title: Characterisation and determination of indole alkaloids in frog-skin secretions by electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry.
abstract: The characterisation of selected indole alkaloids in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer is presented. Fragmentation profiles for tryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), N'-methyl 5-hydroxytryptamine (N'-methyl 5-HT), N',N'-dimethyl 5-hydroxytryptamine (bufotenine), N',N',N'-trimethyl 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HTQ), and N',N'-dimethyl 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeODMT) are presented with proposed structures given for each product ion observed. Such MS(n) experiments can be used to differentiate the isobaric molecular ions of the compounds 5-HTQ (M(+)) and 5-MeODMT (MH(+)). The quantitative determination of certain indole alkaloids in the skin secretions of the Australian Golden Bell frog, Litoria aurea, by LC/ESI-ion trap MS is also presented. The concentrations of 5-HT, N'-methyl 5-HT and 5-HTQ were found to be 2.68, 0.26 and 0.54 microg per mg of skin secretion, respectively.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry BT52 1SA, N. Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McClean
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: W Franklin
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007211:Indoles; D014363:Tryptamines; D012701:Serotonin