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Characterization of Ribonucleic Acids and Their Modifications by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

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Nucleic Acids in the Gas Phase

Part of the book series: Physical Chemistry in Action ((PCIA))

Abstract

Recent advances in electrospray ionization and the extension of radical ion based dissociation techniques to ribonucleic acids (RNA) were key factors for developing top-down mass spectrometry as a powerful method for the detailed characterization of posttranscriptional and synthetic modifications of RNA. This new approach identifies and localizes all mass-altering modifications without the need for labeling reactions, and can be used for characterization of RNA of unknown sequence.

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Abbreviations

BIRD:

Blackbody infrared multiphoton dissociation

CAD:

Collisionally activated dissociation (synonymous with CID)

CID:

Collision-induced dissociation (synonymous with CAD)

cDNA:

Complementary desoxyribonucleic acid

DNA:

Desoxyribonucleic acid

ECD:

Electron capture dissociation

EDD:

Electron detachment dissociation

EPD:

Electron photodetachment dissociation

ESI:

Electrospray ionization

FTICR:

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance

IRMPD:

Infrared multiphoton dissociation

MALDI:

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

MS:

Mass spectrometry

nETD:

Negative electron transfer dissociation

nt:

Nucleotide(s)

PTM:

Posttranscriptional modification

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

siRNA:

Small interfering RNA

tRNA:

Transfer RNA

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF): Y372. The author thanks Monika Taucher, Barbara Storch (nee Ganisl), Christian Riml, Heidelinde Glasner, Moritz Schennach, and Ronald Micura for discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, CCB, Innrain 80/82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Kathrin Breuker

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  1. Kathrin Breuker
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Correspondence to Kathrin Breuker .

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  1. Université de Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Pessac, France

    Valérie Gabelica

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Breuker, K. (2014). Characterization of Ribonucleic Acids and Their Modifications by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry. In: Gabelica, V. (eds) Nucleic Acids in the Gas Phase. Physical Chemistry in Action. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54842-0_7

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