Formation of Anionic Peptide Radicals In Vacuo

In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time the formation of radical anionic peptides [M - 2H]*- through a one-electron transfer mechanism upon low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of gas-phase singly charged [Mn(III)(salen)(M - 2H)]*- complex ions [where salen is N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato) and M is an angiotensin III derivative]. The types of fragment ions formed from [M - 2H]*- share some similarities with those from the cationic radical peptides M*+ and [M + H]*2+, but differ significantly from those of the corresponding deprotonated peptides [M - H]-. Fragmentation of [M - 2H]*- radical anionic angiotensin III derivatives leads preferentially to product ions of side-chain cleavage of amino acid residues, z-type and minor x-type fragment ions, most of which are types rarely observed in low-energy CID spectra of deprotonated analogs. The degree of competitive dissociation of the complexes is highly dependent on the nature of the substituted salen derivatives. The yields of anionic peptide radicals were enhanced to the greatest extent when electron withdrawing groups were positioned at the 5 and 5' positions, but the effect was rather modest when such groups resided at the 3 and 3' positions. Substituting a cyclohexyl unit of a salen with phenyl or naphthyl moieties at the 8 and 8' positions also facilitated electron-transfer pathways.     

Metal-mediated formation of gas-phase amino acid radical cations

The results from an investigation of the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the ternary complexes [Cu(II)(terpy)(AA)](2+) are presented (terpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine; AA = one of the twenty common amino acids). These complexes show a rich gas-phase chemistry, which depends on the identity of the amino acid. For the histidine-, lysine- and tryptophan-containing complexes, oxidative dissociation of the amino acid is observed, yielding the amino acid radical cation. The results of further mass selection and CID of these amino acid radical cations are presented. The CID of the series [Fe(III)(salen)(AA)](+) (where salen = N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato)) is also examined. These complexes undergo loss of the neutral amino acid in all cases, although the radical cation of arginine is also produced and its subsequent fragmentation examined. B3-LYP/6-31G(d) computations were carried out to test aspects of the proposed fragmentation mechanism of the histidine and arginine radical cations.     

Fragmentation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-radical cations of arginine-containing peptides

Fragmentation pathways of peptide radical cations, M^+·, with well-defined initial location of the radical site were explored using collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. Peptide radical cations were produced by gas-phase fragmentation of Co^III(salen)-peptide complexes [salen=N,N′-ethylenebis (salicylideneiminato)]. Subsequent hydrogen abstraction from the β-carbon of the side-chain followed by C_α-C_β bond cleavage results in the loss of a neutral side chain and formation of an α-radical cation with the radical site localized on the α-carbon of the backbone. Similar CID spectra dominated by radical-driven dissociation products were obtained for a number of arginine-containing α-radicals, suggesting that for these systems radical migration precedes fragmentation. In contrast, proton-driven fragmentation dominates CID spectra of α-radicals produced via the loss of the arginine side chain. Radical-driven fragmentation of large M^+· peptide radical cations is dominated by side-chain losses, formation of even-electron a-ions and odd-electron x-ions resulting from C_α-C bond cleavages, formation of odd-electron z-ions, and loss of the N-terminal residue. In contrast, charge-driven fragmentation produces even-electron y-ions and odd-electron b-ions.     

Designing copper(II) ternary complexes to generate radical cations of peptides in the gas phase: role of the auxiliary ligand

A series of ternary copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(II)(L)(M)](2+), where M represents the hexapeptides GGGFLR, YGGFLR and WGGFLR and L a set of 12 nitrogen donor ligands have been evaluated for their ability to form cationic peptide radicals, M(+)*, in the gas phase. Although the fragmentation chemistry of these ions is complex, two main conclusions emerge: (i) Complexes containing a tri- or tetra-dentate ligand were found to be more effective at producing the peptide radical because in these instances competitive loss of the ligand from the complex is inhibited; (ii) The ligands ought not possess any acidic protons in order to prevent competitive loss of the protonated peptide, [M + H](+). There is significant interaction of the N-terminal aromatic residues in YGGFLR and WGGLFR with the copper(ii) ion in several of the complexes as revealed by the formation of [Cu(I)(L)(p-quinomethide)](+) and [Cu(I)(L)(3-methyleneindoline)](+) fragment ions. Following its dissociation from the ternary complex, CID of the YGGFLR(+)* radical cation shows a dependence on the ligand in the complex from which it was formed. This 'memory effect' most likely reflects differences in the coordinated peptide structure induced by the ligand in the precursor complex which are maintained following dissociation.     

Peptide derivatization as a strategy to form fixed-charge peptide radicals

As a means of generating fixed-charge peptide radicals in the gas phase we have examined the collision-induced dissociation (CID) chemistry of ternary [Cu(II)(terpy)(TMPP-M)]2+ complexes, where terpy = 2,2':6'2'-terpyridine and TMPP-M represents a peptide (M) modified by conversion of the N-terminal amine to a [tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphonium]acetamide (TMPP-) fixed-charge derivative. The following modified peptides were examined: oligoglycines, (Gly)n (n = 1-5), alanylglycine, glycylalanine, dialanine, trialanine and leucine-enkephaline (YGGFL). The [Cu(II)(terpy)(TMPP-M)]2+ complexes are readily formed upon electrospray ionization (ESI) of a mixture of derivatized peptide and [Cu(II)(terpy)(NO3)2] and generally fragment to form transient peptide radical cations, TMPP-M+*, which undergo rapid decarboxylation for the simple aliphatic peptides. This is contrasted with the complexes containing the unmodified peptides, which predominantly undergo fragmentation of the coordinated peptide. These differences demonstrate the importance of proton mobility in directing fragmentation of ternary copper(II) peptide complexes. In the case of leucine-enkephaline, a sufficient yield of the radical cation was obtained to allow further CID. The TMPP-YGGFL+* ion showed a rich fragmentation chemistry, including CO2 loss, side-chain losses of an isopropyl radical, 2-methylpropene and p-quinomethide, and *a1 and *a4 sequence ion formation. In contrast, the even-electron TMPP-YGGFL+ ion fragments to form *a(n) and *b(n) sequence ions as well as the [*b4 + H2O]+ rearrangement ion.     

Energetics and dynamics of electron transfer and proton transfer in dissociation of metal(III)(salen)-peptide complexes in the gas phase

Time- and collision energy-resolved surface-induced dissociation (SID) of ternary complexes of Co(III)(salen)+, Fe(III)(salen)+, and Mn(III)(salen)+ with several angiotensin peptide analogues was studied using a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS) specially equipped to perform SID experiments. Time-resolved fragmentation efficiency curves (TFECs) were modeled using an RRKM-based approach developed in our laboratory. The approach utilizes a very flexible analytical expression for the internal energy deposition function that is capable of reproducing both single-collision and multiple-collision activation in the gas phase and excitation by collisions with a surface. The energetics and dynamics of competing dissociation pathways obtained from the modeling provides important insight on the competition between proton transfer, electron transfer, loss of neutral peptide ligand, and other processes that determine gas-phase fragmentation of these model systems. Similar fragmentation behavior was obtained for various Co(III)(salen)-peptide systems of different angiotensin analogues. In contrast, dissociation pathways and relative stabilities of the complexes changed dramatically when cobalt was replaced with trivalent iron or manganese. We demonstrate that the electron-transfer efficiency is correlated with redox properties of the metal(III)(salen) complexes (Co > Fe > Mn), while differences in the types of fragments formed from the complexes reflect differences in the modes of binding between the metal-salen complex and the peptide ligand. RRKM modeling of time- and collision-energy-resolved SID data suggests that the competition between proton transfer and electron transfer during dissociation of Co(III)(salen)-peptide complexes is mainly determined by differences in entropy effects while the energetics of these two pathways are very similar.     

Thermal formation of mixed-metal inorganic complexes at atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric-pressure thermal desorption ionization (APTDI), a new variant on older ionization methods, is employed to generate gas-phase ions from inorganic and organometallic compounds. The method is compared to conventional electrospray ionization (ESI) of these compounds and found in most cases examined to yield simpler mass spectra which are useful in the characterization of the pure compounds. Cluster formation, however, is prominent in these spectra and mixtures of V(IV)O(salen), Ni(II)(salen) and Co(II)(salen) show mixed-metal cluster ions. This makes APTDI a way to prepare gas-phase ions which contain multiple selected metal atoms and ligands. Such mixed-metal complexes can be mass-selected and structurally characterized by tandem mass spectrometry. Strong contrasts are evident in the dissociation behavior of homonuclear and heteronuclear metal clusters, the latter showing accompanying redox processes. The chemical reactivity accompanying collision-induced dissociation (CID) of some of the mixed-metal clusters is typified by the protonated species H+[NiVO(salen)], which undergoes a formal oxidation process (hydrogen atom loss) to give the molecular radical cation of Ni(salen). This ionization method may provide a new route to unique inorganic compounds on surfaces through soft landing of appropriate cluster ions. The contrasting behavior of the ESI and APTDI processes is evident in the salens where ESI shows simple Bronsted acid/base chemistry, no mixed-metal clusters and no redox chemistry.     

Formation of molecular radical cations of aliphatic tripeptides from their complexes with CuII(12-crown-4)

Molecular radical cations have proven to be difficult to generate from aliphatic peptides under electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) conditions. For a family of small aliphatic peptides GGX, where X = G, A, P, I, L and V, these cations have been generated by electrospraying a mixture of Cu.2+, 12-crown-4 and GGX in methanol/water. GGX.+ is readily formed from the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of [CuII(12-crown-4)(GGX)].2+. The formation of these aliphatic peptide radical ions from these complexes, in cases where it is not possible from the corresponding complexes involving a series of amine ligands instead of 12-crown-4, is likely due to the second ionization energy of the [CuI(12-crown-4)(GGX)]+ complex being higher than that of the corresponding [CuI(amine)(GGX)]+ complex. Using these 12-crown-4 complexes, GGI can be differentiated from the isomeric GGL by comparing the CID spectra of their [a3 + H].+ ions.     

Distinctive unimolecular gas-phase reactivity of [M(en)2]2+ (M=Ni, Cu) dications and their inclusion complexes with the macrocyclic cavitand Cucurbit[8]uril

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry makes it possible to generate gas-phase bis-ethylenediamine nickel and copper dications, [M(en)(2)](2+) (M = Ni, 1; M = Cu, 2), as well as their {[M(en)(2)]@cuc[8]}(2+) inclusion complexes with the macrocyclic cavitand cucurbit[8]uril (cuc[8]). The unimolecular gas-phase reactivity of these species has been investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with a quadrupole-time-of-flight configuration. Distinctive fragmentation pathways have been observed for the free and encapsulated [M(en)(2)](2+) (M = Ni, Cu) dications under collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions. The dications [M(en)(2)](2+) (M = Ni, Cu) dissociate according to several competitive pathways that involve intra-complex hydrogen or electron-transfer processes. Most of these channels are suppressed after encapsulation inside the cucurbit[8]uril macrocycle and, as a consequence, a simplification of the {[M(en)(2)]@cuc[8]}(2+) fragmentation pattern is observed. The results obtained demonstrate that the encapsulation of a coordination complex inside a host molecule can be used to alter the nature of the product ions generated under CID conditions.     

Formation and Dissociation of Phosphorylated Peptide Radical Cations

In this study, we generated phosphoserine- and phosphothreonine-containing peptide radical cations through low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the ternary metal?Cligand phosphorylated peptide complexes [Cu^II(terpy) _p M]^·2+ and [Co^III(salen) _p M]^·+ [ _p M: phosphorylated angiotensin III derivative; terpy: 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine; salen: N,N '-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato)]. Subsequent CID of the phosphorylated peptide radical cations ( _p M^·+) revealed fascinating gas-phase radical chemistry, yielding (1) charge-directed b- and y-type product ions, (2) radical-driven product ions through cleavages of peptide backbones and side chains, and (3) different degrees of formation of [M ?C H₃PO₄]^·+ species through phosphate ester bond cleavage. The CID spectra of the _p M^·+ species and their non-phosphorylated analogues featured fragment ions of similar sequence, suggesting that the phosphoryl group did not play a significant role in the fragmentation of the peptide backbone or side chain. The extent of neutral H₃PO₄ loss was influenced by the peptide sequence and the initial sites of the charge and radical. A preliminary density functional theory study, at the B3LYP 6-311++G(d,p) level of theory, of the neutral loss of H₃PO₄ from a prototypical model??N-acetylphosphorylserine methylamide??revealed several factors governing the elimination of neutral phosphoryl groups through charge- and radical-induced mechanisms.     

The effect of the secondary structure on dissociation of peptide radical cations: fragmentation of angiotensin III and its analogues

Fragmentation of protonated RVYIHPF and RVYIHPF-OMe and the corresponding radical cations was studied using time- and collision energy-resolved surface-induced dissociation (SID) in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS) specially equipped to perform SID experiments. Peptide radical cations were produced by gas-phase fragmentation of Co (III)(salen)-peptide complexes. Both the energetics and the mechanisms of dissociation of even-electron and odd-electron angiotensin III ions are quite different. Protonated molecules are much more stable toward fragmentation than the corresponding radical cations. RRKM modeling of the experimental data suggests that this stability is largely attributed to differences in threshold energies for dissociation, while activation entropies are very similar. Detailed analysis of the experimental data obtained for radical cations demonstrated the presence of two distinct structures separated by a high free-energy barrier. The two families of structures were ascribed to the canonical and zwitterionic forms of the radical cations produced in our experiments.     

Can radical cations of the constituents of nucleic acids be formed in the gas phase using ternary transition metal complexes?

Electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of ternary transition metal complexes of [M(L(3))(N)](2+) (where M = copper(II) or platinum(II); L(3) = diethylenetriamine (dien) or 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (tpy); N = the nucleobases: adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine; the nucleosides: 2'deoxyadenosine, 2'deoxyguanosine, 2'deoxythymine, 2'deoxycytidine; the nucleotides: 2'deoxyadenosine 5'-monophosphate, 2'deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate, 2'deoxythymine 5'-monophosphate, 2'deoxycytidine 5'-monophosphate) was examined as a means of forming radical cations of the constituents of nucleic acids in the gas phase. In general, sufficient quantities of the ternary complexes [M(L(3))(N)](2+) could be formed for MS/MS studies by subjecting methanolic solutions of mixtures of a metal salt [M(L(3))X(2)] (where M = Cu(II) or Pt(II); L(3) = dien or tpy; X = Cl or NO(3)) and N to ESI. The only exceptions were thymine and its derivatives, which failed to form sufficient abundances of [M(L(3))(N)](2+) ions when: (a) M = Pt(II) and L(3) = dien or tpy; (b) M = Cu(II) and L(3) = dien. In some instances higher oligomeric complexes were formed; e.g., [Pt(tpy)(dG)(n)](2+) (n = 1-13). Each of the ternary complexes [M(L(3))(N)](2+) was mass-selected and then subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap. The types of fragmentation reactions observed for these complexes depend on the nature of all three components (metal, auxiliary ligand and nucleic acid constituent) and can be classified into: (i) a redox reaction which results in the formation of the radical cation of the nucleic acid constituent, N(+.); (ii) loss of the nucleic acid constituent in its protonated form; and (iii) fragmentation of the nucleic acid constituent. Only the copper complexes yielded radical cations of the nucleic acid constituent, with [Cu(tpy)(N)](2+) being the preferred complex due to suppression, in this case, of the loss of the nucleobase in its protonated form. The yields of the radical cations of the nucleobases from the copper complexes follow the order of their ionization potentials (IPs): G (lowest IP) > A > C > T (highest IP). Sufficient yields of the radical cations of each of the nucleobases allowed their CID reactions (in MS(3) experiments) to be compared to their even-electron counterparts.     

Primary Fragmentation Pathways of Gas Phase [M(Uracil−H)(Uracil)]+ Complexes (M=Zn,Cu, Ni,Co, Fe,Mn, Cd,Pd , Mg,Ca, Sr,Ba, and Pb): Loss of Uracil versus HNCO

Complexes formed between metal dications, the conjugate base of uracil, and uracil are investigated by sustained off‐resonance irradiation collision‐induced dissociation (SORI‐CID) in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. Positive‐ion electrospray spectra show that [M(Ura?H)(Ura)]⁺ (M=Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cd, Pd, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or Pb) is the most abundant ion even at low concentrations of uracil. SORI‐CID experiments show that the main primary decomposition pathway for all [M(Ura?H)(Ura)]⁺, except where M=Ca, Sr, Ba, or Pb, is the loss of HNCO. Under the same SORI‐CID conditions, when M is Ca, Sr, Ba, or Pb, [M(Ura?H)(Ura)]⁺ are shown to lose a molecule of uracil. Similar results were observed under infrared multiple‐photon dissociation excitation conditions, except that [Ca(Ura?H)(Ura)]⁺ was found to lose HNCO as the primary fragmentation product. The binding energies between neutral uracil and [M(Ura?H)]⁺ (M=Zn, Cu, Ni, Fe, Cd, Pd ,Mg, Ca, Sr Ba, or Pb) are calculated by means of electronic‐structure calculations. The differences in the uracil binding energies between complexes which lose uracil and those which lose HNCO are consistent with the experimentally observed differences in fragmentation pathways. A size dependence in the binding energies suggests that the interaction between uracil and [M(Ura?H)]⁺ is ion–dipole complexation and the experimental evidence presented supports this.     

Letter: collision-induced dissociation of [metal(L)(2)](2+) complexes (metal = Cu, Ca and Mg) of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine allows distinction of the acyl groups at the sn1 and sn2 positions

The collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra of the divalent metal complexes of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphocholine, [Metal(lI)(L)(2)](2+) (where metal = Cu(2+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), L = [16:0/18:1GPCho]), formed by electrospray ionization, reveal interesting metal dependant fragmentation chemistry. Six main classes of reaction are observed corresponding to: two competing carboxylate abstraction pathways (from the sn1 and sn2 positions); phosphate abstraction; competing losses of the two different carboxylic acids from the sn1 and sn2 positions; loss of a protonated ligand, [L + H](+). The relative ratios of the competing carboxylate abstraction reactions are dependant on the metal, with the Cu and Ca complexes favouring the abstraction of the larger carboxylate (18:1) and the Mg complex favoring the abstraction of the smaller carboxylate (16:0).     

Formation of peptide radical ions through dissociative electron transfer in ternary metal-ligand-peptide complexes

The formation and fragmentation of odd-electron ions of peptides and proteins is of interest to applications in biological mass spectrometry. Gas-phase redox chemistry occurring during collision-induced dissociation of ternary metal-ligand-peptide complexes enables the formation of a variety of peptide radicals, including the canonical radical cations, M(+?), radical dications, [M+H](2+?), radical anions, [M-2H](-?) and phosphorylated radical cations. In addition, odd-electron peptide ions with well-defined initial location of the radical site are produced through side-chain losses from the radical ions. Subsequent fragmentation of these species provides information regarding the role of charge and location of the radical site on the competition between radical-induced and proton-driven fragmentation of odd-electron peptide ions. This account summarizes current understanding of the factors that control the efficiency of the intramolecular electron transfer (ET) in ternary metal-ligand-peptide complexes resulting in formation of odd-electron peptide ions. Specifically, we discuss the effect of the metal center, the ligand and the peptide structure on the competition between the ET, proton transfer (PT) and loss of neutral peptide and neutral peptide fragments from the complex. Fundamental studies of the structures, stabilities and the energetics and dynamics of fragmentation of these complexes are also important for detailed molecular-level understanding of photosynthesis and respiration in biological systems.     

Gas-phase investigation of Pd(II)-alanine complexes with small native and derivatized peptides containing histidine

We report here the generation of gas-phase complexes containing Pd(II), a ligand (deprotonated alanine, A-), and/or N-terminus derivatized peptides containing histidine as one of the amino acids. The species were produced by electrospray ionization, and their gas-phase reactions were investigated using ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry. Pd(II) forms a stable diaqua complex in the gas phase of the formula, [Pd(A-) (H(2)O)(2)]+, (where A- = deprotonated alanine) along with ternary complexes containing A- and peptide. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) patterns of the binary and ternary complexes were investigated, and the dissociation patterns for the ternary complexes suggest that: (a) the imidazole ring of the histidine side group may be the intrinsic binding site of the metal ion, and (b) the peptides fragment primarily by cleavage of the amide bond to the C-terminal side of the histidine residues. These observations are in accord with previous solution-state studies in which Pd(II) was shown to cause hydrolysis of an amide bond of a peptide at the same position.     

Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy techniques applied to ion trap tandem mass spectrometric analysis: nitroaromatics

The technique of two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopy is combined with ion trap tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis to provide insight into the energetics and behavior of gas-phase ions. The 2D correlation method is demonstrated by the analysis of the fragment ions produced by the fragmentation of molecular radical cations of nitrobenzene and m-nitrotoluene at a series of applied potentials that effect collision-induced dissociation (CID). The asynchronous correlation intensities show that competitive loss of NO to form [M-NO]+ proceeds at a lower CID energy than loss of NO2 to form [M-NO2]+. The formation of the ion corresponding to [M-NO-CO]+ is shown by the method to occur at a lower CID energy than the formation of [M-NO2]+, but at a higher CID energy than [M-NO]+ for both nitrobenzene and m-nitrotoluene.     

Generation of peptide radical dications via low-energy collision-induced dissociation of [Cu<Superscript>II</Superscript>(terpy)(M + H)]<Superscript>·3+</Superscript>

The first example of the formation of hydrogen-deficient radical cations of the type [M + H](.2+) is demonstrated to occur through a one-electron-transfer mechanism upon low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of gas-phase triply charged [Cu(II)(terpy)(M + H)](.3+) complex ions (where M is an angiotensin III or enkephalin derivative; terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine). The collision-induced dissociation of doubly charged [M + H](.2+) radical cations generates similar product ions to those prepared through hot electron capture dissociation (HECD). Isomeric isoleucine and leucine residues were distinguished by observing the mass differences between [z(n) + H](.+) and w(n)(+) ions (having the same residue number, n) of the Xle residues. The product ion spectrum of [z(n) + H](.+) reveals that the w(n)(+) ions are formed possibly from consecutive fragmentations of [z(n) + H](.+) ions. Although only the first few [M + H](.2+) species have been observed using this approach, these hydrogen-deficient radical cations produce fragment ions that have more structure-informative patterns and are very different from those formed during the low-energy tandem mass spectrometry of protonated peptides.     

Mass spectral study of alkali-cationized Boc-carbo-beta3-peptides by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry was used to study the dissociation reactions of [M+Cat]+ (Cat = Na+ and Li+) of Boc-carbo-beta3-peptides. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of [M+Cat-Boc]+ of these peptides are found to be significantly different from those of [M+H-Boc]+ ions. The spectra are more informative and display both C- and N-terminus metallated ions in addition to characteristic fragment ions of the carbohydrate moiety. Based on the fragmentations observed in the CID spectra of the [M+Cat-Boc]+ ions, it is suggested that the dissociation involves complexes in which the metal ion is coordinated in a multidentate arrangement involving the carbonyl oxygen atoms. The CID spectra of [M+Cat-Boc]+ ions of the peptide acids show an abundant N-terminal rearrangement ion [b(n)+17+Cat]+ which is absent for esters. Further, two pairs of positionally isomeric Boc-carbo-beta3-peptide acids, Boc-NH-Caa(S)-beta-hGly-OH (11) and Boc-NH-beta-hGly-Caa(S)-OH (12), and [Boc-NH-Caa(S)-beta-hGly-Caa(S)-beta-hGly-OH] (13) and [Boc-NH-beta-hGly-Caa(S)-beta-hGly-Caa(S)-OH] (14), were differentiated by the CID of [M+Cat-Boc]+ ions. The CID spectra of compounds 11 and 13 are significantly different from those of 12 and 14, respectively. The abundance of [b(n)+17+Cat]+ ions is higher for peptide acids 12 and 14 with a sugar group at the C-terminus when compared to 11 and 13 which contain a sugar moiety at the N-terminus. The observed differences between the CID spectra of these isomeric peptides are attributed to the difference in the preferential site of metal ion binding and also on the structure of the cyclic intermediate involved in the formation of the rearrangement ion.     

Gas-Phase Fragmentation of [M + nH + OH]<Superscript>n•+</Superscript> Ions Formed from Peptides Containing Intra-Molecular Disulfide Bonds

In this study, we systematically investigated gas-phase fragmentation behavior of [M + nH + OH]^n•+ ions formed from peptides containing intra-molecular disulfide bond. Backbone fragmentation and radical initiated neutral losses were observed as the two competing processes upon low energy collision-induced dissociation (CID). Their relative contribution was found to be affected by the charge state (n) of [M + nH + OH]^n•+ ions and the means for activation, i.e., beam-type CID or ion trap CID. Radical initiated neutral losses were promoted in ion-trap CID and for lower charge states where mobile protons were limited. Beam-type CID and dissociation of higher charge states of [M + nH + OH]^n•+ ions generally gave abundant backbone fragmentation, which was highly desirable for characterizing peptides containing disulfide bonds. The amount of sequence information obtained from CID of [M + nH + OH]^n•+ ions was compared with that from CID of disulfide bond reduced peptides. For the 11 peptides studied herein, similar extent of sequence information was obtained from these two methods.