Observation of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-myoglobin binding reaction using laser spray mass spectrometry

Covalent bonds are often created by a reaction between chemicals and protein before causing various adverse effects in a cell. Dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), which has moderate toxicity, causes skin inflammation and throat irritation. For this study, we investigated a reaction mechanism between myoglobin and (DMAEMA) using a new analytical tool developed at our laboratory: laser spray mass spectrometry technique. It was found that initially DMAEMA was added to the amino group of protein by the Michael addition mechanism; the added DMAEMA was hydrolyzed to methacrylic acid using an autocatalytic system. The results of this study indicate the feasibility of the laser spray technique in analyses of reaction dynamics.