoxide formed structurally characteristic ions at m/z 129 from 5-HPETE, m/z 153 from 12-HPETE, and m/z 113 from 15-HPETE. Charge-driven allylic fragmentation led to formation of m/z 203 from 5-HPETE, m/z 179 from 12-HPETE, and m/z 219 from 15-HPETE. Mechanisms consistent with the decomposition of stable isotope analogues are proposed for the formation of these and other characteristic ions. These specific decompositions can be used in multiple reaction monitoring to measure picomolar concentrations of hydroperoxides by direct high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.     

Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of rare earth(III) complexes: evaluation of the relative strength of their Lewis acidity

Five series of rare earth(III) complexes coordinated with hexamethylphosphoramide, triethylphosphine oxide, trimethyl phosphate, N,N′-dimethylpropyleneurea, or dimethyl sulfoxide were subjected to tandem mass spectrometric analysis. The relative strength of the Lewis acidity of respective rare earth(III) species was evaluated using the peak intensity ratios of the product ions formed from the precursor ions (e.g. [M(OTf)₂(hmpa)₂]⁺). The exceptionally strong Lewis acidity of scandium(III) and ytterbium(III) complexes was clearly indicated by this tandem MS analysis. The analysis also showed that the Lewis acidity of ytterbium(III) is stronger than that of lutetium(III) although the ionic radius of Yb³⁺ is larger than that of Lu³⁺. The gadolinium break and the tetrad effect were observed in the Lewis acidity of the series of the lanthanide(III) complexes.     

Mass spectrometry on-line monitoring and MS2 product characterization of TiO2/UV photocatalytic degradation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds

On-line Mass Spectrometry and MS² are applied to monitor and identify the by-products and total mineralization products of TiO₂/UV photocatalytic degradation of four chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs): trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (TeCE), chloroform, and dichloromethane. Selected multiple ion mass spectrometry monitoring using characteristic 70 eV electron ionization ionic fragments monitors in real time the destruction of the starting VOC and the formation of by-products, i.e., the degrees of VOC mineralization, as a function of the flow and relative humidity of the carrier gas (synthetic air). Several by-products were detected: phosgene for TCE, TeCE, and chloroform; dichloroacetyl chloride for TCE; and trichloroacetyl chloride for TeCE. Cl₂ and CO₂ were also detected as final mineralization products of the four chlorinated VOCs. Structural characterization of by-products was accomplished via MS² collision-induced dissociation of molecular ions or characteristic ionic fragments.     

Multiple-reaction monitoring liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for monosaccharide compositional analysis of glycoproteins

A simple, sensitive, and rapid quantitative LC-MS/MS assay was designed for the simultaneous quantification of free and glycoprotein bound monosaccharides using a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) approach. This study represents the first example of using LC-MS/MS methods to simultaneously quantify all common glycoprotein monosaccharides, including neutral and acidic monosaccharides. Sialic acids and reduced forms of neutral monosaccharides are efficiently separated using a porous graphitized carbon column. Neutral monosaccharide molecules are detected as their alditol acetate anion adducts [M + CH₃CO₂]⁻ using electrospray ionization in negative ion MRM mode, while sialic acids are detected as deprotonated ions [M − H]⁻. The new method exhibits very high sensitivity to carbohydrates with limits of detection as low as 1 pg for glucose, galactose, and mannose, and below 10 pg for other monosaccharides. The linearity of the described approach spans over three orders of magnitudes (pg to ng). The method effectively quantified monosaccharides originating from as little as 1 μg of fetuin, ribonuclease B, peroxidase, and α ₁-acid glycoprotein human (AGP) with results consistent with literature values and with independent CE-LIF measurements. The method is robust, rapid, and highly sensitive. It does not require derivatization or postcolumn addition of reagents.     

Identification of isomeric N-glycan structures by mass spectrometry with 157 nm laser-induced photofragmentation

Characterization of structural isomers has become increasingly important and extremely challenging in glycobiology. This communication demonstrates the capability of ion-trap mass spectrometry in conjunction with 157 nm photofragmentation to identify different structural isomers of permethylated N-glycans derived from ovalbumin without chromatographic separation. The results are compared with collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. Photodissociation generates extensive cross-ring fragment ions as well as diagnostic glycosidic product ions that are not usually observed in CID MS/MS experiments. The detection of these product ions aids in characterizing indigenous glycan isomers. The ion trap facilitates MS(n) experiments on the diagnostic glycosidic fragments and cross-ring product ions generated through photofragmentation, thus allowing unambiguous assignment of all of the isomeric structures associated with the model glycoprotein used in this study. Photofragmentation is demonstrated to be a powerful technique for the structural characterization of glycans.