title: Mass spectrometry of oligonucleotides.
abstract: Expanding research in the field of modified oligonucleotides demands suitable analytical tools for size and purity verification of known compounds and accurate structure elucidation of unknowns. There is a need for characterization of the types and sites of modifications in oligonucleotides and to identify and sequence selected candidates originating from synthesis. The potential of electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) for structural characterization and sequencing of oligonucleotides is demonstrated. The fundamental behavior of DNA, RNA, and selected modified oligonucleotides in gas-phase is shown. Since gas-phase dissociation does not demand specific structural prerequisites, the method bears a great potential for rapid and most accurate characterization of modified oligonucleotides, e.g. from combinatorial libraries.
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. stefan.schuerch@ioc.unibe.ch
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Schürch
authors: Jan M
authors: JM
authors: Tromp
authors: Selina T M
authors: ST
authors: Monn
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA