Collision induced dissociation-based characterization of nucleotide peptides: fragmentation patterns of microcin C7-C51, an antimicrobial peptide produced by Escherichia coli

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2008 Aug;19(8):1187-98. doi: 10.1016/j.jasms.2008.04.020. Epub 2008 Apr 11.

Abstract

Covalent protein-nucleic acid conjugates form an original class of compounds that occur in nature or can be generated in vitro through cross-linking to investigate domains involved in protein/nucleic acid interactions. Their mass spectrometry fragmentation patterns are poorly characterized. We have used electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) combined with collision-induced dissociation (CID) to characterize microcin C7-C51, an antimicrobial nucleotide peptide that targets aspartyl-tRNA synthetase and inhibits translation. The fragments of microcin C7-C51 were analyzed in positive- and negative-ion modes and compared with those of the corresponding unmodified heptapeptide and to the derived aspartyl-adenylate. The positive- and negative-ion mode fragments of microcin C7-C51 provided information on both the nucleotide and peptide moieties. Accurate mass measurement obtained using an LTQ Orbitrap instrument was a key factor for a comprehensive interpretation of the fragments. The experimental results obtained permitted the proposal of stepwise fragmentation pathways involving ion-dipole complexes. The data provide a better understanding of nucleotide peptide fragmentation in the gas phase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Bacteriocins / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Nucleotides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacteriocins
  • Nucleotides
  • Peptides
  • microcin