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Multistep tandem mass spectrometry for Sequencing Cyclic Peptides in an Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometer

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Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Collisionally activated decomposition (CAD) of a protonated cyclic peptide produces a superposition spectrum consisting of fragments produced following random ring opening of the cyclic peptide to give a set of acylium ions (or isomeric equivalents) of the same m/z. Assignment of the correct sequence is often difficult owing to lack of selectivity in the ring opening. A method is presented that utilizes multiple stages of CAD experiments in an electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometer to sequence cyclic peptides. A primary acylium ion is selected from the primary product-ion spectrum and subjected to several stages of CAD. Amino-acid residues are sequentially removed, one at each stage of the CAD, from the C-terminus, until a b2 ion is reached. Results are presented for seven cyclic peptides, ranging in sizes from four to eight amino-acid residues. This method of sequencing cyclic peptides eliminates ambiguities encountered with other MS/MS approaches. The power of the strategy lies in the capability to execute several stages of CAD upon a precursor ion and its decomposition products, allowing the cyclic peptide to be sequenced in an unambiguous, stepwise manner.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1134, 63130, St. Louis, MO

    Lambert C. M. Ngoka & Michael L. Gross

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  1. Lambert C. M. Ngoka
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  2. Michael L. Gross
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Correspondence to Michael L. Gross.

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Ngoka, L.C.M., Gross, M.L. Multistep tandem mass spectrometry for Sequencing Cyclic Peptides in an Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometer. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 10, 732–746 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1044-0305(99)00049-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1044-0305(99)00049-5

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