In situ cyanogen bromide cleavage of N-terminally blocked proteins in a gas-phase sequencer

Herein we describe a procedure for the in situ cyanogen bromide cleavage of N-terminally blocked proteins which have been immobilised onto the glass fiber sample disk of the gas-phase sequencer. In this manner, new amino terminii suitable for automated Edman degradation can be generated. Cytochrome C was cleaved using this method on the carboxyl side of methionine residues 65 and 80. This allowed sequence analysis to begin simultaneously at residues 66 and 81 (Table 1). This procedure offers an alternative sequencing tactic for methionine-containing proteins which are N-terminally blocked.