Detection Technologies. Ambient mass spectrometry

A recent innovation in mass spectrometry is the ability to record mass spectra on ordinary samples, in their native environment, without sample preparation or preseparation by creating ions outside the instrument. In desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), the principal method described here, electrically charged droplets are directed at the ambient object of interest; they release ions from the surface, which are then vacuumed through the air into a conventional mass spectrometer. Extremely rapid analysis is coupled with high sensitivity and high chemical specificity. These characteristics are advantageously applied to high-throughput metabolomics, explosives detection, natural products discovery, and biological tissue imaging, among other applications. Future possible uses of DESI for in vivo clinical analysis and its adaptation to portable mass spectrometers are described.     

Preparing protein microarrays by soft-landing of mass-selected ions

Intact, multiply protonated proteins of particular mass and charge were selected from ionized protein mixtures and gently landed at different positions on a surface to form a microarray. An array of cytochrome c, lysozyme, insulin, and apomyoglobin was generated, and the deposited proteins showed electrospray ionization mass spectra that matched those of the authentic compounds. Deposited lysozyme and trypsin retained their biological activity. Multiply charged ions of protein kinase A catalytic subunit and hexokinase were also soft-landed into glycerol-based liquid surfaces. These soft-landed kinases phosphorylated LRRASLG oligopeptide and D-fructose, respectively.     

Electrospray ionization for mass spectrometry of large biomolecules

Electrospray ionization has recently emerged as a powerful technique for producing intact ions in vacuo from large and complex species in solution. To an extent greater than has previously been possible with the more familiar "soft" ionization methods, this technique makes the power and elegance of mass spectrometric analysis applicable to the large and fragile polar molecules that play such vital roles in biological systems. The distinguishing features of electrospray spectra for large molecules are coherent sequences of peaks whose component ions are multiply charged, the ions of each peak differing by one charge from those of adjacent neighbors in the sequence. Spectra have been obtained for biopolymers including oligonucleotides and proteins, the latter having molecular weights up to 130,000, with as yet no evidence of an upper limit.     

Primary sequence information from intact proteins by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry has been used to obtain information related to portions of the primary sequence for an intact protein, bovine ribonuclease A. Multiply charged molecular ions, generated by electrospray ionization, were collisionally dissociated at low energies in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer to yield singly and multiply charged fragment ions that can be assigned to the known sequence of the protein. Dissociation of the highly charged molecular ions resulted in pairs of complementary product ions. The higher order (gas-phase) protein structure affects the dissociation processes, as observed in comparisons of tandem mass spectra of the native and disulfide-reduced forms of ribonuclease A.     

Mass spectrometry of large, fragile, and involatile molecules

Desorption ionization makes it possible to obtain mass spectra of molecules whose vaporization by heating may lead to thermal degradation. Several methods are in use, but in general desorption is achieved by particle or photon bombardment of the sample and the mass spectra obtained by different methods are fundamentally similar. Desorption ionization techniques have been used to obtain mass spectra of biomolecules, including peptides, antibiotics, and oligosaccharides, for which normal mass spectral methods have been of limited power. Several examples are given of recent applications of these new techniques, and prospects for their further evolution are discussed.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry has become a powerful structural tool since the first reports of its use in 1981. Samples are ionized in the condensed state, usually in a glycerol matrix, by bombarding the matrix with xenon or argon atoms with energies of 5000 to 10,000 electron volts. This yields both positive and negative secondary ions, which are sputtered from the surface. The technique has been used to detect inorganic ion clusters to mass 25,800 and biologically active peptides to mass 5700, and it gives molecular ions of such highly polar or labile organic compounds as glycosphingolipids and polyene antibiotics. It can be especially valuable in determining the sequences of amino acids in polypeptides.     

Mass spectrometry: analytical capabilities and potentials

The mass range of mass spectrometers has been extended by almost an order of magnitude in the past decade, ionization procedures have been introduced which allow ionic, nonvolatile compounds to be examined, and new capabilities have been achieved through the successful integration of separation and analysis techniques. In combination with other techniques, mass spectrometry has been used in biological and environmental research to characterize constituents of mixtures, including those present in trace amounts; in metabolic profiling, where high throughput and large dynamic range are important; and in protein structure determinations. Measurements of stable isotope abundances by mass spectrometry have been used in enzymology, studies of photosynthesis, and carbon dating. Outside the area of chemical analysis, mass spectrometry has been used to study gas-phase acidities and basicities and to study organic reaction mechanisms in the gas phase. Trends in mass spectrometry include multidimensional experiments, use of ionization methods, direct analysis without extensive sample preparation, and the development of advanced instrumentation including an ion trap and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. It is likely that mass spectrometry will come to be much more widely used and that data will increasingly be other than conventional mass spectra.     

Platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa: member of a family of Arg-Gly-Asp--specific adhesion receptors

Adhesive interactions of the platelet surface with plasma proteins such as fibrinogen and fibronectin play an important role in thrombosis and hemostasis. The binding of both of these proteins to platelets is inhibited by synthetic peptides containing the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp, which corresponds to the cell adhesion site in fibronectin and is also present in the alpha chain of fibrinogen. An affinity matrix made of an insolubilized heptapeptide containing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence selectively binds the platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa from detergent extracts of platelets. When incorporated into liposome membranes, the isolated protein confers to the liposomes the ability to bind to surfaces coated with fibrinogen, fibronectin, and vitronectin but not to surfaces coated with thrombospondin or albumin. This platelet receptor is related to the previously identified fibronectin and vitronectin receptors in that it recognizes an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence but differs from the other receptors in its wider specificity toward various adhesive proteins. These results establish the existence of a family of adhesion receptors that recognize the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp.     

Coulomb explosion imaging of small molecules

Most of our knowledge of the structures of free molecules comes from indirect observations that focus on other properties (for example, energy or mass spectra) that depend on structure. Recently, a new method has been developed that instead yields geometrical images of individual molecules. This method takes advantage of the large Coulomb repulsion of the nuclei within molecules rapidly stripped of their electrons. The first experiments with this new technique have already revealed structural images of several important species, such as positively charged methane ions.     

Defective presentation of endogenous antigen by a cell line expressing class I molecules

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules associated with antigenic peptides derived from endogenously synthesized proteins. Binding to such peptides is a requirement for class I assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). A mutant human cell line, T2, assembles and transports to its surface some, but not all, class I MHC molecules. The class I molecules expressed on the surface of T2 do not present peptides derived from cytosolic antigens, although they can present exogenously added peptides to CTL. The transported class I molecules may interact weakly with an unknown retaining factor in the ER such that they can assemble despite the relative shortage of peptides.     

Ion beam spectroscopy of solids and surfaces

Ion beams are important new probes for characterizing the chemistry and structure of a wide variety of materials. When beams of particles with energies of approximately 1000 electron volts are used, as in secondary ion mass spectrometry, it is possible to detect ions ejected from the top layer of the material with sensitivities we below the picogram level. A number of theoretical developments now permit analysis of the geometry of adsorbed atoms and molecules on surfaces from the angular distributions of the ejected particles. Much surface chemical information can also be deduced from ejected molecular cluster ions. In addition, the observation of clusters with weights up to nearly 20,000 atomic mass units promises to expand applications of mass spectrometry to the analysis of biomolecules and the sequencing of proteins.     

天然有机质和金属离子在矿物表面的共吸附

天然有机质(NOM)在土壤、沉积物和水体等环境中无处不在,其中富里酸和胡敏酸是主要形态。富里酸及胡敏酸活性高,易与天然矿物颗粒和金属离子发生相互作用,影响矿物的表面化学特性以及金属离子的形态与迁移性,进而在控制环境中金属离子的生物有效性和毒性等方面起重要作用。本文主要综述了富里酸和胡敏酸等NOM和金属离子在矿物表面共吸附特性与主要影响因素,归纳了表面络合模型和现代光谱技术在上述三元体系研究中的应用及其反应机制研究进展。NOM在较大程度上改变了金属离子在矿物表面的吸附特性和反应机制,并受体系pH、金属离子类型和浓度、NOM浓度、NOM和金属离子的添加顺序、矿物类型等因素的影响。低pH时,NOM通常促进矿物对金属离子的吸附。NOM和金属离子在矿物表面的共吸附机制包括:NOM和金属离子竞争吸附表面活性吸附位点;在溶液中形成NOM-金属离子络合物;形成金属离子桥接矿物表面位点与NOM的A型三元络合物(矿物-金属离子-NOM)或NOM联接矿物表面与金属离子的B型三元表面络合物(矿物-NOM-金属离子);静电作用改变表面电荷特征。最后展望了天然有机质等配体与金属离子在矿物表面共吸附有关的研究热点和方向。     

Comet giacobini-zinner: in situ observations of energetic heavy ions

Conclusive evidence is presented for the existence of energetic ( approximately 535,0000 to 150,000 electron volts), heavy (>-12 atomic mass units), singly charged cometary ions within approximately 1.5 x 10(6) kilometers of comet Giacobini-Zinner. The observations were made with the University of Maryland/Max-Planck-Institut ultralow-energy charge analyzer on, the International Cometary Explorer spacecraft. The most direct evidence for establishing the mass of these ions was obtained from an analysis of the energy signals in one of the solid-state detectors; it is significant at the three-sigma level. Maximum fluxes were recorded approximately 1 hour before and approximately 1 hour after closest approach to the cometary nucleus. Transformation of the particle angular distributions observed at approximately 50,000 kilometers radial distance from the comet during the inbound pass into a rest frame in which the distributions are nearly isotropic requires a transformation velocity that is consistent with the local solar wind velocity if one assumes that these particles are primarily singly ionized with a mass of 18 +/- 6 atomic mass units. The existence of a frame of reference in which these water-group ions were isotropic implies that they underwent strong pitch angle scattering after their ionization. Particle energies in the rest frame extend to substantially higher values than would be expected if these ions were locally ionized and then picked up by the solar wind, implying that the ions were accelerated or heated. The derived ion density, approximately 0.1 per cubic centimeter, is consistent with a crude model for the production and transport of pickup ions.     

抗菌肽理化性质的研究进展

抗菌肽(antimicrobial peptides,AMPs)是生物先天免疫系统的重要组成部分,由核糖体或非核糖体肽合成酶合成,可协助宿主有效应对细菌、真菌、原生生物和病毒等病原生物的胁迫。AMPs具有相对分子质量小、两亲性结构和携带正电荷等理化性质。综述抗菌肽构象、电荷及阳离子度、疏水性与疏水力矩、两亲性及其他属性等方面的研究进展。     

Extraction and analysis of organic cations from Acid solution with strong electric fields and mass spectrometry

High electric fields have been used to extract organic cations from solutions of small organic molecules in polyphosphoric acid. The cations have been analyzed by mass spectrometry. Production of ions by this method is shown to be related to ease of protonation by acid rather than to ionization potential.     

天山花楸化学成分的液质联用分析

[目的]采用高效液相色谱-电喷雾质谱联用技术识别天山花楸总黄酮类中的化学成分。[方法]反相C18色谱柱,以乙腈-0.3%甲酸为流动相,检测波长360 nm,梯度洗脱。利用紫检测器和电喷雾质谱负离子模式在线检测化学成分,扫描范围250~700 amu。通过此方法分析糖苷及其苷元。[结果]通过标准品对比及解析质谱,识别了7个化合物,分别为绿原酸、芦丁、金丝桃苷、槲皮素3-O-己糖苷、槲皮素3-O-己糖苷丙二酸复合物、山奈素3-O-己糖苷、山奈素3-O-己糖苷丙二酸复合物。[结论]HPLC/ESI-MS2技术可准确迅速识别天山花楸黄酮类化合物,方法稳定可靠。     

质谱技术研究蓝斑背肛海兔胸膜神经节连索外表层多肽组成与分布

选用基质辅助激光解吸电离化飞行时间(MALDI-TOF)质谱技术研究蓝斑背肛海兔侧膜神经节与腹部之间神经连索外表层的多肽组成和分布.采用比对法和Paws软件分析多肽序列和酶解位点,发现该神经连索表层含有丰富的酸性多肽(AP)的酶解产物,其酶解过程由AP的C到N端.表明海兔中枢神经系统外表层不仅含有丰富的多肽种类,而且还参与信号传导等调控作用.     

中国3个主栽烟草品种的差异蛋白质组学研究

【目的】从全蛋白质组学水平研究烟草,筛选具有重要特性的蛋白质,阐明其相关代谢通路,使得烟草的基础科学研究和品种培育工作有所突破。【方法】利用苯酚法提取中国3个主栽烟草品种红花大金元、K326和云烟87叶片的蛋白质,酶解后采用串联质量标签技术(tandem mass tag,TMT)标记,结合二维液相色谱串联质谱技术(2D LC-MS/MS)对3个烟草品种叶片的蛋白质组成进行分析,运用Proteome Discoverer软件提取谱图后在MASCOT搜索引擎上鉴定蛋白质和肽段,并对鉴定的蛋白质进行系统的生物信息学分析,包括数据相关性分析、分层聚类分析和主成分分析,同时按照2倍上下调的原则采用火山图筛选不同品种烟草中表达差异显著的蛋白质,最后利用KEGG通路分析烟草中重要蛋白质的分布及功能。【结果】鉴定红花大金元、K326和云烟87烟草样品的蛋白质Group总数为3 079,蛋白质ID数为10 343。从分层聚类分析和主成分分析中蛋白质的整体表达情况可见,K326和云烟87蛋白质表达情况较相似,而红花大金元与前两者相差较大。后续的差异蛋白质筛选也验证了该结果,表现为云烟87和K326之间仅存在29个差异表达的蛋白质,其中13个蛋白质覆盖8条代谢通路,包括类黄酮生物合成,参与类黄酮合成路径的查尔酮合成酶在K326中的相对含量显著高于云烟87。红花大金元和云烟87之间有160个蛋白质差异表达,其中103个蛋白质覆盖42条代谢通路,包括谷胱甘肽代谢,相对定量结果显示谷胱甘肽代谢途径相关的3种酶,谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、磷脂过氧化氢物谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶在红花大金元中的含量均显著低于云烟87。红花大金元和K326之间存在119个差异蛋白质,其中89个蛋白质覆盖41条代谢通路,包括外源物质细胞色素P450代谢。筛选获得的重要差异蛋白质的相对定量结果显示一些与抗性相关的蛋白质,如蛋白酶抑制剂,在云烟87中的表达量远低于K326和红花大金元,同时结果表明红花大金元中的超氧化物歧化酶含量处于较低水平。【结论】TMT技术结合2D LC-MS/MS可对不同品种烟草的叶片蛋白质进行有效地分离和鉴定,鉴定出的蛋白质大部分是参与光合作用、物质代谢或者与抗逆性相关。     

烟台富士苹果香气成分的气相色谱-质谱测定

烟台富士苹果以其优良的品质享誉中外,采用固相微萃取(SPME)技术提取未套袋富士苹果香气成分,利用气相色谱-质谱(GC/MS)联机分析,经计算机谱库(NBS/WILEY)检索及与标准图谱对照,共鉴定出50种化合物,占总峰面积的97.05%,主要为酯类、酸类和醛类等挥发性物质,其中酯类占总成分的59.15%,它们构成了烟台苹果特有的香气品质。     

Small cell carcinoma of the lung: macrophage-specific antigens suggest hemopoietic stem cell origin

Four surface antigens previously recognized only in macrophages are present on human small cell lung carcinoma cells and tumors. Cancerous cells may arise from macrophage precursors in bone marrow, and these precursors migrate to lung to participate in the repair of damaged tissue produced by continuous heavy smoking. The characteristic presence of neuropeptides such as bombesin in small cell carcinoma, when considered along with these findings, presents new possibilities for the role of such peptides in nervous, endocrine, and immune system function.