Quantitative data mass spectrometry

This technique provides quantitative information about tautomeric equilibria in the gas phase. The results are often complementary to those obtained by mass spectrometry (Section VII,E). In principle, gas-phase proton affinities, as determined by ICR, should provide quantitative data on tautomeric equilibria. The problem is the need to correct the measured values for the model compounds, generally methyl derivatives, by the so-called N-, 0-, or S-methylation effect. Since the difference in stability between tautomers is generally not too large (otherwise determination of the most stable tautomer is trivial) and since the methylation effects are difficult to calculate, the result is that proton affinity measurements allow only semi-quantitative estimates of individual tautomer stabilities. This is a problem similar to but more severe than that encountered in the method using solution basicities (76AHCS1, p. 20). 

In this chapter, the main aspects of mass spectrometry that are necessary for the application of LC-MS have been described. In particular, the use of selected-ion monitoring (SIM) for the development of sensitive and specific assays, and the use of MS-MS for generating structural information from species generated by soft ionization techniques, have been highlighted. Some important aspects of both qualitative and quantitative data analysis have been described and the power of using mass profiles to enhance selectivity and sensitivity has been demonstrated. 

Reliable analytical methods are available for determination of many volatile nitrosamines at concentrations of 0.1 to 10 ppb in a variety of environmental and biological samples. Most methods employ distillation, extraction, an optional cleanup step, concentration, and final separation by gas chromatography (GC). Use of the highly specific Thermal Energy Analyzer (TEA) as a GC detector affords simplification of sample handling and cleanup without sacrifice of selectivity or sensitivity. Mass spectrometry (MS) is usually employed to confirm the identity of nitrosamines. Utilization of the mass spectrometer s capability to provide quantitative data affords additional confirmatory evidence and quantitative confirmation should be a required criterion of environmental sample analysis. Artifactual formation of nitrosamines continues to be a problem, especially at low levels (0.1 to 1 ppb), and precautions must be taken, such as addition of sulfamic acid or other nitrosation inhibitors. The efficacy of measures for prevention of artifactual nitrosamine formation should be evaluated in each type of sample examined. 

LC/MS/MS. LC/MS/MS is used for separation and quantitation of the metabolites. Using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) mode, LC/MS/MS gives superior specificity and sensitivity to conventional liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) techniques. The improved specificity eliminates interferences typically found in LC/MS or liquid chro-matography/ultraviolet (LC/UV) analyses. Data acquisition is accomplished with a data system that provides complete instmment control of the mass spectrometer. 

Applications The application of the isotope dilution technique is especially useful in carrying out precise and accurate micro and trace analyses. The most accurate results in mass spectrometry are obtained if the isotope dilution technique is applied (RSDs better than 1 % in trace analysis). Therefore, application of IDMS is especially recommended for calibration of other analytical data, and for certification of standard reference materials. The technique also finds application in the field of isotope geology, and is used in the nuclear industry for quantitative isotope analysis. 

Von Haller, P.D., Yi, E., Donohoe, S., Vaughn, K., Keller, A., Nesvizhskii, A.I., Eng, J., Li, X.J., Goodlett, D.R., Aebersold, R., Watts, J.D. (2003). The Application of New Software Tools to Quantitative Protein Profiling Via Isotope-coded Affinity Tag (ICAT) and Tandem Mass Spectrometry II. Evaluation of Tandem Mass Spectrometry Methodologies for Large-Scale Protein Analysis, and the Application of Statistical Tools for Data Analysis and Interpretation. Mol. Cell. Proteomics 2, 428 -42. 

Walker et al. [17] studied profiles of hydrocarbons in sediment according to depth in sediment cores collected at Baltimore Harbour in Chesapeake Bay, Massachusetts. Gas liquid chromatography was used to detect hydrocarbons present at different depths in the sediment, while low resolution mass spectrometry was employed to measure concentrations of paraffins, cycloparaffins, aromatics and polynuclear aromatics. Their data show that the concentrations of total and saturated hydrocarbons decreased with increased depth, and it is commented that identification and quantitation of hydrocarbons in oil-contaminated sediments is required if the fate of these compounds in dredge spoils is to be determined. 

McGovern et al.26 analyzed the expression of heterologous proteins in E. coli via pyrolysis mass spectrometry and FT-IR. The application was to a2-interferon production. To analyze the data, artificial neural networks (ANN) and PLS were utilized. Because cell pastes contain more mass than the supernatant, these were used for quantitative analyses. Both the MS and IR data were difficult to interpret, but the chemometrics used allowed researchers to gain some knowledge of the process. The authors show graphics indicating the ability to follow production via either technique. 

Mass spectrometry can play a key role in the identification of the constituents of feedstocks and products (Aczel, 1989). The principal advantages of mass spec-trometric methods are (1) high reproducibility of quantitative analyses, (2) the potential for obtaining detailed data on the individual components and/or carbon number homologs in complex mixmres, and (3) the minimal sample size required for analysis. The ability of mass spectrometry to identify individual components in complex mixtures is unmatched by any modem analytical technique perhaps the exception is gas chromatography. 

Traditional methodologies for structural identification of trace level impurities in drng substances/products usually involve fractionation of each impurities using a scaled-np analytical chromatographic method, followed by off-line spectroscopic analysis. Coupling of HPLC separation and electrospray mass spectrometry allows on-line acquisition of full scan mass spectra and generation of tandem mass spectrometric data. LC/ESI MS has revolntionized trace analysis for qnalitative and quantitative studies in pharmaceutical analysis. 

For the analytical characterization of sulfated tyrosine peptides, spectroscopic methods as well as amino acid analysis and, more recently, mass spectrometry are employed. In Table 2 the spectroscopic data of tyrosine 0-sulfate are compared to those of the related sulfonic acid derivatives as possible byproducts in the chemical sulfation of the tyrosine or tyrosine peptides.[361 In the course of the synthesis of tyrosine 0-sulfate peptides and, particularly in the final deprotection step, desulfation may occur which limits the characterization of the final compounds in terms of quantitative identification of the tyrosine 0-sulfate. This is achieved by amino acid analyses of basic hydrolysates of the sulfated tyrosine peptides or preferably by analyses of the enzymatic hydrolysates with aminopeptidase M or leucine-aminopeptidase. 

The main goal of the proteomic research is to find the distinction between quantitative regulation and structural proteomics. Today, the core technology of proteomics is 2DE (two-dimensional electrophoresis) coupled with MS (mass spectrometry). It offers the most widely accepted way of gathering qualitative and quantitative protein behavioral data in cells, tissues, and fluids to form proteomic databases. 

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