Flame Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Coupled with Negative Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Ion Molecule Reactions

Abstract

Flame atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (FAPCI) combined with negative electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry was developed to detect the ion/molecule reactions (IMRs) products between nitric acid (HNO₃) and negatively charged amino acid, angiotensin I (AI) and angiotensin II (AII), and insulin ions. Nitrate and HNO₃-nitrate ions were detected in the oxyacetylene flame, suggesting that a large quantity of nitric acid (HNO₃) was produced in the flame. The HNO₃ and negatively charged analyte ions produced by a negative ESI source were delivered into each arm of a Y-shaped stainless steel tube where they merged and reacted. The products were subsequently characterized with an ion trap mass analyzer attached to the exit of the Y-tube. HNO₃ showed the strongest affinity to histidine and formed (M_histidine-H+HNO₃)^– complex ions, whereas some amino acids did not react with HNO₃ at all. Reactions between HNO₃ and histidine residues in AI and AII resulted in the formation of dominant [M_AI-H+(HNO₃)]^- and [M_AII-H+(HNO₃)]^– ions. Results from analyses of AAs and insulin indicated that HNO₃ could not only react with basic amino acid residues, but also with disulfide bonds to form [M-3H+(HNO₃)_n]^3- complex ions. This approach is useful for obtaining information about the number of basic amino acid residues and disulfide bonds in peptides and proteins.

Graphical Abstract

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