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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
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Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

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A study of oxaliplatin-nucleobase interactions using ion trap electrospray mass spectrometry

Samantha L Kerr1, Tamer Shoeib, Barry L Sharp

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
|May 7, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Oxaliplatin, a colorectal cancer drug, forms adducts with all four DNA nucleobases. Mass spectrometry revealed preferential binding to adenine and guanine, requiring excess drug for cytosine and thymine adducts.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy agent used for colorectal cancer.
  • Platinum-based drugs exert cytotoxicity by forming DNA adducts, interfering with DNA replication and protein synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction of oxaliplatin with individual and combined DNA nucleobases.
  • To characterize the adducts formed and determine the drug's binding preferences.

Main Methods:

  • Linear ion trap electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was utilized.
  • Multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (MS(n)) was employed for fragmentation analysis.

Main Results:

  • Oxaliplatin formed adducts with all four DNA nucleobases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) in solution.
  • MS(n) elucidated fragmentation pathways and proposed structures for product ions.
  • In the presence of all four bases, oxaliplatin preferentially formed adducts with adenine and guanine.
  • Cytosine and thymine adducts required a large molar excess of oxaliplatin and were predominantly mono-adducts.

Conclusions:

  • Oxaliplatin exhibits preferential binding to adenine and guanine over cytosine and thymine when all nucleobases are present.
  • Understanding these binding preferences is crucial for elucidating oxaliplatin's mechanism of action and potential resistance mechanisms.

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