Primary structure determination of peptides and enzymatically digested proteins using capillary liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and rapid linked-scan techniques.

Primary protein sequences were determined for both peptides and enzymatically digested proteins by rapid linked-scan (B/E) liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) at the low-picomole level (10-50 pmol). During the course of a single LC/MS/MS analysis, we demonstrated that it is possible to generate interpretable collision-induced dissociation spectra of the eluting proteolytic peptides. Molecular weights of tryptic peptides were established by using 1/10 of the protein digest by operating in the capillary LC/frit-FABMS mode. Peptides exhibiting the strongest MH+ ions were then selected for subsequent LC/MS/MS analysis (typically 1/5 of the remaining protein digest). Elution times for each chromatographic peak were generally greater than 30 s. It was therefore possible to obtain a minimum of six B/E fast linked-scan spectra during the course of elution of each peptide component. Typically, B/E linked scans of the greatest ion abundance (obtained at the chromatographic peak maximum) were averaged to enhance the signal/noise ratio at these low-picomole levels. Unit resolution was observed for product ions below m/z 1000. Rapid linked scanning by LC/frit-FABMS/MS provided mass assignments for product ions within 0.2-0.3 amu of theoretical values. Side-chain fragment ions (wn and dn) were also observed, which allowed for the differentiation of isobaric amino acids (e.g., leucine and isoleucine). Examples of the application of this fast linked-scan technique to LC/MS/MS are presented for complex mixtures of unknown peptides and the tryptic digestion of phosphorylated beta-casein.