Mass spectrometric analysis of haemoglobin adducts formed by methyl bromide in vitro.
An analytical procedure is described for the identification of the adducts formed by interaction of methyl bromide and haemoglobin. The reaction products of in vitro incubation of haemoglobin with methyl bromide have been characterised by electrospray mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A prominent reactivity of several potential nucleophilic sites of haemoglobin was observed. Analogous results were recorded on blood samples of workers exposed to methyl bromide. The results obtained represent the basis for the complete structural characterisation of the modified haemoglobin and demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed analytical approach for the evaluation of alkylation degree and the identification of modified amino acids in proteins.
Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biofisica, II Università di Napoli, Italy.
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N
Sannolo
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Carbone
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P
Ferranti
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Fiume
G
G
Mamone
A
A
Malorni
D000478:Alkylation; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005914:Globins / Q000032:analysis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016273:Occupational Exposure
D000596:Amino Acids; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D005914:Globins; C005218:methyl bromide