title: Atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry of bacteriochlorophylls from Chlorobiaceae: characteristic fragmentations.
abstract: Atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (APCI-LC/MS/MS) has been applied to the study of bacteriochlorophylls c, d, and e of phototrophic prokaryotes. Cultures of Chlorobiaceae containing bacteriochlorophyll c, d or e were examined using a high-resolution high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and APCI-LC/MS/MS employing post-column addition of formic acid. The results reveal complex distributions of bacteriochlorophyll homologues, with some closely eluting species giving isobaric protonated molecules. On-line LC/MS/MS studies reveal characteristic fragment ions for bacteriochlorophylls c, d, and e. Fragmentations involving loss of the extended alkyl substituents that are unique to bacteriochlorophylls c, d and e and their derivatives have been rationalised by studying the phaeophorbides and the results applied to the direct study of the bacteriochlorophylls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
authors.forename: Ruth L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Airs
authors.forename: Brendan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Keely
mesh_terms: D001429:Bacteriochlorophylls / Q000032:analysis*; D019414:Chlorobi / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis; D013045:Species Specificity; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D001429:Bacteriochlorophylls; D010860:Pigments, Biological