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Anti-coagulant rodenticides (ARs) are commonly utilized for controlling rodent populations; however, non-target companion and wildlife animals are also exposed. A method was developed for quantitation of seven ARs (chlorophacinone, coumachlor, bromadiolone, brodifacoum, difethialone, diphacinone and warfarin) and dicoumarol (a naturally occurring anti-coagulant) in animal serum. Analytes were extracted with 10% (v/v) acetone in methanol and analyzed by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization (negative mode) combined with multiple reaction monitoring. In-house method validation in the originating laboratory using non-blinded samples revealed method limits of quantitation at 2.5 ng/mL for all analytes. The inter-assay accuracy ranged from 99% to 104%, and the relative standard deviation ranged from 3.5% to 20.5%. Method performance was then verified in the originating laboratory during an exercise organized by an independent party using blinded samples. The method was successfully transferred to two naïve laboratories and further evaluated for reproducibility among three laboratories by means of Horwitz ratio (HorRat(R)) values. Such extensive validation provides a high degree of confidence that the method is rugged, robust, and will perform as expected if used by others in the future.

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Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are used to control rodent populations; however, exposure to nontarget animals occurs. A sensitive and rugged quantitative method was developed, optimized, and validated for eight ARs in liver. Target analytes comprised two chemical classes: hydroxycoumarins (warfarin, coumachlor, dicoumarol, bromadiolone, brodifacoum, and difethialone) and indanediones (diphacinone and chlorophacinone). In this method, liver extracts were cleaned using dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) to remove matrix interferences and analyzed by reverse phase ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Electrospray ionization in negative ion mode combined with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer provided simultaneous confirmation and quantitation. Detection limits spanned 0.75-25 ng/g, and lower quantitation limits were established as 50 ng/g. Interassay method accuracy ranged from 92 to 110% across the analytical range (50-2500 ng/g) using matrix-matched calibrants with good repeatability (relative standard deviations 2-16%). Successful method transfer to another laboratory utilizing an Orbitrap mass analyzer, providing high mass accuracy, was assessed by good method reproducibility during blinded study analyses (6-29%; Horwitz ratios (HORRAT) ≤ 1.5).

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Pre-column derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl) was determined to be effective for quantitation of fumonisins B1 and B2 in feed. Liquid-solid extraction, clean-up using immunoaffinity solid phase extraction chromatography, and FMOC-derivatization preceded analysis by reverse phase HPLC with fluorescence. Instrument response was unchanged in the presence of matrix, indicating no need to use matrix-matched calibrants. Furthermore, high method recoveries indicated calibrants do not need to undergo clean-up to account for analyte loss. Established method features include linear instrument response from 0.04-2.5µg/mL and stable derivatized calibrants over 7days. Fortified cornmeal method recoveries from 0.1-30.0µg/g were determined for FB1 (75.1%-109%) and FB2 (96.0%-115.2%). Inter-assay precision ranged from 1.0%-16.7%. Method accuracy was further confirmed using certified reference material. Inter-laboratory comparison with naturally-contaminated field corn demonstrated equivalent results with conventional derivatization. These results indicate FMOC derivatization is a suitable alternative for fumonisins B1 and B2 quantitation in corn-based feeds.

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Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in animals that is also found in plants and has been associated with plant responses to stress. A simple and relatively rapid method of GABA separation and quantification was developed from a commercially available kit for serum amino acids (Phenomenex EZ:faast) and validated for tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Extraction in ethanol/water (80:20, v/v) at ambient temperature yielded detectable amounts of GABA. Clean separation from other amino acids in 28 min was achieved by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (FID), using a 30 m, 5% phenyl/95% dimethylpolysiloxane column. The identity of the putative GABA peak was confirmed by GC with mass spectrometric (MS) detection. The relatively small effects of the sample matrix on GABA measurement were verified by demonstrating slope parallelism of GABA curves prepared in the presence and absence of fescue extracts. Limits of quantification and detection were 2.00 and 1.00 nmol/100 microL, respectively. Method recoveries at two different spike levels were 96.4 and 94.2%, with coefficients of variation of 7.3 and 7.2%, respectively.

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A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the quantitation of n-alkanes (carbon backbones ranging from 21 to 36 carbon atoms) in forage and fecal samples has been developed. Automated solid-liquid extraction using elevated temperature and pressure minimized extraction time to 30 min per sample as compared to more than 24 h for traditional GC-flame ionization detection methods that use saponification and liquid-liquid extraction. Extraction solvent requirements were also minimized to 10 mL per sample. Under optimal conditions, complete method recoveries, including extraction efficiency, were greater than 91%. The linear dynamic range was 5 to 100 nmol injected onto the column, with a limit of quantitation of 5 nmol. Intra-assay coefficients of variation for the analysis of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean), and bovine feces ranged from 0.1%-12.9%, where lower concentrations of n-alkane produced a higher degree of imprecision. The reported GC/MS method permits simple, rapid, and precise quantitation of n-alkanes in plant and fecal material and reduces reagent and labor requirements.

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Unusual fragmentation was observed for doubly charged VPDPR in which cleavage C-terminal to proline and N-terminal to aspartic acid yielded b(2) (+ a(2))/y(3) complementary ions. This unique fragmentation is contradictory to trends previously established by statistical analysis of peptide tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra. Substitution of alanine for aspartic acid (i.e., VPAPR) did not change the fragmentation, indicating the cleavage was not directed by aspartic acid. Fragmentation patterns for VPAPR and V(NmA)APR (NmA = N-methyl alanine) were compared to determine whether conformational constraints from proline's cyclic side-chain contribute to b(2) ion formation. While both peptide sequences fragmented to yield b(2)/y(3) ions, only VPAPR produced a(2) ions, suggesting the VP b(2) ion is structurally different from the V(NmA) b(2) ion. Instead, the V(NmA) b(2) ion was accompanied by an ion corresponding to formal loss of 71. The suspected structural differences were confirmed by isolation and fragmentation of the respective b(2) ions (i.e., MS(3) spectra). Evidence supporting a diketopiperazine structure for the VP b(2) ion is reported. Fragmentation patterns for the VP b(2) ion and a synthetic VP diketopiperazine showed great similarity. N-terminal acetylation of VPAPR prevented the formation of the VP b(2) ion, presumably by blocking nucleophilic attack by the N-terminal amine on the carbonyl oxygen of the protonation site. Acetylation of the N-terminus for V(NmA)APR did not prevent the formation of the V(NmA) b(2) ion, indicating the V(NmA) b(2) ion has a structure, presumably that of an oxazolone, which requires no attack by the N-terminus for formation. Finally, high-resolution, accurate mass measurements determined that the V(NmA) (b(2)-71) ion results from losing a portion of valine from oxazolone V(NmA) b(2) ion, rather than cross-ring cleavage of the alternate diketopiperazine.

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Surface-induced ion activation in combination with a database search strategy based on the Patchwork concept is applied to the determination of peptide sequences. Surface-induced dissociation (SID) is performed in a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer and in a hybrid sector/time-of-flight mass spectrometer in order to evaluate the importance of accurate mass analysis of the SID fragment ions for peptide identification. The modified Patchwork approach is based on piecing together the peptide blocks in a bidirectional way, simultaneously using low-mass fragments originating from the C-terminus and N-terminus of the molecule, and relying on the measurement of the peptide's molecular weight with moderate mass accuracy. The results from this analysis are used as search filters in MASCOT's (http://www.matrixscience.com) Sequence Query search engine, with the simultaneous addition of the full MS/MS peak list. SID is performed with collision targets coated with pure and mixed composition self-assembled monolayers produced by fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon alkanethiolate solutions of varying chemical composition. The resulting MS/MS spectra produced on pure and mixed hydrocarbon SAMs are submitted to the modified version of Patchwork sequencing. It is found that hydrocarbon surfaces improve the relative abundance of larger fragments. Under the moderate mass accuracy conditions (+/-0.3 u) offered by our linear-TOF-SID instrument, it is found that increasing the abundance of larger fragments dramatically improves the sequencing scores.

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Collision-induced dissociation (CID) is a common ion activation technique used to energize mass-selected peptide ions during tandem mass spectrometry. Characteristic fragment ions form from the cleavage of amide bonds within a peptide undergoing CID, allowing the inference of its amino acid sequence. The statistical characterization of these fragment ions is essential for improving peptide identification algorithms and for understanding the complex reactions taking place during CID. An examination of 1465 ion trap spectra from doubly charged tryptic peptides reveals several trends important to understanding this fragmentation process. While less abundant than y ions, b ions are present in sufficient numbers to aid sequencing algorithms. Fragment ions exhibit a characteristic series-specific relationship between their masses and intensities. Each residue influences fragmentation at adjacent amide bonds, with Pro quantifiably enhancing cleavage at its N-terminal amide bond and His increasing the formation of b ions at its C-terminal amide bond. Fragment ions corresponding to a formal loss of ammonia appear preferentially in peptides containing Gln and Asn. These trends are partially responsible for the complexity of peptide tandem mass spectra.

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