title: A procedure for selective DNA alkylation and detection by mass spectrometry.
abstract: A method which improves the detectability of DNA by mass spectrometry is presented. By quantitatively alkylating the backbone of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides the problems of gas phase ion generation by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization can be controlled. We have developed a selective alkylating protocol for phosphorothioate oligonucleotides which is a facile way of generating non-ionic nucleic acids. A variety of alkylating agents was studied and their kinetics were monitored in a gel electrophoretic assay and by mass spectrometry.
authors.affiliation: DNA Sequencing Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, UK.
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Gut
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation; D001483:Base Sequence; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D007834:Lasers; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003373:Coumaric Acids; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D013873:Thionucleotides; C073734:sinapinic acid; D004247:DNA