The application of pyrolysis methylation and esterification to the mass spectrometric sequencing of small peptides

Abstract

The derivatization of peptides for mass spectrometric sequencing involves treatment with trimethylanilinium hydroxide and methyl trifluoroacetate, followed by pyrolytic conversion to the corresponding TFA-peptide esters in the solid probe tip of a mass spectrometer. The mass spectra of TFA- peptide esters obtained by the pyrolysis procedure are essentially identical to reference spectra obtained from TFA derivatives prepared by conventional esterification procedures.