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Updated: May 24, 2026

Time-resolved ElectroSpray Ionization Hydrogen-deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry for Studying Protein Structure and Dynamics
Published on: April 17, 2017
The hydrogen-deuterium exchange at α-carbon atom in N,N,N-trialkylglycine residue: ESI-MS studies
Magdalena Rudowska1, Dominika Wojewska, Alicja Kluczyk
1Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland.
Abstract:
Derivatization of peptides as quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) is a known method for sensitive detection by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Hydrogens at α-carbon atom in N,N,N-trialkylglycine residue can be easily exchanged by deuterons. The exchange reaction is base-catalyzed and is dramatically slow at lower pH. Introduced deuterons are stable in acidic aqueous solution and are not back-exchanged during LC-MS analysis. Increased ionization efficiency, provided by the fixed positive charge on QAS group, as well as the deuterium labeling, enables the analysis of trace amounts of peptides.
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