C-terminal peptide extension via gas-phase ion/ion reactions

- A novel method for the rapid formation of amide bonds in peptides within the mass spectrometer is described.
- Amino acids are prepared as anionic reagents with a ketenimine-activated N-terminus and a protected C-terminus.
- Gas-phase ion/ion reactions between the anionic reagents and doubly protonated “anchor” peptide cations result in extension of the “anchor” peptide with new amide bond formation at the C-terminus.
- This method does not use significant amounts of solvents and deprotecting agents that are required in the most current peptide synthesis methods.