A simple method for hydrogen/deuterium exchange in a standard electrospray (ESI) ionization source is presented. In this method, a D₂O droplet is placed between the ESI needle and the entrance of the mass spectrometer and thus saturation of the atmosphere with deuterated vapor in the ESI region is achieved. It was shown that full exchange of up to 23 labile acidic hydrogens with a minimal back exchange with the surrounding atmospheric water can be performed by this method.

The objectives of this study were to identify molecular features characteristic to arctic DOM from the Kolyma River basin and to elucidate structural imprints induced by a choice of the sorption technique. To achieve this goal, DOM was isolated from the Kolyma River basin with a use of three nonionic sorbents: Amberlite XAD-8 resin, PPL- and C18 - SPE cartridges, and one anion exchanging resin-diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) -cellulose. The structural studies were conducted with a use of electrospray ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ESI FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and liquid state (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The DOM isolates obtained with a use of PPL and C18 cartridges were characterized with higher content of aliphatic compounds as compared to XAD-8 and DEAE-isolates. In total, for all arctic DOM isolates we observed predominance of hydrogen saturated compounds with high H/C values of identified formulas from FT-ICR MS data. (1)H NMR spectroscopy studies have confirmed this trend and revealed high contribution of alkyl-chain protons into the spectral density of the arctic DOM reaching 43% for PPL isolates.

A method to enumerate labile hydrogens in all constituents of molecular ensemble of natural organic matter (NOM) based on our previously developed simple hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange (electrospray ionization (ESI) ion source (Kostyukevich et al. Anal. Chem. 2013, 85, 5330) and ultra-high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry is presented. The method was applied for analysis of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA), which is an International Humic Substances Society standard, as well as Siberian crude oil; and lignosulfonate. We found that SRFA and lignosulfonate molecules contain 2-5 labile hydrogens, and their number increases with the number of oxygens in the molecule. Also, we observed that compounds of Siberian crude oil ionizing in positive-ESI mode do not have labile hydrogens, while compounds ionizing in negative-ESI mode have one labile hydrogen that detaches during ESI ionization.

Background: The analysis of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) can be an alternative to traditional endoscopic sampling of lower respiratory tract secretions. This is a simple non-invasive method of diagnosing respiratory diseases, in particular, respiratory inflammatory processes. Methods: Samples were collected with a special device-condenser (ECoScreen, VIASYS Healthcare, Germany), then treated with trypsin according to the proteomics protocol for standard protein mixtures and analyzed by nanoflow high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) with a 7-Tesla Finnigan LTQ-FT mass spectrometer (Thermo Electron, Germany). Mascot software (Matrixscience) was used for screening the database NCBInr for proteins corresponding to the peptide maps that were obtained. Results: EBCs from 17 young healthy non-smoking donors were collected. Different methods for concentrating protein were compared in order to optimize EBC preparations for proteomic analysis. The procedure that was chosen allowed identification of proteins exhaled by healthy people. The major proteins in the condensates were cytoskeletal keratins. Another 12 proteins were identified in EBC from healthy non-smokers. Some keratins were found in the ambient air and may be considered exogenous components of exhaled air. Conclusions: Knowledge of the normal proteome of exhaled breath allows one to look for biomarkers of different disease states in EBC. Proteins in ambient air can be identified in the respiratory tract and should be excluded from the analysis of the proteome of EBC. The results obtained allowed us to choose the most effective procedure of sample preparation when working with samples containing very low protein concentrations. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47:706-12.

The ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrum of natural organic matter (NOM) contains several thousand peaks with dozens of molecules matching the same nominal mass. Such a complexity poses a significant challenge for automatic data interpretation, in which the most difficult task is molecular formula assignment, especially in the case of heavy and/or multielement ions. In this study, a new universal algorithm for automatic treatment of FTICR mass spectra of NOM and humic substances based on total mass difference statistics (TMDS) has been developed and implemented. The algorithm enables a blind search for unknown building blocks (instead of a priori known ones) by revealing repetitive patterns present in spectra. In this respect, it differs from all previously developed approaches. This algorithm was implemented in designing FIRAN-software for fully automated analysis of mass data with high peak density. The specific feature of FIRAN is its ability to assign formulas to heavy and/or multielement molecules using "virtual elements" approach. To verify the approach, it was used for processing mass spectra of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS, M(w) = 2200 Da) and polymethacrylate (PMA, M(w) = 3290 Da) which produce heavy multielement and multiply-charged ions. Application of TMDS identified unambiguously monomers present in the polymers consistent with their structure: C(8)H(7)SO(3)Na for PSS and C(4)H(6)O(2) for PMA. It also allowed unambiguous formula assignment to all multiply-charged peaks including the heaviest peak in PMA spectrum at mass 4025.6625 with charge state 6- (mass bias -0.33 ppm). Application of the TMDS-algorithm to processing data on the Suwannee River FA has proven its unique capacities in analysis of spectra with high peak density: it has not only identified the known small building blocks in the structure of FA such as CH(2), H(2), C(2)H(2)O, O but the heavier unit at 154.027 amu. The latter was identified for the first time and assigned a formula C(7)H(6)O(4) consistent with the structure of dihydroxyl-benzoic acids. The presence of these compounds in the structure of FA has so far been numerically suggested but never proven directly. It was concluded that application of the TMDS-algorithm opens new horizons in unfolding molecular complexity of NOM and other natural products.

Zinc-induced aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is a hallmark molecular feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently it was shown that phosphorylation of Aβ at Ser8 promotes the formation of toxic aggregates. In this work, we have studied the impact of Ser8 phosphorylation on the mode of zinc interaction with the Aβ metal-binding domain 1-16 using isothermal titration calorimetry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. We have discovered a novel zinc binding site ((6)HDpS(8)) in the phosphorylated peptide, in which the zinc ion is coordinated by the imidazole ring of His6, the phosphate group attached to Ser8 and a backbone carbonyl group of His6 or Asp7. Interaction of the zinc ion with this site involves His6, thereby withdrawing it from the interaction pattern observed in the non-modified peptide. This event was found to stimulate dimerization of peptide chains through the (11)EVHH(14) site, where the zinc ion is coordinated by the two pairs of Glu11 and His14 in the two peptide subunits. The proposed molecular mechanism of zinc-induced dimerization could contribute to the understanding of initiation of pathological Aβ aggregation, and the (11)EVHH(14) tetrapeptide can be considered as a promising drug target for the prevention of amyloidogenesis.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process through which double-stranded RNA induces the activation of cellular pathways, leading to potent and selective silencing of genes with homology to the double strand. Much excitement surrounding small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated therapeutics arises from the fact that this approach overcomes many of the shortcomings previously experienced with approaches such as antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides and pharmacological inhibitors. Induction of RNAi through administration of siRNA has been successfully used in treatment of hepatitis, viral infections, and cancer. In this review we will present a brief history of RNAi, methods of inducing RNAi, application of RNAi in the therapeutic setting, and the possibilities of using this highly promising approach in the context of transplantation.

We report a simple approach for enumeration of non-labile oxygen atoms in individual molecules of dissolved organic matter (DOM), using acid-catalyzed (16)O/(18)O exchange and ultrahigh-resolution Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). We found that by dissolving DOM in H2 (18)O at 95 °C for 20 days it is possible to replace all oxygen atoms of DOM molecules (excluding oxygen from ether groups) with (18)O. The number of exchanges in each molecule can be determined using high-resolution FTICR. Using the proposed method we identified the number of non-labile oxygen atoms in 231 molecules composing DOM. Also, using a previously developed hydrogen-deuterium (H/D)-exchange approach we identified the number of labile hydrogen atoms in 450 individual molecular formulas. In addition, we observed that several backbone hydrogen atoms can be exchanged for deuterium under acidic conditions. The method can be used for structural and chemical characterization of individual DOM molecules, comparing different DOM samples, and investigation of biological pathways of DOM in the environment.