Fragmentation of isomeric intrastrand crosslink lesions of DNA in an ion-trap mass spectrometer

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2009 Apr;20(4):611-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jasms.2008.11.020. Epub 2008 Dec 6.

Abstract

The collision-induced dissociation pathways of isomeric cytosine-guanine and cytosine-adenine intrastrand crosslink-containing dinucleoside monophosphates were investigated with the stable isotope-labeled compounds to gain insights into the effects of chemical structure on the fragmentation pathways of these DNA modifications. A Dimroth-like rearrangement, which was reported for protonated 2'-deoxycytidine and involved the switching of the exocyclic N4 with the ring N3 nitrogen atom, was also observed for the cytosine component in the protonated ions of C[5-8]G, C[5-2]A, and C[5-8]A, but not C[5-N(2)]G or C[5-N(6)]A. In these two sets of crosslinks, the C5 of cytosine is covalently bonded with its neighboring purine base via a carbon atom on the aromatic ring and an exocyclic nitrogen atom, respectively. On the contrary, the rearrangement could occur for the deprotonated ions of C[5-N(2)]G, C[5-N(6)]A, and unmodified cytosine, but not C[5-8]G, C[5-2]A, or C[5-8]A. In addition, ammonia could be lost more readily from C[5-N(2)]G and C[5-N(6)]A than from C[5-8]G, C[5-2]A, and C[5-8]A. The results from the present study afforded important guidance for the application of mass spectrometry for the structure elucidation of other intrastrand/interstrand crosslink lesions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Bromodeoxyuridine / chemistry
  • Carbon Isotopes / chemistry
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Cytosine / chemistry*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA Damage*
  • Dinucleoside Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Nitrogen Isotopes / chemistry
  • Protons
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Dinucleoside Phosphates
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Protons
  • Cytosine
  • DNA
  • Bromodeoxyuridine