Spectroscopic Identification of Cyclic Imide b^sub 2^-Ions from Peptides Containing Gln and Asn Residues

In mass-spectrometry based peptide sequencing, formation of b- and y-type fragments by cleavage of the amide C–N bond constitutes the main dissociation pathway of protonated peptides under low-energy collision induced dissociation (CID). The structure of the b 2 fragment ion from peptides containing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2013-08, Vol.24 (8), p.1228
Main Authors: Grzetic, Josipa, Oomens, Jos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chains
Chemical synthesis
Energy of dissociation
Fragments
Glutamine
Infrared spectroscopy
Mass spectrometry
Nitrogen
Peptides
Residues
Spectra
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Summary:In mass-spectrometry based peptide sequencing, formation of b- and y-type fragments by cleavage of the amide C–N bond constitutes the main dissociation pathway of protonated peptides under low-energy collision induced dissociation (CID). The structure of the b 2 fragment ion from peptides containing glutamine (Gln) and asparagine (Asn) residues is investigated here by infrared ion spectroscopy using the free electron laser FELIX. The spectra are compared with theoretical spectra calculated using density functional theory for different possible isomeric structures as well as to experimental spectra of synthesized model systems. The spectra unambiguously show that the b2-ions do not possess the common oxazolone structure, nor do they possess the alternative diketopiperazine structure. Instead, cyclic imide structures are formed through nucleophilic attack by the amide nitrogen atom of the Gln and Asn side chains. The alternative pathway involving nucleophilic attack from the side-chain amide oxygen atom leading to cyclic isoimide structures, which had been suggested by several authors, can clearly be excluded based on the present IR spectra. This mechanism is perhaps surprising as the amide oxygen atom is considered to be the better nucleophile; however, computations show that the products formed via attack by the amide nitrogen are considerably lower in energy. Hence, b2-ions with Asn or Gln in the second position form structures with a five-membered succinimide or a six-membered glutarimide ring, respectively. b2-Ions formed from peptides with Asn in the first position are spectroscopically shown to possess the classical oxazolone structure. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
ISSN:1044-0305
1879-1123
DOI:10.1007/s13361-013-0661-6