本研究发展了四种基于三羟基苯乙酮(THAP)的新型离子液体基质,即2′,3′,4′-THAP/二甲基苯胺(DMA)、2′,4′,6′-THAP/DMA、2′,3′,4′-THAP/吡啶(Py)及2′,4′,6′-THAP/Py,用于提高寡糖/糖肽在MALDI-TOF MS中的离子化效率.与传统的固体基质2,5-二羟基苯甲酸(DHB)和2′,4′,6′-三羟基苯乙酮(2′,4′,6′-THAP)相比,新型离子液体体系分析不同类型的寡糖链,均可获得更高的检测灵敏度.可使葡聚糖(dextran 1000)和环状寡聚糖β-环糊精在MALDI质谱中的信噪比提高10倍以上,RNase B的复杂寡糖链也实现了高灵敏度的检测.在糖肽分析中,2′,3′,4′-THAP/DMA离子液体高灵敏度地检测到辣根过氧化酶的7条糖肽,而2′,3′,4′-THAP作为基质时却无法检测到任何信号.
Matrix plays a fundamental role in the desorption/ionization process during MALDI MS analysis, thus is closely related to the spectral quality. Nevertheless, it is usually difficult for analytes to disperse homogeneously due to the formation of hot spots, which had become a problem encountered with many of the current matrices. This may result in increased measurement time and hamper the application of MALDI MS. Although many efforts have been devoted to optimize matrix choice for oligosaccharide and glycopeptides analyses, there are few matrices that could work well with them in MALD! MS so far. In this study, a novel class of ionic liquid matrices (IMs) based on trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP) was introduced as potential alternatives to the traditional crystalline matrices and showed superior performance for oligosaccharides and glyco- peptides analysis. The combination of pyridine or N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) with 2',3',4'-trihydroxyacetophenone (2',3',4'-THAP) or 2',4',6'-trihydroxyacetophenone (2',4',6'-THAP) at the molar ratio of 1 : 1 turned out to be well suited for the analysis of oligosaccharides. Besides, the optimized condition could be achieved by 5-fold dilution of the IMs and adding ammonium citrate dibasic [(NH4)2HCit] as matrix additive. Afterwards, in comparison to signals obtained with traditional solid matrix 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), substantial improvements in sensitivity were observed by the new IMs. Specifically, signal-to-noise ratios of dextranl000 as well as β-cyclodextrin were enhanced more than 10-fold. Moreover, the complex glycan mixture from the intact glycoprotein of RNase B released by PNGase F could be detected with high sensitivity when 2',3',4'-THAP/DMA functioned as the matrix. The unbiased nature of such IM also made it applicable to analyze glycopeptides derived from 10 ng tryptic digests of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), while it was almost impossible to detect any signals when measured with solid matrix