Analysis of sub-microgram quantities of nucleotides by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Nucleotides of the structure P1,Pn-di(adenosine-5')-n-phosphate (n = di- through penta-) in the form of salts, and P1,P4-di(guanosine-5')tetraphosphate sodium salt have been analyzed by fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry. A 0.2 molar solution of p-toluenesulfonic acid in glycerol has been evaluated as a matrix. In this matrix, the metal ions of the nucleotide salts are readily exchanged for protons, resulting in a simple spectrum with only one peak in the molecular ion region corresponding to the free phosphoric acid of the nucleotide plus or minus a proton (positive or negative mode), instead of the multiplicity of peaks arising from a series of metal and matrix adduct ions found with glycerol as matrix. The detection limit for analytes using this matrix is improved by a factor of ten compared to glycerol alone. It appears that the high acidity and the surfactant properties of p-toluenesulfonic acid both contribute to this result. Useful spectra are obtained from 250 ng of each of the above mentioned nucleotides, with the detection limit being somewhat lower in the positive mode. However, both positive and negative FAB spectra are useful and the results are complementary.