PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H R Udseth

Publications and source records attributed to H R Udseth.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Electrospray ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry at 11.5 tesla: instrument design and initial results.

Initial results obtained using a new electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer operated at a magnetic field 11.5 tesla are presented. The new instrument utilized an electrostatic ion guide between the ESI source and FTICR trap that provided up to 5% overall transmission efficiency for light ions and up to 30% efficiency for heavier biomolecules. The higher magnetic field in combination with an enlarged FTICR ion trap made it possible to substantially improve resolving power and operate in a more robust fashion for large biopolymers compared to lower field instruments. Mass resolution up to 10(6) has been achieved for intermediate size biopolymers such as bovine ubiquitin (8.6 kDa) and bovine cytochrome c (12.4 kDa) without the use of frequency drift correction methods. A mass resolution of 370,000 has been demonstrated for isotopically resolved molecular ions of bovine serum albumin (66.5 kDa). Comparative measurements were made with the same spectrometer using a lower field 3.5-tesla magnet allowing the performance gains to be more readily quantified. Further improvements in pumping capacity of the vacuum system and efficiency of ion transmission from the source are expected to lead to further substantial sensitivity gains.

Algorithms↗

On-line capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of nucleotides.

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and reversed anionic capillary isotachophoresis (CITP) conditions have been developed for the separation of mixtures comprised of monophosphate nucleosides, pyridine and flavin dinucleotides, and monophosphate dinucleosides. Results for the on-line coupling of CZE and CITP with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS) are presented. CITP-tandem MS is utilized to provide both molecular weight and structural information of monophosphate dinucleotides. The fragmentation pattern of dinucleotides in the low collision energy range is described. The resulting mass spectra are readily interpreted in terms of dinucleotide structures. These results demonstrate the new capability for applications for the study of DNA and RNA.

Capillary Action↗

Protein structural effects in gas phase ion/molecule reactions with diethylamine.

The relationship between gas-phase protein structure and ion/molecule reactivity is explored in comparisons between native and disulfide-reduced aprotinin, lysozyme, and albumin. Reactions are performed in the atmospheric-pressure inlet to a quadrupole mass spectrometer employing a novel capillary interface-reactor. In reactions with equal concentrations of diethylamine, multiply protonated molecules generated by electrospray ionization (ESI) of 'native' proteins shifted to lower charge states than did multiply protonated molecules from ESI of the disulfide-reduced counterparts, suggesting that the disulfide-reduced protein ions are less reactive than native protein ions of the same charge state. Differences in reactivity may arise from protonation of different amino acid residues and/or differences in the proximities of charge sites in the two molecules. These results suggest that the reactivity of multiply charged proteins can be significantly affected by their gas-phase structure.

Albumins↗

Solvent-induced conformational changes of polypeptides probed by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry.

Electrospray-ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry is used to monitor higher order structural changes of polypeptides induced by alteration of the pH or organic solvent composition in the protein solution environment. A bimodal charge-state distribution is observed in the ESI mass spectrum of ubiquitin (relative molecular mass 8565) in solutions containing small amounts (less than 20%) of organic solvents. The distribution of peaks at high m/z (low-charge state) is found to represent the protein in its native, globular state; the higher-charge-state distribution is characteristic for a more extended conformation. Addition of methanol denaturant in excess of 40% v/v is needed to eliminate the low-charge-state distribution completely. Lesser amounts of acetonitrile, acetone, or isopropanol (approximately 20%) are required to denature the ubiquitin protein. Other proteins showing conformational effects in their ESI mass spectra are also illustrated. While the ESI spectra are related to solution phase structure, ESI-tandem mass spectrometry of multiply charged molecular ions of different conformation is suggested as a probe of gas-phase protein three-dimensional structure.

Animals↗

Sensitivity considerations for large molecule detection by capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The use of the electrospray ionization (ESI) method for interfacing capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry (CE-MS) is particularly well suited for the analysis of large molecules due to the multiple charging phenomenon. While ionization efficiency is very high, the available ion current is dispersed over more peaks so that the maximum peak intensity obtainable declines significantly for large molecules. Sensitivity with ESI can be improved by operation at very low flow-rates, an ideal situation for CE-MS. These and other considerations related to sensitivity are illustrated using ESI-MS measurements for cytochrome c.

Animals↗

New developments in biochemical mass spectrometry: electrospray ionization.

The principles, development, and recent application of electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to biological compounds are reviewed. ESI-MS methods now allow determination of accurate molecular weights for proteins extending to over 50,000, and in some cases well over 100,000. Similar capabilities are being developed for oligonucleotides. The instrumentation used for ESI-MS is briefly described and it is shown that, although ionization efficiency appears to be uniformly high, detector sensitivity may be directly correlated with molecular weight. The use of tandem mass spectrometry (e.g., MS/MS) for extending collision-induced dissociation (CID) methods to the structural studies of large molecules is described. For example, effective CID of various albumin species (molecular weight approximately 66,000) can be obtained, far larger than obtainable for singly charged molecular ions. The combination of capillary electrophoresis, in both free solution zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis formats, as well as microcolumn liquid chromatography with ESI-MS, provides the capability for on-line separation and analysis of subpicomole quantities of proteins. These and other new developments related to ESI-MS are illustrated by a range of examples. Fundamental considerations suggest even more impressive developments may be anticipated related to detection sensitivity and methods for obtaining structural information.

Biochemistry↗

Effect of reducing disulfide-containing proteins on electrospray ionization mass spectra.

Electrospray ionization produces multiply charged molecular ions for biomolecules with molecular weights in excess of 100,000. This allows mass spectrometers with limited mass-to-charge range to extend their molecular weight range by a factor equal to the number of charges. The maximum number of observed charges for peptides and smaller proteins correlates well with the number of basic amino acid residues (Arg, Lys, His), except for disulfide-containing molecules, such as lysozyme and bovine albumin. However, reduction of disulfide linkages with 1,4-dithiothreitol (Cleland's reagent) may allow the protein to be in an extended conformation and make "buried" basic residues available for protonation to yield higher charged molecular ions by the electrospray ionization process. For larger proteins reduction of disulfide bridges greatly increases the maximum charge state, but charging of basic amino acid residues remains less efficient than for smaller proteins.

Disulfides↗

Capillary isotachophoresis with UV and tandem mass spectrometric detection for peptides and proteins.

The application of capillary isotachophoresis (CITP) and combined CITP-mass spectrometry (MS) for peptides and proteins is demonstrated. Separation of simple peptide mixtures, as well as enzymatic digets of proteins, is also reported using CITP with UV detection. The potential utility of CITP for proteins is demonstrated. Initial studies of combined CITP-MS of enzymatic digests is also demonstrated, showing the potential for rapid sequence determination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Capillary zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis-mass spectrometry of polypeptides and proteins based upon an electrospray ionization interface.

The special capabilities of the capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization-mass spectrometer interface for the analysis of peptides and proteins with molecular weights extending to in excess of 100,000 are reviewed. The dynamic combinations of both capillary zone electrophoresis and capillary isotachophoresis with electrospray ionization are illustrated for mixtures of peptides and proteins. Myoglobin and cytochrome c detection limits were ca. 100 fmol. The potential extension of these methods for determination of the primary structure (sequence) of polypeptides using tandem mass spectrometry is shown to be facilitated by the high charge state of ions produced by the electrospray interface. The relevance of these results for advances in analytical biochemistry are discussed.

Animals↗

Peptide and protein analysis by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

The extension of mass spectrometry to high molecular weight biopolymers based upon electrospray ionization and the on-line combination with capillary electrophoresis is described. Electrospray ionization produces gas-phase intact multiply charged molecular ions of biomolecules from highly charged liquid droplets by a high electric field. For high molecular weight substances electrospray ionization results in a characteristic bell-shaped distribution of multiply charged ions, with each adjacent major peak in the spectrum differing by one charge. Multiply charged molecular ions of proteins with molecular weights greater than 130,000 have been observed with a quadrupole mass spectrometer of limited mass-to-charge range (m/z 1700). Molecular weights can be readily determined for large proteins with accuracies in the range of +/- 0.01 to 0.05%; at least an order of magnitude further improvement appears feasible with improved techniques and instrumentation. The electrospray ionization method is sensitive, presently requiring samples in the 100 fmol to 10 pmol range for proteins. Initial results combining rapid separations by capillary zone electrophoresis with on-line mass spectrometric detection via the electrospray ionization source are demonstrated for myoglobin and other proteins and polypeptides. The potential for extension of these methods to molecular weights on the order of 10(6) is discussed.

Animals↗

Capillary zone electrophoresis-MS.

Coupling the separation capabilities of capillary zone electrophoresis with the analytical specificity of mass spectrometry yields a tool for detecting levels of substances down to 10 attomoles.

Electrophoresis↗

Rapid and high resolution capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and SFC/MS of trichothecene mycotoxins.

The potential application of capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and SFC/mass spectrometry (SFC/MS) for the separation and analysis of mycotoxins of the trichothecene group was examined. Trichothecenes present significant analytical problems for both gas and liquid chromatography with a major difficulty for the latter being the lack of sufficiently sensitive and selective detectors. Supercritical carbon dioxide mobile phases at temperatures up to 100 degrees C were used with deactivated fused silica columns coated with crosslinked stationary phases. Separations were obtained under pressure ramped conditions using long (15 m) 50-micron i.d. columns for several trichothecenes (diacetoxyscirpenol, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin) and related higher molecular weight macrocyclic (roridin and verrucarin) trichothecenes. In addition, new rapid pressure programming techniques with short (less than 2m) 25- to 50-micron i.d. capillary columns were used to obtain fast separations in as little as 1 min. SFC/MS with ammonia chemical ionization provided high selectivity and sensitive detection (with approximately 1-pg detection limits) for trichothecene mixtures. The extension to complex sample matrices is discussed and the application of selective MS/MS detection is demonstrated.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Use of small-diameter capillaries for increasing peptide and protein detection sensitivity in capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

The use of small ID capillaries is shown to provide a substantial increase in sensitivity for capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (CE-ESI/MS). In a comparison using capillaries ranging from either 100 to 10 microns or 50 to 5 microns ID and chemically modified with aminopropylsilane, a 25- to 50-fold increase in sensitivity was observed for both peptide and protein mixtures. This enhanced solute sensitivity allowed the detection of approximately 150 attomoles of melittin (2845 Da) with selected ion monitoring and 600 attomoles of carbonic anhydrase (29,157 Da) while scanning for CE-MS with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. For the protein mixture, mass spectra of sufficient quality for precise molecular weight determination (< or = 0.05%) were obtained for 600 attomole injections using a 5 microns ID capillary. The increase in sensitivity with small capillary diameters can be primarily attributed to a reduced mass flow rate of buffer and other background constituents into the electrospray source, which allows for greater sample ionization efficiency. A model that qualitatively accounts for the results is presented, but quantitative agreement is precluded due to difficulties in accounting for contributions due to a liquid sheath flow used with the electrospray source. The model accounts for the observation that the ESI/MS appears to function as a concentration-sensitive detector under many conditions using large-diameter capillaries. A transition occurs, however, to a regime where the ESI/MS functions as a mass flow-sensitive detector for small-diameter capillaries, where the ESI current is limited by the rate of delivery to the ESI source of charge carrying species in solution. These results suggest peptide and protein analysis at low attomole and subattomole levels should be obtainable with alternative types of mass spectrometers.

Electrophoresis↗