Fast-atom-bombardment mass-spectrometry for carbohydrate-structure determination

• Published in: Carbohydrate research 1983-04, Vol.115, p.41-52
• Main Authors: Dell, Anne, Morris, Howard R., Egge, Heinz, von Nicolai, Hubertus, Strecker, Gérard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0008-6215; 1873-426X
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6215(83)88133-6

The potential of fast-atom-bombardment (f.a.b.) mass-spectrometry in the carbohydrate field was assessed with the aid of unmodified, permethylated, and peracetylated oligosaccharides and glycosphingolipids. F.a.b. spectra are presented for ( d-Gal→ d-GlcNAc) 5→( d-Man) 3→ d-GlcNAc, permethylated ( d-Gal→ d-GlcNAc) 5 →( d-Man) 3- d-[ 2H]GlcNAcol, permethylated gangliotetraosylceramide, and reduced and peracetylated tetra- to hepta-saccharides from human milk. From unmodified oligosaccharides, pseudomolecular ions (M + Na +) were obtained as major ions in the high-mass range. Permethylated oligosaccharides and glycosphingolipids gave pseudomolecular ions (M + H +) of high intensity, together with fragment ions of high diagnostic importance. At ambient temperature, f.a.b. spectra could only be obtained for the lower homologs of per- O-acetylated oligosaccharides. Reduced and peracetylated penta- to hepta-saccharides from human milk gave f.a.b. spectra only after heating of the target.