Probing natural product biosynthetic pathways using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Two natural products, diazepinomicin (1) and dioxapyrrolomycin (2), containing stable isotopic labels of 15N or deuterium, were used to demonstrate the utility of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry for probing natural product biosynthetic pathways. The isotopic fine structures of significant ions were resolved and subsequently assigned elemental compositions on the basis of highly accurate mass measurements. In most instances the mass measurement accuracy is less than one part per million (ppm), which typically makes the identification of stable-isotope labeling unambiguous. In the case of the mono-15N-labeled diazepinomicin (1) derived from labeled tryptophan, tandem mass spectrometry located this 15N label at the non-amide nitrogen. Through the use of exceptionally high mass resolving power of over 125,000, the isotopic fine structure of the molecular ion cluster of 1 was revealed. Separation of the 15N2 peak from the isobaric 13C15N peak, both having similar abundances, demonstrated the presence of a minor amount of doubly 15N-labeled diazepinomicin (1). Tandem mass spectrometry amplified this isotopic fine structure (Δm = 6.32 mDa) from mDa to 1 Da scale thereby allowing more detailed scrutiny of labeling content and location. Tandem mass spectrometry was also used to assign the location of deuterium labeling in two deuterium-labeled diazepinomicin (1) samples. In one case three deuterium atoms were incorporated into the dibenzodiazepine core; while in the other a mono-D label was mainly incorporated into the farnesyl side chain. The specificity of 15N-labeling in dioxapyrrolomycin (2) and the proportion of the 15N-label contained in the nitro group were determined from the measurement of the relative abundance of the 14NO21− and 15NO21− fragment ions.

FTMS/MS with ultra-high resolving power amplified the isotopic fine structure of the precursor ions from a few mDa to 1 Da scale, making the assignment of 15N2 labeling unequivocal.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide