Determination of the anomeric configuration of glycosyl esters of nucleoside pyrophosphates by fast-atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry

Very low energy collision-induced dissociation of the deprotonated molecules of glycosyl esters of nucleoside pyrophosphates results in distinct fragmentation patterns that depend on the cis-trans configuration of the phosphodiester and 2″-hydroxyl groups of the glycosyl residue. In tandem mass spectrometry, sugar nucleotides with cis configuration produce only one, very abundant fragment that corresponds to nucleoside monophosphate, whereas nucleotides with trans configuration give weak signals for the nucleoside di- and monophosphates and their dehydration products. This empirical rule holds for sugar nucleotides that have a free 2″-hydroxyl group and no alternative charge location. Owing to its simplicity, sensitivity, and tolerance of impurities, fast-atom bombardment-tandem mass spectrometry represents a suitable method for determination of the anomeric linkage of glycosyl esters of nucleoside pyrophosphates if the absolute configuration of glycosyl residue is known and the compound fulfills the above-mentioned requirements.