title: Characterization of betaines using electrospray MS/MS.
abstract: Betaines are an important class of naturally occurring compounds that function as compatible solutes or osmoprotectants. Because of the permanent positive charge on the quaternary ammonium moiety, mass spectrometric analysis has been approached by desorption methods, including fast atom bombardment and plasma desorption mass spectrometry. Here we show that electrospray ionization MS gives comparable results to plasma desorption MS for a range of authentic betaine standards and betaines purified from plant extracts by ion exchange chromatography. A distinct advantage of electrospray ionization MS over plasma desorption MS is the capability of obtaining product ion spectra via MS/MS of selected parent ions, and hence structural information to discriminate between ions of identical mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 1393 Brown Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1393, USA. kvw@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Karl V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Connie C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bonham
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: Arlene P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: Barbara C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D001622:Betaine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001622:Betaine