Identification and characterization of conjugated fatty acid methyl esters of mixed double bond geometry by acetonitrile chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Fatty acids with conjugated double bonds have attracted great interest because of their reported potent bioactivities. However, there are currently no rapid methods for their structural characterization. We report here a convenient mass spectrometry-based strategy to establish double bond geometry by analysis of collisional dissociation products of cis/trans and trans/cis conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), as methyl esters, and to distinguish CLAs from homoallylic (methylene-interrupted) fatty acids in a single-stage mass spectrum. A series of CLA standards with double bond positions 6,8; 7,9; 8,10; 9,11; 10,12; 11,13; 12,14; and 13,15, with all four possible geometries (cis/trans; trans/cis; cis/cis; trans/trans) were analyzed. The m/z 54 (1-methyleneimino)-1-ethenylium ion, generated by self-reaction of acetonitrile under chemical ionization conditions, reacts with unsaturated fatty acids to yield an [M + 54]+ ion, which decomposes in the single-stage mass spectrum by loss of neutral methanol to form [M + 54 - 32]+. The ratio of [M + 54]+/[M + 54 - 32]+ in the single-stage mass spectra of CLA isomers is 1 order of magnitude less than for homoallylic diene FAME. Collisional dissociation of the [M + 54]+ ion yields two diagnostic ions that contain the alpha- and omega-carbon atoms and is characteristic of double bond position in the analyte. The fragment vinylic to the trans double bond is significantly more abundant than that for the cis double bond, revealing double bond geometry. The ratio of alpha to we diagnostic ion abundances is >4.8 for cis/trans isomers, <0.5 for trans/cis isomers, and 0.7-3.2 for cis/cis and trans/trans isomers. This method provides a rapid alternative to conventional conjugated fatty acid analysis and, together with complementary elution time information provided by gas chromatography, enables rapid, positive identification of double bond position and geometry in most CLA FAME.     

Primary structure determination of peptides and enzymatically digested proteins using capillary liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and rapid linked-scan techniques

Primary protein sequences were determined for both peptides and enzymatically digested proteins by rapid linked-scan (B/E) liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) at the low-picomole level (10-50 pmol). During the course of a single LC/MS/MS analysis, we demonstrated that it is possible to generate interpretable collision-induced dissociation spectra of the eluting proteolytic peptides. Molecular weights of tryptic peptides were established by using 1/10 of the protein digest by operating in the capillary LC/frit-FABMS mode. Peptides exhibiting the strongest MH+ ions were then selected for subsequent LC/MS/MS analysis (typically 1/5 of the remaining protein digest). Elution times for each chromatographic peak were generally greater than 30 s. It was therefore possible to obtain a minimum of six B/E fast linked-scan spectra during the course of elution of each peptide component. Typically, B/E linked scans of the greatest ion abundance (obtained at the chromatographic peak maximum) were averaged to enhance the signal/noise ratio at these low-picomole levels. Unit resolution was observed for product ions below m/z 1000. Rapid linked scanning by LC/frit-FABMS/MS provided mass assignments for product ions within 0.2-0.3 amu of theoretical values. Side-chain fragment ions (wn and dn) were also observed, which allowed for the differentiation of isobaric amino acids (e.g., leucine and isoleucine). Examples of the application of this fast linked-scan technique to LC/MS/MS are presented for complex mixtures of unknown peptides and the tryptic digestion of phosphorylated beta-casein.     

Study of the fragmentation mechanism of protonated 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone: application in simultaneous analysis of CYP2E1 activity with major human cytochrome P450s

The application of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for simultaneous analysis of major human cytochrome P450 activities via a single atmospheric pressure ionization (API) LC/MS/MS method has been hampered by the preferred detection of 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone (HCZ), the metabolite of the CYP2E1 probe, chlorzoxazone, under negative API. An initial simulation of the dissociation constants suggested the potential ionization of the enol form of HCZ at low pH, and the accurate mass measurements confirmed the presence of the protonated HCZ signal under (+) ESI at pH 3. However, the CID spectrum of the protonated HCZ resulted in a few intense, but uncommon, fragment ions that could be utilized for specific selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions. The deduced elemental compositions of these fragment ions indicated possible aromatic ring opening for the first two intense product ions at m/z 130 and 115, as well as chlorine radical loss for the third ion at m/z 151. Further precursor and product ion scan studies, along with the deuterium ion exchange in solution, revealed the involvement of three distinct pathways of fragmentation. The m/z 186-->130 transition, which was shown to be specific in human plasma and rat hepatic microsomes, was further combined with the SRM transition of reserpine (internal standard) and eight probe substrates for human cytochrome P450 isoforms. This led to the development of a full LC/MS/MS method capable of analyzing a total of nine human P450 activities within 3 min, including CYP2E1, using a single assay in the (+) ESI mode. The HCZ assay showed excellent linearity with a coefficient of determination (R2) greater than 0.98 at dynamic range of 0.05 (LOQ) to 40 microM. Preliminary data from the three-day validation of the HCZ assay indicated that the accuracy and precision for quality control samples was within +/- 15% of the spiked concentration at all levels.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric quantitative analysis of methionine-enkephalin in human pituitary tissues

Picomole amounts of endogenous methionine-enkephalin (ME = YGGFM) were quantified in 11 individual human pituitaries by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry methods. Quantification was based either upon the comparison of the molecular ion (MH+) current of endogenous ME versus the current of a deuterated ME internal standard (d5-ME) or, similarly, upon the unimolecular decomposition MH+----YGGF-+ In the first field-free region to produce the unique tetrapeptide fragment ion. The latter method used the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Native ME was purified with an octadecylsilyl (ODS) disposable cartridge and with multidimensional reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The amounts of ME determined were 18.26 +/- 19.98 ng of ME/mg of protein with the MH+ method and 15.28 +/- 16.59 ng of ME/mg of protein with the MRM method. A fraction (ca. 4%) of the total amount of ME from one pituitary was used to acquire these quantitative data, and ca. half of the remaining amount of a separate sample (no d5-ME added) was used to obtain a linked scan at constant B/E (B, magnetic field; E, electric field) of the ME MH+ at 574 u to produce the amino acid sequence determining fragment ions at m/z 297, 354, 411, 397, 278, and 425 u corresponding to Y2", Y3", Y4", A4, B3, and B4, respectively. That product ion spectrum was similar to a scan of 100 ng of synthetic ME. We calculated that the amount of pentapeptide for the MRM experiments corresponded to a total of 30 ng (52 pmol) of ME on the probe tip during quantification. On the other hand, we estimated that 3 times more, or 90 ng (156 pmol), ME was on the probe tip during acquisition of the product ion spectrum.     

Acetonitrile covalent adduct chemical ionization mass spectrometry for double bond localization in non-methylene-interrupted polyene fatty acid methyl esters

Covalent adduct chemical ionization (CACI) using a product of acetonitrile self-reaction, (1-methyleneimino)-1-ethenylium (MIE; CH2=C=N+=CH2), has been investigated as a method for localizing double bonds in a series of 16 non-methylene-interrupted fatty acid methyl esters (NMI-FAME) of polyenes with three and more double bonds. As with polyunsaturated homoallylic (methylene-interrupted) FAME and conjugated dienes, MIE (m/z 54) reacts across double bonds to yield molecular ions 54 mass units above the parent analyte. [M + 54]+ ions of several 20- and 22-carbon FAME that include one double bond in the C2-C3 position separated by two to five methylene units from a three, four, or five C homoallylic system dissociated according to rules for the homoallylic system, with an additional fragment corresponding to cleavage between the lone double bond and the carboxyl group and defining the position of the lone double bond. Triene FAME with both methylene and ethylene interruption yielded characteristic fragments distinguishable from homoallylic trienes. Fragmentation of fully conjugated trienes in the MS-1 spectra yields ratios of [M + 54]+/[M + 54 - 32]+ (loss of methanol) near unity, which distinguishes them from homoallylic FAME having a ratio of 8 or more; collisionally activated dissociation of [M + 54]+ yields a series of ions, including some rearrangement products, indicative of double bond position. Unlike conjugated dienes, fully conjugated triene diagnostic ion signal ratios did not follow any pattern based on double bond geometry. Partially conjugated trienes behave similarly to monoenes and conjugated dienes, yielding [M + 54]+/[M + 54 - 32]+ of 2-3 and, permitting them to be assigned as partially conjugated FAME using the MS-1 spectrum. They yield unique MS/MS spectra with weaker but assignable fragment ions, along with a diagnostic fragment that locates the lone double bond and permits 6,10,12-octatrienoate to be distinguished from 6,8,12-octatrienoate. The presence of a triple bond did not affect fragment formation in a methylene-interrupted yne-ene but did change fragments in a conjugated yne-ene. These data extend the principle of double bond localization by acetonitrile CACI-MS/MS to double bond structure in complex FAME found in nature.     

Discrimination of neolacto-series gangliosides with alpha2-3- and alpha2-6-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid by nanoelectrospray ionization low-energy collision-induced dissociation tandem quadrupole TOF MS

A combined strategy of thin-layer chromatography immunostaining and negative ion nanoelectrospray low-energy CID mass spectrometry was established for the differentiation of isomeric alpha2-3 and alpha2-6 sialylated neolacto-series monosialogangliosides from human granulocytes. The gangliosides investigated differed in the ceramide moiety by substitution with C16:0 or C24:1 fatty acid and in their oligosaccharide chains due to nLc4 and nLc6 core structures. With respect to the type of sialylation, the homogeneity of the HPLC-purified ganglioside fractions was verified by use of specific anti-Neu5Acalpha2-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc-R and anti-Neu5Acalpha2-6Galbeta1-4GlcNAc-R antibodies. A clear-cut series of fragment ions for both types of isomeric gangliosides, carrying alpha2-3- and alpha2-6-linked neuraminic acid, respectively, was obtained by low-energy CID. Additionally, a characteristic ring cleavage was detected exclusively in all species with Neu5Acalpha2-6Galbeta1-4GlcNAc terminus, regardless of ceramide fatty acid and oligosaccharide chain lengths. The diagnostic (0,2)X(4/6) ions, generated by ring cleavage of an alpha2-6-linked neuraminic acid are accompanied by a simultaneous decrease of the corresponding Y(4)/Y(6) ions. These results suggest the unequivocal discrimination of individual alpha2-3- and alpha2-6-sialylated neolacto-series monosialogangliosides by distinct fragmentation patterns in low-energy CID tandem MS.     

Analysis of High Mass-to-Charge Ions in a Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer via an End-Cap Quadrupolar Direct Current Downscan

A method for performing mass-selective instability analysis in a three-dimensional (3-D) quadrupole ion trap is described that involves scanning a direct current (dc) voltage applied to the end-cap electrodes while holding the radio frequency (rf) potential at a fixed value. Rather than eject at the ?(z) = 1 instability line by ramping the amplitude of the drive rf potential applied to the ring electrode, as with the original mass-selective instability scan, this approach effects ion ejection along the ?(z) = 0 instability line in a process identical in principle (though it varies in its method of implementation) to the previously termed "downscan" ( Todd , J. F. J. ; Penman , A. D. ; Smith , R. D. Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Processes 1991 , 106 , 117 - 135 ). A linear scan of the dc amplitude results in a nonlinear mass scale, unlike the conventional resonance ejection scan with a linear scan of the rf amplitude, and the ejection of ions in the direction of high mass-to-charge (m/z) to low m/z. However, the downscan offers some advantages over the traditional rf scan for ions of high m/z values. These include a larger scannable mass range, as well as the opportunity for improved resolution at high mass. These characteristics are demonstrated with ions of m/z 10(4)-10(5).     

Effects of charge state and cationizing agent on the electron capture dissociation of a peptide

Electron capture dissociation (ECD) is a promising method for de novo sequencing proteins and peptides and for locating the positions of labile posttranslational modifications and binding sites of noncovalently bound species. We report the ECD of a synthetic peptide containing 10 alanine residues and 6 lysine residues uniformly distributed across the sequence. ECD of the (M + 2H)(2+) produces a limited range of c (c(7)-c(15)) and z (z(9)-z(15)) fragment ions, but ECD of higher charge states produces a wider range of c (c(2)-c(15)) and z (z(2)-z(6), z(9)-z(15)) ions. Fragmentation efficiency increases with increasing precursor charge state, and efficiencies up to 88% are achieved. Heating the (M + 2H)(2+) to 150 degrees C does not increase the observed range of ECD fragment ions, indicating that the limited products are due to backbone cleavages occurring near charges and not due to effects of tertiary structure. ECD of the (M + 2Li)(2+) and (M + 2Cs)(2+) produces di- and monometalated analogues of the same c and z ions observed from the (M + 2H)(2+), with the abundance of dimetalated fragment ions increasing with fragment ion mass, a result consistent with the metal cations being located near the peptide termini to minimize Coulombic repulsion. In stark contrast to the ECD results, collisional activation of cesiated dications overwhelmingly results in ejection of Cs(+). The abundance of cesiated fragment ions formed from ECD of the (M + Cs + Li)(2+) exceeds that of lithiated fragment ions by 10:1. ECD of the (M + H + Li)(2+) results in exclusively lithiated c and z ions, indicating an overwhelming preference for neutralization and cleavage at protonated sites over metalated sites. These results are consistent with preferential neutralization of the cation with the highest recombination energy.     

Acetonitrile chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry to locate double bonds in polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters.

A rapid method is presented for determining the location of double bonds in polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) using an ion-trap mass spectrometer. The mass spectrum of the chemical ionization reagent acetonitrile in an ion trap includes a m/z 54 ion, identified previously as 1-methyleneimino-1-ethenylium ion. We show that it reacts with double bonds of polyunsaturated FAME to yield a series of covalent product ions all appearing at (M + 54)+. Collisional dissociation of these ions yields diagnostic fragments, permitting unambiguous localization of double bonds. For methylene-interrupted and conjugated FAME, one of these fragments results from loss of the hydrocarbon end of the chain, while the other involves loss of the methyl ester. Major diagnostic-fragment ions for monoene and diene FAME occur as a result of cleavage adjacent to either allylic sites or double bonds in the original analyte and appear at one mass unit above the mass expected for homolytic cleavage. Fragmentation of polyene FAME yields major diagnostic ions resulting from cleavage between double bonds that appear one mass unit lower. The method is shown to produce highly characteristic spectra for FAME with 1 to 6 double bonds. Identification of double-bond position in highly unsaturated fatty acids is demonstrated in a mixture of unknown polyunsaturated FAME from an extract of cultured Y79 human retinoblastoma cells.     

Measuring deuterium enrichment of glucose hydrogen atoms by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

We developed a simple and accurate method for determining deuterium enrichment of glucose hydrogen atoms by electron impact gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). First, we prepared 18 derivatives of glucose and screened over 200 glucose fragments to evaluate the accuracy and precision of mass isotopomer data for each fragment. We identified three glucose derivatives that gave six analytically useful ions: (1) glucose aldonitrile pentapropionate (m/z 173 derived from C4-C5 bond cleavage; m/z 259 from C3-C4 cleavage; m/z 284 from C4-C5 cleavage; and m/z 370 from C5-C6 cleavage); (2) glucose 1,2,5,6-di-isopropylidene propionate (m/z 301, no cleavage of glucose carbon atoms); and (3) glucose methyloxime pentapropionate (m/z 145 from C2-C3 cleavage). Deuterium enrichment at each carbon position of glucose was determined by least-squares regression of mass isotopomer distributions. The validity of the approach was tested using labeled glucose standards and carefully prepared mixtures of standards. Our method determines deuterium enrichment of glucose hydrogen atoms with an accuracy of 0.3 mol %, or better, without the use of any calibration curves or correction factors. The analysis requires only 20 μL of plasma, which makes the method applicable for studying gluconeogenesis using deuterated water in cell culture and animal experiments.     

Gas-phase separations of protein and peptide ion fragments generated by collision-induced dissociation in an ion trap

Ion mobility/time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques have been used to examine distributions of fragment ions generated by collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap. The mobility-based separation step prior to mass-to-charge (m/z) analysis reduces spectral congestion and provides information that complements m/z-based assignments of peaks. The approach is demonstrated by examining fragmentation patterns of insulin chain B (a 30-residue peptide), and ubiquitin (a protein containing 76 amino acids). Some fragments of ubiquitin show evidence for multiple stable conformations.     

Sequence analysis of highly sulfated, heparin-derived oligosaccharides using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Heparin, a polydisperse, sulfated copolymer of 1----4 linked glucosamine and uronic acid residues, has been used clinically as an anticoagulant for half a century. Despite a yearly use of over 50 million doses in the U.S. alone, heparin's exact chemical structure remains unclear. The negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) analysis is presented for a series of enzymatically prepared, homogeneous, structurally characterized, highly sulfated, heparin-derived oligosaccharides using triethanolamine as the FAB matrix. In addition to the clear presence of monoanionic sodiated molecular ions, structurally significant (sequence) fragment ions are observed and characterized with respect to the known structure for five of the heparin-derived oligosaccharides. The structure of a sixth oligosaccharide is predicted by using negative ion FAB-MS and subsequently confirmed by chemical, enzymatic, and NMR spectroscopic methods.     

Distinction of Leu and Ile Using a Ruthenium(II) complex by MALDI-LIFT-TOF/TOF-MS analysis

The novel N-terminal labeling method using a ruthenium(II) complex derivative characteristically indicated a(n) and d(n) (N-terminal) fragment ions in high sensitivity by MS/MS analysis (MALDI-LIFT or ESI-CID). Although these fragment ions depended on a fragmentation process by MS/MS analytical methods to some degree, each case indicated similar side-chain cleavage patterns. The labeling method allows accurate distinction of amino acid residues by MS/MS analysis even if the residues are structural isomers such as leucine and isoleucine. The method was applied to long-chain peptides and provided easy and rapid N-terminal sequencing.     

Assignment and quantification of 2-aminopyridine derivatized oligosaccharide isomers coeluted on reversed-phase HPLC/MS by MSn spectral library

2-Aminopyridine (PA)-derivatized oligosaccharides from IgG were analyzed by using reversed-phase HPLC/mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/MS) and a MS(n) spectral library, in particular, focusing on two pairs of isomers incompletely separated or coeluted in chromatograms. We previously reported that MS(n) spectral matching considering both major fragment ions (m/z) and intensities is useful and applicable to the structural assignment of PA-oligosaccharide isomers. In this study, MS(n) spectral matching based on the MS(n) spectral library was applied to the assignment of these PA-oligosaccharide isomers in IgG. Its usefulness was investigated by comparing it to the conventional two-dimensional mapping method based on retention time indexes. Specifically, we focus on the assignment and quantification of the isomers, which are coeluted in chromatograms. From this, we propose a new method using MS(n) spectral matching and the working curve on which are plotted the relative intensities of selected fragment ions in their MS(2) spectra versus various mixtures of the isomers. This new method demonstrated that the obtained quantities coincide very well with those estimated after separating by a combination of lectin and reversed-phase columns. This means that separation by RP-HPLC/MS is greatly simplified because complete separation of the isomers is no longer required. Application of this new method was tested by using the two other pairs of fucosylated and nonfucosylated PA-oligosaccharides from IgG. The results showed that this method works for them as well.     

Studies on thermal decomposition mechanism of CL-20 by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS)

The thermal decomposition study of CL-20 (hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane) using pyrolysis GC/MS was carried out mainly by electron impact (EI) mode. Chemical ionization (CI) mode was used for further confirmation of identified species. Mass spectrum of CL-20 decomposition products predominantly revealed fragments with m/z 81 and 96 corresponding to C(4)H(5)N(2)(+) and C(4)H(4)N(2)O(+) ions, respectively. The total ion chromatogram (TIC) of CL-20 pyrolysis shows peak within first 2 min due to the presence of low molecular weight gases. Peaks corresponding to several other products were also observed including the atmospheric gases. Cyanogen formation (C(2)N(2), m/z 52) observed to be enriched at the scan number 300-500. The low molecular mass range decomposition products formed by cleavage of C-N ring structure were found in majority. Additional structural information was sought by employing chemical ionization mode. The data generated during this study was instrumented in determining decomposition pathways of CL-20.     

Structural characterization of oligosaccharides using MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry

Extensive cross-ring fragmentation ions, which are very informative of the linkages of the monosaccharide residues constituting these molecules, were readily observed in the MALDI-TOF/TOF/MS/MS spectra of oligosaccharides. These ions, in some cases, were more intense than the commonly observed Y and B ions. The A-type ions observed for the simple oligosaccharides allowed the distinction between alpha(1-4)- and alpha(1-6)-linked isobaric structures. The distinction was based not merely on the differences in the type of ions formed, but also on the ion intensities. For example, both alpha(1-4)- and alpha(1-6)-linked isobaric structures produce ions resulting from the loss of approximately 120 m/z units, but with different intensities, as a result of the fact that they correspond to two different ions (i.e., 0,4A- and 2,4A-ions), requiring different energies to be formed. Abundant A- and X-type ions were also observed for high-mannose N-glycans, allowing the determination of linkages. In addition, the high resolution furnished by MALDI-TOF/TOF allowed determination of certain ions that were commonly overlooked by MALDI-TOF or MALDI-magnetic sector instruments as a result of their lower resolution. Moreover, as a result of the fact that MS/MS spectra for parent ions and all fragment ions are acquired under the same experimental conditions, accurate determination of the molar ratios of isomeric glycans in a mixture analyzed simultaneously by MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem MS becomes possible.     

Phosphate group-driven fragmentation of multiply charged phosphopeptide anions. Improved recognition of peptides phosphorylated at serine, threonine, or tyrosine by negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

The nanoelectrospray product ion spectra of multiply charged phosphopeptide anions reveal the occurrence of phosphate-specific high-mass fragment ions of the type [M - nH - 79](n-1)-. These so far unrecognized fragments, which are observed for phosphoserine-, phosphothreonine-, and phosphotyrosine-containing peptides, are the counterparts of the established inorganic phosphopeptide marker ion found at m/z 79 = [PO3]-. The high-mass marker ions are formed with high efficiency at moderate collision offset values and are particularly useful for sensitive recognition of pSer-, pThr-, and pTyr-peptides due to the low background level in MS/MS spectra at m/z values above those of the precursor ions. By virtue of this feature, the detection of the new phosphorylation-specific fragment ions appears to be more sensitive than the detection of the low-mass phosphate marker ion at m/z 79, where a higher interference by nonspecific background signals is generally observed. The number of phosphate groups within a phosphopeptide can also be estimated on the basis of the [M - nH - 79](n-1)- ions, since these exhibit an effective, sequential neutral loss of H3PO4 of the residing phosphate groups. A mechanistic explanation for the formation of the [M - nH - 79](n-1)- ions from multiply charged phosphopeptides is given. The high-mass marker ions are proposed to originate from phosphopeptide anions, which carry two negative charges located at the phosphate group. A new search tool denominated "variable m/z gain analysis", which utilizes these newly recognized high-mass fragments for spotting of phosphopeptides in a negative ion parent scan, is proposed. The findings strengthen the value of negative ion ESI-MS/MS for analysis of protein phosphorylation.     

Atmospheric pressure covalent adduct chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry for double bond localization in monoene- and diene-containing triacylglycerols

We report a method to elucidate the structure of triacyl-glycerols (TAGs) containing monoene or diene fatty acyl groups by atmospheric pressure covalent adduct chemical ionization (APCACI) tandem mass spectrometry using acetonitrile as an adduct formation reagent. TAGs were synthesized with the structures ABB and BAB, where A is palmitate (C16:0) and B is an isomeric C18 monoene unsaturated at position 9, 11, or 13 or an isomeric diene unsaturated at positions 9 and 11, 10 and 12, or 9 and 12. In addition to the species at m/z 54 observed in previous CI studies of fatty acid methyl esters, we also found that ions at m/z 42, 81, and 95 undergo covalent reaction with TAGs containing double bonds to yield ions at m/z 40, 54, 81, and 95 units greater than that of the parent TAG: [M + 40]+, [M + 54]+, [M + 81]+, and [M + 95]+ ions. When collisionally dissociated, these ions fragment to produce two or three diagnostic ions that locate the double bonds in the TAG. In addition, ions [RCH=C=O + 40]+ and [RCH=C=O + 54]+ formed from collisional dissociation are of strong abundance in MS/MS spectra, and collisional activation of these ions produces two intense confirmatory diagnostic ions in the MS3 spectra. Fragment ions reflecting neutral loss of an sn-1-acyl group from [M + 40]+ and [M + 54]+ are more abundant than those reflecting neutral loss of an sn-2-acyl group, analogous to previous reports for protonated TAGs. The position of each acyl group on the glycerol backbone is thus determined by the relative abundances of these ions. Under the conditions in our instrument, the [M + 40]+ adduct is at the highest signal and also yields all information about the double bond position and TAG stereochemistry. With the exception of geometries about the double bonds, racemic TAG isomers containing two monoenes or dienes and a saturate can be fully characterized by APCACI-MS/MS/MS.     

Identification and relative-quantification of glycans by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization in-source decay with hydrogen abstraction

The use of specific matrixes allows enhancing the scope of in-source decay (ISD) applications in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) thanks to the specificity of analyte-matrix chemistry. The use of an oxidizing matrix, 5-nitrosalicylic acid (5-NSA), for MALDI-ISD of glycans is shown to promote fragmentation pathways involving radical precursors. Both glycosidic and cross-ring cleavages are promoted by hydrogen abstraction from hydroxyl group of glycans by 5-NSA molecules. Cross-ring cleavage ions are potentially useful in linkage analysis, one of the most critical steps of glycan characterization. Moreover, we show here that isobaric glycans could be distinguished by structure specific ISD ions and that the molar ratio of glycan isomers in the mixture can be estimated from their fragment ions abundance. The use of 5-NSA also opens the possibility to perform pseudo-MS(3) analysis of glycans. Therefore, MALDI-ISD with 5-NSA is a useful method for identification of glycans and semiquantitative analysis of mixture of glycan isomers.