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Overcharging Effect in Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectra of Daunomycin-Tuftsin Bioconjugates

Lilla Pethő1, Gábor Mező1,2, Gitta Schlosser3,4

  • 1MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 21, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Researchers optimized mass spectrometry for peptide-drug conjugates used in cancer therapy. Adjusting charge states and ion source parameters enabled clear detection of intact molecules, overcoming fragmentation issues with daunomycin-based conjugates.

Area of Science:

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

  • Peptide-drug conjugates are promising for targeted tumor therapy.
  • Daunomycin, an anthracycline, is a common anticancer drug used in these conjugates.
  • Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is crucial for characterization but faces challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate novel tuftsin-daunomycin conjugates for mass spectrometric detection.
  • To overcome analytical challenges caused by O-glycosidic bond lability and overprotonation.
  • To establish optimal conditions for clear mass spectrometric analysis of these complex molecules.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated novel tuftsin-daunomycin conjugates.
  • Analyzed mass spectra under various conditions, focusing on ion source parameters.
  • Employed neutral volatile buffers to modulate charge states.

Main Results:

  • High positive charges on peptide carriers (e.g., tuftsin derivatives) led to significant in-source fragmentation.
  • Shifting charge states to lower values significantly reduced fragmentation.
  • Clear mass spectra with intact protonated molecules were obtained by optimizing buffers and ion source parameters.

Conclusions:

  • Optimized ESI-MS conditions are essential for accurate characterization of peptide-drug conjugates.
  • Controlling charge states is key to preventing fragmentation of labile glycosidic bonds.
  • This work facilitates the development and quality control of novel targeted cancer therapeutics.
Keywords:
anthracyclinesbioconjugateselectrospray ionizationfragmentationmass spectrometrypeptides

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