RNA modification mapping by mass spectrometry (MS) is based on the use of specific ribonucleases (RNases) that generate short oligonucleotide digestion products which are further separated by nano-liquid chromatography and analyzed by MS and MS/MS. Recent developments in MS instrumentation allow the possibility to deeply explore posttranscriptional modifications. Notably, development of nano-liquid chromatography and nano-electrospray drastically increases the detection sensitivity and allows the identification and sequencing of RNA digested fragments separated and extracted from two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels, as long as the mapping and characterization of ribonucleotide modifications.
Keywords: 2D Gel isolation; Nano-LC-MS/MS; Posttranscriptional tRNA modifications.