title: The mechanism of matrix to analyte proton transfer in clusters of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and the tripeptide VPL.
abstract: Intracluster proton transfer from the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization matrix 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) to the peptide valyl-prolyl-leucine has been investigated as a function of excitation laser wavelength and power. Ionization laser power studies at 308 nm indicate that cluster ionization occurs with a two-photon dependence, whereas matrix-to-analyte proton transfer and cluster dissociation requires an additional photon. At 266 nm, two-photon absorption leads to both cluster ionization and cluster dissociation/proton transfer. A consideration of these results clearly indicates that analyte protonation occurs following ionization of the cluster to produce a radical cation matrix/analyte cluster. Mass spectral features also indicate that mixed DHB/peptide cluster ionization can occur via two-photon ionization at wavelengths as long as 355 nm. These results suggest a reduction in the ionization potential of larger mixed DHB/peptide clusters of greater than 1 eV. The reduced ionization potential seen in these clusters suggests that radical cation initiated proton transfer remains a viable mechanism for analyte protonation in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization at these longer wavelengths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, 76019-0065, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Land
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Kinsel
mesh_terms: D005841:Gentisates; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000032:analysis*; D007834:Lasers; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D005841:Gentisates; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D009842:Oligopeptides; C041446:diprotin B; C010925:2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid