RESUMEN
The mechanism of matrix-to-analyte proton transfer in matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been investigated computationally by modeling the matrix-analyte interaction of potential MALDI matrixes such as 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB) and 3,5-DHB with the tripeptide valine-proline-leucine (VPL). A combination of molecular dynamics/simulated annealing calculations followed by density functional theory geometry optimization using a reasonably large basis set has been done on a large number of clusters in an attempt to study the ionization energy of each matrix in the cluster environment and the intracluster proton transfer from the matrix to the tripeptide. The calculations show a substantial reduction in the IP for both matrixes in their cluster environments. In the 2,5-system, proton transfer can sometimes occur in the neutral clusters (preformed ions), whereas proton transfer in the cationic clusters, which is actually a double proton transfer, is spontaneous and exoergic. Even though it is more acidic from a thermodynamic perspective, the radical cation of 3,5-DHB is a less efficient proton donor to VPL. The thermodynamics of proton transfer in the cationic clusters is discussed in detail.
Asunto(s)
Biología Computacional , Gentisatos/química , Oligopéptidos/química , Fragmentos de Péptidos/química , Espectrometría de Masa por Láser de Matriz Asistida de Ionización Desorción , Gentisatos/metabolismo , Oligopéptidos/metabolismo , Fragmentos de Péptidos/metabolismo , Mapeo Peptídico , ProtonesRESUMEN
The equilibrium nature of a plume of laser desorbed material is explored through the application of a simple equilibrium model to the ion signals observed in 355 nm laser desorption/ionization mass spectra of mixtures of the MALDI matrix alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (alphaCHCA) with the amino acids glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine. In these studies it is found that there are systematic and predictable increases in the relative yield of protonated amino acid with increases in amino acid gas-phase basicity. In addition, the thermodynamic values extracted from the equilibrium plot are shown to be in good agreement with values obtained from computational investigation of plausible alphaCHCA proton donor species. These results are supportive of a picture wherein the laser-desorbed material is viewed as a dense plume in which facile charge transfer occurs leading, ultimately, to a thermodynamically equilibrated distribution of proton donor and proton acceptor species.