Enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolizing microorganisms on the oral mucosa of tobacco users.

Certain soil microbes resist and metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The same is true for a subset of skin microbes. In the human mouth, oral microbes have the potential to oxidize tobacco PAHs, thereby increasing these chemicals' ability to cause cancer of adjacent epithelium. We hypothesized that we could identify, in smokers, the oral mucosal microbes that can metabolize PAH. We isolated bacteria and fungi that survived long-term in minimal media with PAHs as the sole carbon source, under aerobic conditions, from the oral mucosa in 17 of 26 smokers and two of 14 nonsmokers. Of bacteria genera that survived harsh PAH exposure in vitro, most were found at trace levels, except for Staphylococcus, Actinomyces, and Kingella, which were more abundant. Two PAH-resistant strains of Candida albicans (C. albicans) were isolated from smokers. C. albicans was a prime candidate to contribute to carcinogenesis in tobacco users as it is found orally at high levels in tobacco users on the mucosa, and some Candida species can metabolize PAHs. However, when C. albicans isolates were tested for metabolism of two model PAH substrates, pyrene and phenanthrene, they were not capable, suggesting they cannot metabolize PAH under the conditions used. In conclusion, evidence for large scale microbial degradation of tobacco PAHs under aerobic conditions on the oral mucosa remains lacking, though nonabundant PAH metabolizers are certainly present.

A Gcn5-Related N-Acetyltransferase (GNAT) Capable of Acetylating Polymyxin B and Colistin Antibiotics in Vitro.

Deeper exploration of uncharacterized Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferases has the potential to expand our knowledge of the types of molecules that can be acylated by this important superfamily of enzymes and may offer new opportunities for biotechnological applications. While determining native or biologically relevant in vivo functions of uncharacterized proteins is ideal, their alternative or promiscuous in vitro capabilities provide insight into key active site interactions. Additionally, this knowledge can be exploited to selectively modify complex molecules and reduce byproducts when synthetic routes become challenging. During our exploration of uncharacterized Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we identified such an example. We found that the PA3944 enzyme acetylates both polymyxin B and colistin on a single diaminobutyric acid residue closest to the macrocyclic ring of the antimicrobial peptide and determined the PA3944 crystal structure. This finding is important for several reasons. (1) To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of enzymatic acylation of polymyxins and thus reveals a new type of substrate that this enzyme family can use. (2) The enzymatic acetylation offers a controlled method for antibiotic modification compared to classical promiscuous chemical methods. (3) The site of acetylation would reduce the overall positive charge of the molecule, which is important for reducing nephrotoxic effects and may be a salvage strategy for this important class of antibiotics. While the physiological substrate for this enzyme remains unknown, our structural and functional characterization of PA3944 offers insight into its unique noncanonical substrate specificity.

Functionalization of organic semiconductor crystals via the Diels-Alder reaction.

A surface adlayer is generated on organic single crystals (tetracene and rubrene) using the site specific Diels-Alder reaction and a series of vapor phase dienophiles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms adsorption on the surfaces of tetracene and rubrene and mass spectrometry demonstrates the reaction's applicability to a range of dienophiles.

Conformational and thermodynamic properties modulate the nucleotide excision repair of 2-aminofluorene and 2-acetylaminofluorene dG adducts in the NarI sequence.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a major repair pathway that recognizes and corrects various lesions in cellular DNA. We hypothesize that damage recognition is an initial step in NER that senses conformational anomalies in the DNA caused by lesions. We prepared three DNA duplexes containing the carcinogen adduct N-(2'-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-7-fluoro-2-acetylaminofluorene (FAAF) at G(1), G(2) or G(3) of NarI sequence (5'-CCG(1)G(2)CG(3)CC-3'). Our (19)F-NMR/ICD results showed that FAAF at G(1) and G(3) prefer syn S- and W-conformers, whereas anti B-conformer was predominant for G(2). We found that the repair of FAAF occurs in a conformation-specific manner, i.e. the highly S/W-conformeric G(3) and -G(1) duplexes incised more efficiently than the B-type G(2) duplex (G(3)∼G(1)> G(2)). The melting and thermodynamic data indicate that the S- and W-conformers produce greater DNA distortion and thermodynamic destabilization. The N-deacetylated N-(2'-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-7-fluoro-2-aminofluorene (FAF) adducts in the same NarI sequence are repaired 2- to 3-fold less than FAAF: however, the incision efficiency was in order of G(2)∼G(1)> G(3), a reverse trend of the FAAF case. We have envisioned the so-called N-acetyl factor as it could raise conformational barriers of FAAF versus FAF. The present results provide valuable conformational insight into the sequence-dependent UvrABC incisions of the bulky aminofluorene DNA adducts.

Alpha,beta-methylene-2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates as noncleavable substrates for DNA polymerases: isolation, characterization, and stability studies of novel 2'-deoxycyclonucleosides, 3,5'-cyclo-dG, and 2,5'-cyclo-dT.

We report synthesis and characterization of a complete set of alpha,beta-methylene-2'-dNTPs (alpha,beta-m-dNTP; N = A, C, T, G, 12-15) in which the alpha,beta-oxygen linkage of natural dNTP was replaced by a methylene group. These nucleotides were designed to be noncleavable substrates for DNA polymerases. Synthesis entails preparation of 2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-diphosphate precursors, followed by an enzymatic gamma-phosphorylation. All four synthesized alpha,beta-m-dNTPs were found to be potent inhibitors of polymerase beta, with K i values ranging 1-5 microM. During preparation of the dG and dT derivatives of alpha,beta-methylene diphosphate, we also isolated significant amounts of 3,5'-cyclo-dG (16) and 2,5'-cyclo-dT (17), respectively. These novel 2'-deoxycyclonucleosides were formed via a base-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization (N3 --> C5' and O2 --> C5', respectively). In acidic solution, both 16 and 17 underwent glycolysis, followed by complete depurination. When exposed to alkaline conditions, 16 underwent an oxidative deamination to produce 3,5'- cyclo-2'-deoxyxanthosine (19), whereas 17 was hydrolyzed exclusively to dT.

Sequence verification of oligonucleotides containing multiple arylamine modifications by enzymatic digestion and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS).

An analytical method for the structure differentiation of arylamine modified oligonucleotides (ODNs) using on-line LC/MS analysis of raw exonuclease digests is described. Six different dodeca ODNs derived from the reaction of N-acetoxy-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-aminofluorene with the dodeca oligonucleotide 5'-CTCGGCGCCATC-3' are isolated and sequenced with this LC/MS method using 3'- and 5'-exonucleases. When the three products modified by a single aminofluorene (AF) are subjected to 3'-exonuclease digestion, the exonuclease will cleave a modified nucleotide but when di-AF modified ODNs are analyzed the 3'-exonuclease ceases to cleave nucleotides when the first modification is exposed at the 3'-terminus. Small abundances of ODN fragments formed by the cleavage of an AF-modified nucleotide were observed when two of the three di-AF modified ODNs were subjected to 5'-exonuclease digestion. The results of the 5'-exonuclease studies of the three di-AF modified ODNs suggest that as the number of unmodified bases between two modifications in an ODN sequence increases, the easier it becomes to sequence beyond the modification closest to the 5'-terminus. The results of this study indicate that the LC/MS method described here would be useful in sequencing ODNs modified by multiple arylamines to be used as templates for site-specific mutagenesis studies.

Fluorescence probing of aminofluorene-induced conformational heterogeneity in DNA duplexes.

Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study carcinogen-induced conformational heterogeneity in DNA duplexes. The fluorophore 2-aminopurine (AP) was incorporated adjacent (5') to the lesion (G*) in eight different DNA duplexes [d(5'-CTTCT PG* NCCTC-3'):d(5'-GAGGN XTAGAAG-3'), G* = FAF adduct, P = AP, N = G, A, C, T, and X = C, A] modified by FAF [ N-(2'-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-7-fluoro-2-aminofluorene], a fluorine-tagged model DNA adduct derived from the potent carcinogen 2-aminofluorene. Steady-state measurements showed that fluorescence intensity and Stern-Volmer constants ( Ksv) derived from acrylamide quenching experiments decreased for all carcinogen-modified duplexes relative to the controls, which suggests greater AP stacking in the duplex upon adduct formation. Conformation-specific stacking of AP with the neighboring adduct was evidenced by a sequence-dependent variation in fluorescence intensity, position of emission maximum, degree of emission quenching by acrylamide, and temperature-dependent spectral changes. The magnitude of stacking was in the order of FAF residue in base-displaced stacked (S) > minor groove wedged (W) > major groove B type (B). This work represents a novel utility of AP in probing adduct-induced conformational heterogeneities in DNA duplexes.

Spectroscopic and theoretical insights into sequence effects of aminofluorene-induced conformational heterogeneity and nucleotide excision repair.

A systematic spectroscopic and computational study was conducted in order to probe the influence of base sequences on stacked (S) versus B-type (B) conformational heterogeneity induced by the major dG adduct derived from the model carcinogen 7-fluoro-2-aminofluorene (FAF). We prepared and characterized eight 12-mer DNA duplexes (-AG*N- series, d[CTTCTAG*NCCTC]; -CG*N- series, d[CTTCTCG*NCCTC]), in which the central guanines (G*) were site-specifically modified with FAF with varying flanking bases (N = G, A, C, T). S/B heterogeneity was examined by CD, UV, and dynamic 19F NMR spectroscopy. All the modified duplexes studied followed a typical dynamic exchange between the S and B conformers in a sequence dependent manner. Specifically, purine bases at the 3'-flanking site promoted the S conformation (G > A > C > T). Simulation analysis showed that the S/B energy barriers were in the 14-16 kcal/mol range. The correlation times (tau = 1/kappa) were found to be in the millisecond range at 20 degrees C. The van der Waals energy force field calculations indicated the importance of the stacking interaction between the carcinogen and neighboring base pairs. Quantum mechanics calculations showed the existence of correlations between the total interaction energies (including electrostatic and solvation effects) and the S/B population ratios. The S/B equilibrium seems to modulate the efficiency of Escherichia coli UvrABC-based nucleotide excision repair in a conformation-specific manner: i.e., greater repair susceptibility for the S over B conformation and for the -AG*N- over the -CG*N- series. The results indicate a novel structure-function relationship, which provides insights into how bulky DNA adducts are accommodated by UvrABC proteins.

Nitramine anion fragmentation: a mass spectrometric and Ab initio study.

The fragment ion formation characteristics of the radical anions generated from hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine (RDX) and its three nitroso metabolites were studied using GC/MS with negative chemical ionization (NCI) to understand the fragmentation mechanisms responsible for the formation of the most abundant ions observed in their NCI mass spectra. Ab initio and density functional theory calculations were used to calculate relative free energies for different fragment ion structures suggested by the m/z values of the most abundant ions observed in the NCI mass spectra. The NCI mass spectra of the four nitramines are dominated by ions formed by the cleavage of nitrogen-nitrogen and carbon-nitrogen bonds in the atrazine ring. The most abundant anions in the NCI mass spectra of these nitramines have the general formulas C(2)H(4)N(3)O (m/z 86) and C(2)H(4)N(3)O(2) (m/z 102). The analyses of isotope-labeled standards indicate that these two ions are formed by neutral losses that include two exocylic nitrogens and one atrazine ring nitrogen. Our calculations and observations of the nitramine mass spectra suggest that the m/z 86 and m/z 102 ions are formed from either the (M--NO)(-) or (M--NO(2))(-) fragment anions by a single fragmentation reaction producing neutral losses of CH(2)N(2)O or CH(2)N(2)O(2) rather than a set of sequential reactions involving neutral losses of HNO(2) or HNO and HCN.

Biotransformation of flumequine by the fungus Cunninghamella elegans.

The metabolism of the antibacterial fluoroquinolone drug flumequine by Cunninghamella elegans was investigated using cultures grown in Sabouraud dextrose broth with 308microM flumequine. The cultures were extracted with ethyl acetate; metabolites were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Flumequine was transformed to two diastereomers of 7-hydroxyflumequine (23 and 43% of the total chromatographic peak area at 280nm) and 7-oxoflumequine (11% of the total peak area). This is the first time that the two 7-hydroxy diastereomers have been characterized structurally; the hydroxyflumequines are known to have less antimicrobial activity than flumequine.

Improved cell typing by charge-state deconvolution of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectra.

Robust, specific, and rapid identification of toxic strains of bacteria and viruses, to guide the mitigation of their adverse health effects and optimum implementation of other response actions, remains a major analytical challenge. This need has driven the development of methods for classification of microorganisms using mass spectrometry, particularly matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), that allows high-throughput analyses with minimum sample preparation. We describe a novel approach to cell typing based on pattern recognition of MALDI mass spectra, which involves charge-state deconvolution in conjunction with a new correlation analysis procedure. The method is applicable to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Charge-state deconvolution improves the quantitative reproducibility of spectra because multiply charged ions resulting from the same biomarker attaching a different number of protons are recognized and their abundances are combined. This allows a clearer distinction of bacterial strains or of cancerous and normal liver cells. Improved class distinction provided by charge-state deconvolution was demonstrated by cluster spacing on canonical variate score charts and by correlation analyses. Deconvolution may enhance detection of early disease state or therapy progress markers in various tissues analyzed by MALDI-MS.

Sequence effects of aminofluorene-modified DNA duplexes: thermodynamic and circular dichroism properties.

Circular dichroism (CD) and UV-melting experiments were conducted with 16 oligodeoxynucleotides modified by the carcinogen 2-aminofluorene, whose sequence around the lesion was varied systematically [d(CTTCTNG[AF]NCCTC), N = G, A, C, T], to gain insight into the factors that determine the equilibrium between base-displaced stacked (S) and external B-type (B) duplex conformers. Differing stabilities among the duplexes can be attributed to different populations of S and B conformers. The AF modification always resulted in sequence-dependent thermal (T(m)) and thermodynamic (-DeltaG degrees ) destabilization. The population of B-type conformers derived from eight selected duplexes (i.e. -AG*N- and -CG*N-) was inversely proportional to the -DeltaG degrees and T(m) values, which highlights the importance of carcinogen/base stacking in duplex stabilization even in the face of disrupted Watson-Crick base pairing in S-conformation. CD studies showed that the extent of the adduct-induced negative ellipticities in the 290-350 nm range is correlated linearly with -DeltaG degrees and T(m), but inversely with the population of B-type conformations. Taken together, these results revealed a unique interplay between the extent of carcinogenic interaction with neighboring base pairs and the thermodynamic properties of the AF-modified duplexes. The sequence-dependent S/B heterogeneities have important implications in understanding how arylamine-DNA adducts are recognized in nucleotide excision repair.

A validation protocol for the HPTLC standardization of herbal products: application to the determination of acteoside in leaves of Plantago palmata Hook. f.s.

Formal validation, that is the study of the analytical performances of a method, is recognized as the best safeguard against the generation and publication of data with low reliability. Although the topic of HPTLC validations has been largely investigated, there is still a need for a general validation method applicable whenever a blank matrix cannot be reconstituted, notably herbs and their extracts. This work proposes two validation schemes aiming at generate linearity, accuracy and precision data in a minimal number of HPTLC plates, taking the standardization of Plantago palmata as an example with both UV and visible (post-chromatographic derivatization with a sulphuric acid-vanillin reagent) detections. A major problem associated with HPTLC determinations is underlined, namely the low range of linearity which makes spiking studies quite difficult as care must be taken to avoid overloading, whereas keeping the analyte detectable in blank extracts and avoiding spikes too close to endogenous levels. A second problem is the use of general post-chromatographic derivatization reagents that compromise the selectivity of the method by reacting with compounds that may not be resolved from the compound of interest. The use of such reagents is clearly not without danger, especially given the relatively low resolution of planar chromatography. In conclusion, the retained validation protocol effectively yields the main validation data whereas allowing to pinpoint major analytical drawbacks. It was not possible to simultaneously validate aucubin and acteoside assays as both analytes are present at too different levels/detectabilities.

Differentiation of isomeric C8-substituted alkylaniline adducts of guanine by electrospray ionization and tandem quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry.

Product ion spectra from thirteen C8-substituted alkylaniline adducts of guanine and deoxyguanosine were generated using electrospray ionization and quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry and studied to investigate the possibility of differentiating isomeric adduct structures based upon the relative abundances of fragment ions derived from the alkylaniline-modified guanine bases (BH2(+) ions). The structural discrimination of the BH2(+) ions formed by attachment of isomeric alkylanilines to the C8 position of guanine is a challenging problem because the ions tend to yield product ion spectra that are qualitatively identical upon collisional activation. In this study, a statistical method, referred to as a similarity index, was used to compare the product ion spectra of isomeric BH2(+) ions and differentiate their structures. All the adducts investigated could be distinguished from SIs calculated using 5-6 product ions. These results suggest that a searchable database of product ion spectra may be created and used to characterize DNA adducts from aromatic amines whenever they are detected at levels amenable to mass spectral analysis.

Structural differentiation of diastereomeric benzo[ghi]fluoranthene adducts of deoxyadenosine by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and postsource decay.

The product ion formation characteristics of four diastereomeric deoxyadenosine adducts formed by the reaction of the syn and anti diastereomers of trans-3,4-dihydroxy-5,5a-epoxy-3,4,5,5a-tetrahydrobenzo[ghi]fluoranthene are studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and postsource decay (PSD) to determine fragmentation pathways that may permit differentiation of their structures. The two adducts derived from each diol-epoxide with DNA differ in structure based on the cis/trans arrangement of the 3'-hydroxyl group on the benzo[ghi]fluoranthene (B[ghi]F) and the adenine base bound to the B[ghi]F 5a carbon. The two adduct diastereomers with the cis adenine-3'-hydroxyl configuration produce product ions at m/z 394 and m/z 510 formed by the loss of water that are not observed in the PSD spectra of the two trans isomers. The data suggest a mechanism of water loss that is initiated by a hydrogen-bonding interaction between the charge-bearing proton on the N1 atom and the 3'-hydroxyl oxygen on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Fragmentation is initiated by the transfer of the adenine N1 proton from the nitrogen to the PAH 3'-hydroxyl oxygen and inductive cleavage of the C3-O(3) bond to form a benzylic carbocation on B[ghi]F. The proposed mechanism is supported by semiempirical molecular modeling calculations.

Characterization of DNA adducts and tetraols derived from anti-benzo[ghi]fluoranthane-3,4-dihydrodiol-5,5a-epoxide.

A total of seven DNA adducts and two racemic tetraols derived from anti-benzo[ghi]fluoranthene-3,4-dihydrodiol-5,5a-epoxide (anti-B[ghi]FDE, 2) were characterized by analyses of UV, (1)H NMR, CD, and MALDI mass spectra. The structure of 2 is the first example of a diolepoxide in which a fully fused cyclopentane ring is covalently linked to the saturated ring bearing the epoxide function. Compound 2 is also a conformationally rigid structure analogue of the extensively studied anti-benzo[c]phenanthrene-3,4-dihydrodiol-1,2-epoxide (anti-BcPDE), thus serving as a model for probing the diolepoxide-DNA interaction [Chang et al. (2002) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 15, 198-208 (following paper in this issue)]. The most abundant adducts are formed from trans- or cis-openings of the epoxide by the amino groups of either deoxyguanosine or deoxyadenosine. Adducts of minor abundance formed by the attachment of the diolepoxide to the amino group of deoxycytidine N(4) and guanine N(7) were also isolated. Post-source decay MALDI spectra of the (M + H)(+) molecule ions are consistent with the assigned adduct structures. The lack of a typical benzylic proton at the site of deoxynucleoside attachment necessitated a new NMR assignment strategy. Despite the steric constraint, the epoxide ring opening of 2 occurred exclusively at the dibenzylic C5a, not at C5. The assignments on the trans- and cis-epoxide opening were made based on the molecular modeling structures, i.e., the pseudoaxial H5 in cis-adducts is placed directly under the strong influence of a shielding cone of the aromatic ring system, while the same proton in trans-adducts adopts a pseudoequatorial conformation, thereby protruding away from the aromatic ring system. The absolute configuration at the site of deoxynucleoside attachment (C5a) was tentatively assigned on the basis of the empirical rules that have been established for deoxynucleoside-adducts derived from traditional alternant PAH diolepoxides.

Characterization of DNA adducts derived from syn-benzo[ghi]fluoranthene-3,4-dihydrodiol-5,5a-epoxide and comparative DNA binding studies with structurally-related anti-diolepoxides of benzo[ghi]fluoranthene and benzo[c]phenanthrene.

This paper reports structural characterization of the adducts and tetraols formed from syn-benzo[ghi]fluoranthene-3,4-dihydrodiol-5,5a-epoxide (syn-B[ghi]FDE, 3) and comparative DNA-binding and mutagenicity studies involving 3, anti-B[ghi]FDE (2), and anti-benzo[c]phenanthrene-11,12-dihydrodiol-13,14-epoxide (anti-BcPDE, 5). The structures of nine DNA adducts and two racemic tetraols derived from 3 have been determined spectroscopically. Similar characterization of adducts obtained from the anti-isomer 2 was described in the preceding paper in this issue [Chang et al. (2002) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 15, 187-197]. The majority of DNA adducts with 3 are those from the trans- or cis-opening of the epoxide at C5a by the exocyclic amino groups of dG, dA, and dC. The diolepoxides 2 and 3 are rigid structure analogues of anti- and syn-BcPDE (5 and 6), respectively, thus serving as models for probing molecular deformity and diol conformation in diolepoxide-DNA interaction. Comparative DNA binding experiments indicate that 57% of 2 and 33% of 3 were converted into DNA adducts, whereas a 71% conversion was observed for 5. In general, lower percentages were observed with denatured calf-thymus DNA. As for base selectivity, 2 showed a greater affinity for dA relative to dG (dA/dG ratio, 0.79) than 3 (0.56) when reacted with native calf-thymus DNA. A much higher dA/dG ratio (1.41) was obtained for 5. The overall dA/dG ratios were lower with denatured DNA, indicating the importance of the secondary structure of DNA for both adduct formation and chemical selectivity. The T-shape pseudo-diaxial diols of 3 appears to have favorable electrostatic interactions with the nearby phosphate backbone in the minor groove of DNA, thereby yielding greater amounts of dG adducts than the pseudo-diequatorial 2. The anti-isomer 2 was found to be seven times more mutagenic than 3, but they are significantly less mutagenic than the nonplanar analogue 5 when tested in Salmonella typhimurium TA 100.

Day surgery for mucosal-hemorrhoidal prolapse using a circular stapler and modified regional anesthesia.

PURPOSE: In 1993, prolapse reduction using the circular stapler for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease was proposed. The procedure is characterized by minimal postoperative pain. In this study we evaluated the above technique using regional anesthesia to identify the advantages and feasibility of stapled hemorrhoidectomy, with special focus on the efficacy of same-day discharge. METHODS: From December 1997 to November 1999, we performed 70 consecutive reduction corrections of mucosal hemorrhoidal prolapse using the circular stapler with regional anesthesia (a technical modification of Marti's posterior perineal block). Our series included 41 males and 29 females with a mean age of 43.4 (range, 25-74) years. Three patients were affected by second-degree hemorrhoids and 67 by third-degree hemorrhoids. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were discharged three hours after the operation in good general condition and without pain, whereas eight patients were discharged the day after for early complications, consisting of two cases of early bleeding, three cases of urinary retention, and three cases of persistent severe pain requiring prolonged medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that, in selected cases, it is possible to perform day surgery for patients with hemorrhoidal disease using a circular stapler device when combined with regional anesthesia.

Product ion studies of diastereomeric benzo[ghi]fluoranthene tetraols by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and post-source decay.

The product ion formation characteristics of the four diastereomeric tetrahydroxy benzo[ghi]fluoranthene compounds formed by hydrolysis of the syn and anti diastereomers of trans-3,4-dihydroxy-5,5a-epoxy-3,4,5,5a-tetrahydrobenzo[ghi]fluoranthene are studied using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and post-source decay (PSD) to determine a correlation between the fragmentation characteristics of these tetraols and the structures of the diol-epoxide diastereomers from which they are hydrolyzed. The tetraols formed by the trans ring opening of the diol epoxides during hydrolysis yield product ion spectra specific for the syn and anti configurations of their precursor diol epoxides. All four diastereomeric tetraols form product ions by the losses of one and/or two water molecules in varying proportions when lithium-cationized molecule ions (m/z 301) are selected for PSD product ion analysis. The differences in the PSD spectra of these four Li+-cationized molecules are rationalized in terms of a water loss mechanism that involves the 1,2 elimination of a hydrogen atom and hydroxyl group that are cis with respect to each other on adjacent carbons.