The fragmentation pathway of the nucleosides under the electrospray ionization multi-stage mass spectrometry

Abstract

The fragmentation pathway of the four kinds of nucleosides, adenosine, guanosine, cytidine and uridine were investigated by electrospray ionization multi-stage mass spectrometry (ESI-MS n ). Typical neutral losses correspond to the molecules CO, NH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 , NHCH 2 , NHCO and NH 2 CN. The cleavage of the glycosidic C – N bond is characteristic for all the four compounds. The major fragmentation pathways are the ring contraction (RC) and retro-Diels-Alder (RDA). [Life Science Journal. 2008; 5(2): 37 – 40] (ISSN: 1097 – 8135).