Evidence of Molecular Fragmentation inside the Charged Droplets Produced by Electrospray Process

The behavior of the analyte molecules inside the neutral core of the charged droplet produced by the electrospray (ES) process is not unambiguously known to date. We have identified interesting molecular transformations of two suitably chosen analytes inside the ES droplets. The highly stable Ni(II) complex of 1,8-dimethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane (1) that consists of a positive charge at the metal center, and the allyl pendant armed tertiary amine containing macrocycle 3,4,5:12,13,14-dipyridine-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-1,7,10,16-tetraallyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadeca-3,13-diene (M _4p ) have been studied by ESI mass spectrometry as the model analytes. We have shown that these two molecules are not representatively transferred from solution to gas phase by ESI; rather, they undergo fragmentation inside the charged droplets. The results indicated that a charged analyte such as 1 was possibly unstable inside the neutral core of the ES droplet and undergoes fragmentation due to the Coulombic repulsion imparted by the surface protons. Brownian motion of the neutral analyte such as M _4p inside the droplet, on the other hand, may lead to proton attachment on interaction with the charged surface causing destabilization that leads to fragmentation of M _4p and release of resonance stabilized allyl cations from the core of the droplet. Detailed solvent dependence and collision-induced dissociation (CID) studies provided compelling evidences that the fragmentation of the analytes indeed occurs inside the charged ES droplets. A viable model of molecular transformations inside the ES droplet was proposed based on these results to rationalize the behavior of the analyte molecules inside the charged ES droplets.     

Relating chromatographic retention and electrophoretic mobility to the ion distribution within electrosprayed droplets

Ions that are observed in a mass spectrum obtained with electrospray mass spectrometry can be assumed to originate preferentially from ions that have a high distribution to the surface of the charged droplets. In this study, a relation between chromatographic retention and electrophoretic mobility to the ion distribution (derived from measured signal intensities in mass spectra and electrospray current) within electrosprayed droplets for a series of tetraalkylammonium ions, ranging from tetramethyl to tetrapentyl, is presented. Chromatographic retention in a reversed-phase system was taken as a measure of the analyte’s surface activity, which was found to have a large influence on the ion distribution within electrosprayed droplets. In addition, different transport mechanisms such as electrophoretic migration and diffusion can influence the surface partitioning coefficient. The viscosity of the solvent system is affected by the methanol content and will influence both diffusion and ion mobility. However, as diffusion and ion mobility are proportional to each other, we have, in this study, chosen to focus on the ion mobility parameter. It was found that the influence of ion mobility relative to surface activity on the droplet surface partitioning of analyte ions decreases with increasing methanol content. This effect is most probably coupled to the decrease in droplet size caused by the decreased surface tension at increasing methanol content. The same observation was made upon increasing the ionic strength of the solvent system, which is also known to give rise to a decreased initial droplet size. The observed effect of ionic strength on the droplet surface partitioning of analyte ions could also be explained by the fact that at higher ionic strength, a larger number of ions are initially closer to the droplet surface and, thus, the contribution of ionic transport from the bulk liquid to the liquid/air surface interface (jet and droplet surface), attributable to migration or diffusion will decrease.     

Insights into the Mechanism of Protein Electrospray Ionization From Salt Adduction Measurements

The mechanisms whereby protein ions are liberated from charged droplets during electrospray ionization (ESI) remain under investigation. Compact conformers electrosprayed from aqueous solution in positive ion mode likely follow the charged residue model (CRM), which envisions analyte release after solvent evaporation to dryness. The concentration of nonvolatile salts such as NaCl increases sharply within vanishing CRM droplets, promoting nonspecific pairing of Cl^- and Na⁺ with charged groups on the protein surface. For unfolded proteins, it has been proposed that ion formation occurs via the chain ejection model (CEM). During the CEM proteins are expelled from the droplet long before complete solvent evaporation has taken place. Here we examine whether salt adduction levels support the view that folded and unfolded proteins follow different ESI mechanisms. Solvent evaporation during the CEM is expected to be less extensive and, hence, the salt concentration at the point of protein release should be substantially lower than for the CRM. CEM ions should therefore exhibit lower adduction levels than CRM species. We explore the adduction behavior of several proteins that were chosen to allow comparative studies on folded and unfolded structures in the same solution. In-source activation eliminates chloride adducts via HCl release, generating protein ions that are heterogeneously charged because of sodiation and protonation. Sodiation levels measured under such conditions provide estimates of the salt adduction behavior experienced by the “nascent” analyte ions. Sodiation levels are significantly reduced for unfolded proteins, supporting the view that these species are indeed formed via the CEM.

A brief overview of the present status of the mechanisms involved in electrospray mass spectrometry

A brief account of the mechanisms by which ions in solution are converted to ions in the gas phase is given on the basis of information available in the literature and the four companion articles on electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) in this issue. The following stages/phenomena are described: (a) production of the charged droplets at the ES capillary tip; (b) evolution of the charged droplets due to solvent evaporation and droplet fission caused by Coulombic repulsion of the charges on the droplets; production of the gas phase ion from very small charged droplets by the charge residue model (CRM) or the ion evaporation method (IEM); (c) dependence of the sensitivity in ESMS on the chemical nature of the analyte and its concentration as well as on the concentration of other electrolytes that are present in the solution; qualitative predictions on the sensitivity of the analyte based on the surface activity of the analyte ions; (d) relationship between ions produced in the gas phase and original ions present in the solution; and (e) globular proteins. Much of the information presented in (a)-(e) has been available for some time in the literature. However some significant advances are relatively recent. Recent results by de la Mora and co-workers, including their contribution in this Special Feature, provide very strong evidence that small ions (in distinction from macroions such as bio-macroions) are produced by IEM. On the other hand, macroions and particularly the polyprotonated globular proteins are produced by CRM. Also noteworthy is the development of an equation by Enke with which the observed relative ion signal intensities of the gas-phase ions produced can be predicted on the basis of the ion concentration in solution over a wide concentration range. The recognition that the sensitivity of organic analyte ions can be qualitatively predicted on the basis of the hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity of the part of the molecule that is not part of the charged (ionic) group and affects the surface activity of the ionic species is also noteworthy and a very useful relatively recent development.     

Ionization and transmission efficiency in an electrospray ionization—mass spectrometry interface

The ionization and transmission efficiencies of an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface were investigated to advance the understanding of how these factors affect mass spectrometry (MS) sensitivity. In addition, the effects of the ES emitter distance to the inlet, solution flow rate, and inlet temperature were characterized. Quantitative measurements of ES current loss throughout the ESI interface were accomplished by electrically isolating the front surface of the interface from the inner wall of the heated inlet capillary, enabling losses on the two surfaces to be distinguished. In addition, the ES current lost to the front surface of the ESI interface was spatially profiled with a linear array of 340-microm-diameter electrodes placed adjacent to the inlet capillary entrance. Current transmitted as gas-phase ions was differentiated from charged droplets and solvent clusters by measuring sensitivity with a single quadrupole mass spectrometer. The study revealed a large sampling efficiency into the inlet capillary (>90% at an emitter distance of 1 mm), a global rather than a local gas dynamic effect on the shape of the ES plume resulting from the gas flow conductance limit of the inlet capillary, a large (>80%) loss of analyte ions after transmission through the inlet arising from incomplete desolvation at a solution flow rate of 1.0 microL/min, and a decrease in analyte ions peak intensity at lower temperatures, despite a large increase in ES current transmission efficiency.     

Electrospray-assisted laser desorption/ionization and tandem mass spectrometry of peptides and proteins

We have constructed an electrospray-assisted laser desorption/ionization (ELDI) source which utilizes a nitrogen laser pulse to desorb intact molecules from matrix-containing sample solution droplets, followed by electrospray ionization (ESI) post-ionization. The ELDI source is coupled to a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer and allows sampling under ambient conditions. Preliminary data showed that ELDI produces ESI-like multiply charged peptides and proteins up to 29 kDa carbonic anhydrase and 66 kDa bovine albumin from single-protein solutions, as well as from complex digest mixtures. The generated multiply charged polypeptides enable efficient tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS)-based peptide sequencing. ELDI-MS/MS of protein digests and small intact proteins was performed both by collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) and by nozzle-skimmer dissociation (NSD). ELDI-MS/MS may be a useful tool for protein sequencing analysis and top-down proteomics study, and may complement matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-based measurements.     

Using a nanoelectrospray-differential mobility spectrometer-mass spectrometer system for the analysis of oligosaccharides with solvent selected control over ESI aggregate ion formation

Differential mobility spectrometry (DMS), also commonly referred to as high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) is a rapidly advancing technology for gas-phase ion separation. The interfacing of DMS with mass spectrometry (MS) offers potential advantages over the use of mass spectrometry alone. Such advantages include improvements to mass spectral signal/noise, orthogonal/complementary ion separation to mass spectrometry, enhanced ion and complexation structural analysis, and the potential for rapid analyte quantitation. In this report, we demonstrate the successful use of our nanoESI-DMS-MS system, with a methanol drift gas modifier, for the separation of oligosaccharides. The tendency for ESI to form oligosaccharide aggregate ions and the negative impact this has on nanoESI-DMS-MS oligosaccharide analysis is described. In addition, we demonstrate the importance of sample solvent selection for controlling nanoESI oligosaccharide aggregate ion formation and its effect on glycan ionization and DMS separation. The successful use of a tetrachloroethane/methanol solvent solution to reduce ESI oligosaccharide aggregate ion formation while efficiently forming a dominant MH(+) molecular ion is presented. By reducing aggregate ion formation in favor of a dominant MH(+) ion, DMS selectivity and specificity is improved. In addition to DMS, we would expect the reduction in aggregate ion complexity to be beneficial to the analysis of oligosaccharides for other post-ESI separation techniques such as mass spectrometry and ion mobility. The solvent selected control over MH(+) molecular ion formation, offered by the use of the tetrachloroethane/methanol solvent, also holds promise for enhancing MS/MS structural characterization analysis of glycans.     

Nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: addressing analytical problems beyond routine

The advent of nano-electrospray ionization (nano-ESI) has considerably extended the usability of ESI in the analytical mass spectrometric laboratory. One of the remarkable features of nano-ESI is its extremely low sample consumption. Only a few microliters of analyte solution (10(-5)-10(-8) M) are sufficient for molecular weight determination and structural investigations by MS/MS. But nano-ESI is more than just a minimized-flow ESI; the low solvent flow rate also affects the mechanism of ion formation. As a consequence, the area of ESI-MS applications is significantly enhanced. Oligosaccharides, glycosides as well as glycoproteins can be analyzed more easily than with normal ion spray. The same holds for the analysis of non-covalent complexes sprayed directly from aqueous solutions.     

Charge carrier field emission determines the number of charges on native state proteins in electrospray ionization

Although multiple charging in electrospray ionization (ESI) is essential to protein mass spectrometry, the underlying mechanism of multiple charging has not been explicated. Here, we present a new theory to describe ESI of native-state proteins and predict the number of excess charges on proteins in ESI. The theory proposes that proteins are ionized as charged residues in ESI, as they retain residual excess charges after solvent evaporation and do not desorb from charged ESI droplets. However, their charge state is not determined by the Rayleigh limit of a droplet of similar size to the protein; rather, their final charge state is determined by the electric field-induced emission of small charged solute ions and clusters from protein-containing ESI droplets. This theory predicts that the number of charges on a protein in ESI should be directly proportional to the square of the gas-phase protein diameter and to E*, the critical electric field strength at which ion emission from droplets occurs. This critical field strength is determined by the properties of the excess charge carriers (i.e., the solute) in droplets. Charge-state measurements of native-state proteins with molecular masses in the 5-76 kDa range in ammonium acetate and triethylammonium bicarbonate are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions and strongly support the mechanism of protein ESI proposed here.     

Nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: addressing analytical problems beyond routine

The advent of nano-electrospray ionization (nano-ESI) has considerably extended the usability of ESI in the analytical mass spectrometric laboratory. One of the remarkable features of nano-ESI is its extremely low sample consumption. Only a few microliters of analyte solution (10^–5–10^–8 M) are sufficient for molecular weight determination and structural investigations by MS/MS. But nano-ESI is more than just a minimized-flow ESI; the low solvent flow rate also affects the mechanism of ion formation. As a consequence, the area of ESI-MS applications is significantly enhanced. Oligosaccharides, glycosides as well as glycoproteins can be analyzed more easily than with normal ion spray. The same holds for the analysis of non-covalent complexes sprayed directly from aqueous solutions.     

Cluster ions of diquat and paraquat in electrospray ionization mass spectra and their collision-induced dissociation spectra

Cluster ions such as [Cat+X+nM](+) (n = 0-4); [Cat-H+nM](+) (n = 1-3); and [2(Cat-H)+X+nM](+) (n = 0-2), where Cat, X, and M are the dication, anion, and neutral salt (CatX(2)), respectively, are observed in electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry of relatively concentrated solutions of diquat and paraquat. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) reactions of the clusters were observed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), including deprotonation to form [Cat-H](+), one-electron reduction of the dication to form Cat(+.), demethylation of the paraquat cation to form [Cat-CH(3)](+), and loss of neutral salt to produce smaller clusters. The difference in acidity and reduction power between diquat and paraquat, evaluated by thermodynamical estimates, can rationalize the different fractional yields of even-electron ([Cat-H](+) and its clusters) and odd-electron (mostly Cat(+)) ions in ESI mass spectra of these pesticides. The [Cat+n. Solv](2+) doubly charged cluster ions, where n 相似文献   

Characterisation of humic substances using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry combined with size-exclusion chromatography

Humic substances were analysed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) and electrospray ionisation (ESI) mass spectrometry in positive and negative modes. Using APCI the average m/z range of humic substances was reduced 5-fold compared to ESI. High-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed the formation of multiply charged molecules in the ESI mode. Moreover, it was possible to obtain daughter ion mass spectra of humic substances by nanospray tandem mass spectrometry. The size-exclusion chromatography elution profile of humic substances was highly influenced by the pH of the analyte solution. By contrast, the pH had no significant influence on the observed mass spectra of humic substances.     

Ejection of solvated ions from electrosprayed methanol/water nanodroplets studied by molecular dynamics simulations

The ejection of solvated small ions from nanometer-sized droplets plays a central role during electrospray ionization (ESI). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can provide insights into the nanodroplet behavior. Earlier MD studies have largely focused on aqueous systems, whereas most practical ESI applications involve the use of organic cosolvents. We conduct simulations on mixed water/methanol droplets that carry excess NH(4)(+) ions. Methanol is found to compromise the H-bonding network, resulting in greatly increased rates of ion ejection and solvent evaporation. Considerable differences in the water and methanol escape rates cause time-dependent changes in droplet composition. Segregation occurs at low methanol concentration, such that layered droplets with a methanol-enriched periphery are formed. This phenomenon will enhance the partitioning of analyte molecules, with possible implications for their ESI efficiencies. Solvated ions are ejected from the tip of surface protrusions. Solvent bridging prior to ion secession is more extensive for methanol/water droplets than for purely aqueous systems. The ejection of solvated NH(4)(+) is visualized as diffusion-mediated escape from a metastable basin. The process involves thermally activated crossing of a ~30 kJ mol(-1) free energy barrier, in close agreement with the predictions of the classical ion evaporation model.     

Top-Down Mass Spectrometry of Supercharged Native Protein-Ligand Complexes

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of intact, noncovalently-bound protein-ligand complexes can yield structural information on the site of ligand binding. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) top-down MS of the 29 kDa carbonic anhydrase-zinc complex and adenylate kinase bound to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) with collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) and/or electron capture dissociation (ECD) generates product ions that retain the ligand and their identities are consistent with the solution phase structure. Increasing gas phase protein charging from electrospray ionization (ESI) by the addition of supercharging reagents, such as m-nitrobenzyl alcohol and sulfolane, to the protein analyte solution improves the capability of MS/MS to generate holo-product ions. Top-down proteomics for protein sequencing can be enhanced by increasing analyte charging.     

Preservation of non-covalent associations in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: Multiply charged polypeptide and protein dimers

The ‘softness’ of the electrospray ionization (ESI) method provides a direct link between solution chemistry and the inherent gas-phase environment of mass Spectrometry. Available results related to the preservation of non-covalent associations into the gas phase after ESI are reviewed. These associations include the possible retention of elements of higher order protein structure, non-covalent polypeptide–heme associations and enzyme complexes. Experimental results are presented showing that non-covalently bound polypeptide and protein dimer ions are relatively common as low level contributions to ESI mass spectra. It is argued that these dimers are reflective of multimeric species in solution since Coulombic barriers preclude dimerization after ESI although uncertainty remains regarding whether they exist prior to the formation of highly charged droplets. The dissociation of dimers is facile and for proteins can yield monomers having a broad distribution of charge states. The detection of non-covalently associated dimers requires gentle ESI mass spectrometer interface conditions, yielding relatively low levels of internal excitation. Under such conditions incomplete molecular ion desolvation can result in experimental artifacts for tandem mass spectrometric experiments. ESI mass Spectrometry may have broad potential for the study of noncovalent liquid phase associations.     

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

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

Minimizing analyte electrolysis in an electrospray emitter

The electrospray (ES) ion source is a controlled-current electrolytic flow cell. Electrolytic reactions in the ES emitter capillary are continually ongoing to sustain the production of charged droplets and ultimately gas-phase ions from this device. Under certain circumstances, the analytes under study may be directly involved in these electrolytic processes. It is demonstrated that a simple means to minimize analyte electrolysis is to exchange the normal metal emitter capillary of commercial ES sources with one made of fused silica. This change is shown to provide an ES mass spectrometric system of similar performance in terms of gas-phase ion signal generated for non-electroactive analytes and also assures minimal oxidation of electroactive analytes even at low (2.0 microl x min(-1)) solution flow-rates and high (millimolar) solution electrolyte concentrations.     

Charge-reduced nano electrospray ionization combined with differential mobility analysis of peptides, proteins, glycoproteins, noncovalent protein complexes and viruses

This study explores the potential of a novel electrospray-based method, termed gas-phase electrophoretic mobility molecular analysis (GEMMA), allowing the molecular mass determination of peptides, proteins and noncovalent biocomplexes up to 2 MDa (dimer of immunglobulin M). The macromolecular ions were formed by nano electrospray ionization (ESI) in the 'cone jet' mode. The multiple charged state of the monodisperse droplets/ions generated was reduced by means of bipolar ionized air (generated by an alpha-particle source) to yield exclusively singly charged positive and negative ions as well as neutrals. These ions are separated subsequently at atmospheric pressure using a nano differential mobility analyzer according to their electrophoretic mobility in air. Finally, the ions are detected using a standard condensation particle counter. Data were expressed as electrophoretic mobility diameters by applying the Millikan equation. The measured electrophoretic mobility diameters, or Millikan diameters, of 32 well-defined proteins were plotted against their molecular weights in the range 3.5 to 1920 kDa and exhibited an excellent squared correlation coefficient (r(2) = 0.999). This finding allowed the exact molecular weight determination of large (glyco)proteins and noncovalent biocomplexes by means of this new technique with a mass accuracy of +/-5.6% up to 2 MDa at the femtomole level. From the molecular masses of the weakly bound, large protein complexes thus obtained, the binding stoichiometry of the intact complex and the complex stability as a function of pH, for example, can be derived. Examples of specific protein complexes, such as the avidin or catalase homo-tetramer, are used to illustrate the potential of the technique for characterization of high-mass biospecific complexes. A discussion of current and future applications of charge-reduced nano ESI GEMMA, such as chemical reaction monitoring (reduction process of immunglobulin G) or size determination of an intact virus, a supramolecular complex, and monitoring of partial dissociation of a human rhinoviruses, is provided.     

Soft Supercharging of Biomolecular Ions in Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

The charge states of biomolecular ions in ESI-MS can be significantly increased by the addition of low-vapor supercharging (SC) reagents into the spraying solution. Despite the considerable interest from the community, the mechanistic aspects of SC are not well understood and are hotly debated. Arguments that denaturation accounts for the increased charging observed in proteins sprayed from aqueous solutions containing SC reagent have been published widely, but often with incomplete or ambiguous supporting data. In this work, we explored ESI MS charging and SC behavior of several biopolymers including proteins and DNA oligonucleotides. Analytes were ionized from 100 mM ammonium acetate (NH₄Ac) aqueous buffer in both positive (ESI+) and negative (ESI–) ion modes. SC was induced either with m-NBA or by the elevated temperature of ESI capillary. For all the analytes studied we, found striking differences in the ESI MS response to these two modes of activation. The data suggest that activation with m-NBA results in more extensive analyte charging with lower degree of denaturation. When working solution with m-NBA was analyzed at elevated temperatures, the SC effect from m-NBA was neutralized. Instead, the net SC effect was similar to the SC effect achieved by thermal activation only. Overall, our observations indicate that SC reagents enhance ESI charging of biomolecules via distinctly different mechanism compared with the traditional approaches based on analyte denaturation. Instead, the data support the hypothesis that the SC phenomenon involves a direct interaction between a biopolymer and SC reagent occurring in evaporating ESI droplets.