ADAMTS4 is involved in the production of the Alzheimer disease amyloid biomarker APP669-711.

Amyloid-ß (Aß) deposition in the brain parenchyma is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). We have previously identified amyloid precursor protein (APP)669-711 (a.k.a. Aß(-3)-40) in human plasma using immunoprecipitation combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (IP-MALDI-MS). Furthermore, we found that the level of a composite biomarker, i.e., a combination of APP669-711/Aß1-42 ratio and Aß1-40/Aß1-42 ratio in human plasma, correlates with the amyloid PET status of AD patients. However, the production mechanism of APP669-711 has remained unclear. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we identified A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with a Thrombospondin type 1 motif, type 4 (ADAMTS4) as a responsible enzyme for APP669-711 production. ADAMTS4 cleaves APP directly to generate the C-terminal stub c102, which is subsequently proteolyzed by γ-secretase to release APP669-711. Genetic knockout of ADAMTS4 reduced the production of endogenous APP669-711 by 30% to 40% in cultured cells as well as mouse plasma, irrespectively of Aß levels. Finally, we found that the endogenous murine APP669-711/Aß1-42 ratio was increased in aged AD model mice, which shows Aß deposition as observed in human patients. These data suggest that ADAMTS4 is involved in the production of APP669-711, and a plasma biomarker determined by IP-MALDI-MS can be used to estimate the level of Aß deposition in the brain of mouse models.

Classification of Cutibacterium acnes at phylotype level by MALDI-MS proteotyping.

Cutibacterium acnes is a major commensal human skin bacteria. It is a producer of propionic acids that maintain skin acidic pH to inhibit the growth of pathogens. On the other hand, it is also associated with diseases such as acne vulgaris and sarcoidosis. C. acnes strains have been classified into six phylotypes using DNA-based approaches. Because several characteristic features of C. acnes vary according to the phylotype, the development of a practical method to identify these phylotypes is needed. For rapid identification of phylotypes for C. acnes strains, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) fingerprinting technique has been applied; however, some phylotypes have not been discriminated. We developed a high-throughput protein purification method to detect biomarker proteins by ultrafiltration. MALDI-MS proteotyping using profiling of identified biomarker peaks was applied for the classification of 24 strains of C. acnes, and these were successfully classified into the correct phylotypes. This is a promising method that allows the discrimination of C. acnes phylotypes independent of a DNA-based approach.

Improved MALDI-MS method for the highly sensitive and reproducible detection of biomarker peaks for the proteotyping of Salmonella serotypes.

The rapid identification and classification of pathogenic microorganisms, including Salmonella enterica, is important for the surveillance and prevention of foodborne diseases. Matrix-assisted laser desorption\ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) has been shown to be an effective tool for the rapid identification of microorganisms. In a previous report, a mass database consisting of 12 biomarker proteins, S8, L15, L17, L21, L25, S7, superoxide dismutase (SodA), peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerase C, Gns, YibT, YaiA, and YciF, was introduced for the serotyping of S. enterica via MALDI-MS (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2017, 101, 8557-8569). However, the reproducibility of peak detection of biomarkers such as SodA at m\z 23 000 was poor. We report here an optimized MALDI-MS method for detecting these biomarkers with high sensitivity and reproducibility. The issue was solved by controlling the bacterial concentration at 1 × 10 to 1 × 102 MFU (3 × 106 to 3 × 107 CFU\µL, as calculated from the MFU), using the colony suspension supernatant obtained by centrifugation, and using matrix additives such as methylenediphosphonic acid and N-decyl-ß-D-maltopyranoside. We propose that the method including the above steps is one of the best for detecting biomarkers with high sensitivity and reproducibility.

Comparative Glycomic Analysis of Sialyl Linkage Isomers by Sialic Acid Linkage-Specific Alkylamidation in Combination with Stable Isotope Labeling of α2,3-Linked Sialic Acid Residues.

Sialic acids form the terminal sugars in glycan chains on glycoproteins via α2,3, α2,6, or α2,8 linkages, and structural isomers of sialyl linkages play various functional roles in cell recognition and other physiological processes. We recently developed a novel procedure based on sialic acid linkage-specific alkylamidation via lactone ring opening (aminolysis-SALSA). Herein, we have investigated an isotope labeling of α2,3-linked sialic acid residues (iSALSA) using amine hydrochloride salts. One limitation of SALSA using amine hydrochloride salts may be solved by adding only tert-butylamine (t-BA) as an acid scavenger, and comparative and quantitative glycomic analyses can be performed using iSALSA. We also developed quantitative glycomic analysis using dual isotope-labeled glycans by derivatizing with aminooxy-functionalized tryptophanylarginine methyl ester (aoWR) and iSALSA at the reducing and nonreducing end, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the amount of α2,3-linked sialoglycans in serum are altered during liver fibrosis using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and liquid chromatography MS (LC/MS) analyses. We revealed that the ratio of A33,6,6 to A3F3,6,6 was gradually decreased along with liver fibrosis progression. Therefore, these glycan alterations are potential diagnostic markers of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) fibrosis progression.

Sequencing of Sulfopeptides Using Negative-Ion Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Hydrogen Attachment/Abstraction Dissociation.

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with radical-based fragmentation involving the attachment or abstraction of hydrogen to peptides, in a process called hydrogen attachment/abstraction dissociation (HAD), has been recently developed. HAD-MS/MS is considered a useful method for the analysis of proteins with post-translational modification (PTM) because of its ability to determine the PTM site on proteins. In the present investigation, we analyzed highly acidic sulfopeptides and sulfoprotein digests using negative-ion HAD-MS/MS combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI). In general, MALDI and ESI produced singly and multiply charged peptides, respectively. HAD of singly deprotonated sulfopeptides preferentially produced fragment ions with sulfonation, whereas both sulfonated and nonsulfonated fragment ions were observed in the HAD-MS/MS spectrum of multiply deprotonated sulfopeptides. A comparison of the MALDI and ESI HAD-MS/MS spectra allows the discrimination of sulfonated and nonsulfonated fragments, which would be helpful in performing de novo sequencing of sulfopeptides. In addition, the combination of ESI-based HAD-MS/MS and liquid chromatography (LC) allows the analysis of sulfopeptides present in protein digests. LC-ESI-MS/MS with HAD is a potentially useful method for sulfoproteomic application.

Characterisation of N-glycans in the epithelial-like tissue of the rat cochlea.

Membrane proteins (such as ion channels, transporters, and receptors) and secreted proteins are essential for cellular activities. N-linked glycosylation is involved in stability and function of these proteins and occurs at Asn residues. In several organs, profiles of N-glycans have been determined by comprehensive analyses. Nevertheless, the cochlea of the mammalian inner ear, a tiny organ mediating hearing, has yet to be examined. Here, we focused on the stria vascularis, an epithelial-like tissue in the cochlea, and characterised N-glycans by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. This hypervascular tissue not only expresses several ion transporters and channels to control the electrochemical balance in the cochlea but also harbours different transporters and receptors that maintain structure and activity of the organ. Seventy-nine N-linked glycans were identified in the rat stria vascularis. Among these, in 55 glycans, the complete structures were determined; in the other 24 species, partial glycosidic linkage patterns and full profiles of the monosaccharide composition were identified. In the process of characterisation, several sialylated glycans were subjected sequentially to two different alkylamidation reactions; this derivatisation helped to distinguish α2,3-linkage and α2,6-linkage sialyl isomers with mass spectrometry. These data should accelerate elucidation of the molecular architecture of the cochlea.

Sialic Acid Linkage Specific Derivatization of Glycosphingolipid Glycans by Ring-Opening Aminolysis of Lactones.

Sialic acids occur widely as glycoconjugates at the nonreducing ends of glycans. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) include a large number of sialyl-linked glycan isomers with α2,3-, α2,6-, and α2,8-linked polysialic acids. Thus, it is difficult to distinguish structural isomers with the same mass by mass spectrometry. The sialic acid linkage specific alkylamidation (SALSA) method has been developed for discriminating between α2,3- and α2,6-linked isomers, but sequential amidation of linkage-specific sialic acids is generally complicated and time-consuming. Moreover, analysis of GSL-glycans containing α2,8-linked polysialic acids using solid-phase SALSA has not been reported. Herein, we report a novel SALSA method focused on ring-opening aminolysis (aminolysis-SALSA), which shortens the reaction time and simplifies the experimental procedures. We demonstrate that aminolysis-SALSA can successfully distinguish serum GSL-glycan isomers by mass spectrometry. In addition, ring-opening aminolysis can easily be applied to amine and hydrazine derivatives.

Structural Analysis of Phospholipid Using Hydrogen Abstraction Dissociation and Oxygen Attachment Dissociation in Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Gas-phase hydrogen radicals were introduced into a quadrupole ion trap containing singly charged phospholipids to obtain structural fragmentation patterns in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Saturated and unsaturated phosphatidylcholines were used as a model phospholipid, whose chain-length ranges between 16 and 24. The MS/MS spectrum yielded a continuous series of fragment ions with a mass difference of 14 Da, representing the saturated fatty acyl chains. The fragment ions corresponding to the double-bond position within a single fatty acyl chain showed a characteristic mass difference of 12 Da. The detection of these diagnostic product ions enabled the structural analysis of double-bond isomers of phospholipids. To further investigate the potential of radical-induced dissociation for the isomeric analysis of phospholipids, gas-phase hydroxyl radicals, and triplet oxygen atoms were employed in tandem mass spectrometry. The methylene bridges adjacent to the double-bond positions were selectively dissociated, accompanied by oxidation of the double bonds. Tandem mass spectrometry incorporating multiple radical species facilitates the structural analysis of isomeric phospholipids.

Differentiation of Sialyl Linkage Isomers by One-Pot Sialic Acid Derivatization for Mass Spectrometry-Based Glycan Profiling.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been used for high-throughput glycan profiling analysis. In spite of the biological importance of sialic acids on nonreducing ends of glycans, it is still difficult to analyze glycans containing sialic acid residues due to their instability and the presence of linkage isomers. In this Article, we describe a one-pot glycan purification/derivatization method employing a newly developed linkage-specific sialic acid derivatization for MS-based glycan profiling with differentiation of sialyl linkage isomer. The derivatization, termed sialic acid linkage specific alkylamidation (SALSA), consists of sequential two-step alkylamidations. As a result of the reactions, α2,6- and α2,3-linked sialic acids are selectively amidated with different length of alkyl chains, allowing distinction of α2,3-/α2,6-linkage isomers from given mass spectra. Our studies using N-glycan standards with known sialyl linkages proved high suitability of SALSA for reliable relative quantification of α2,3-/α2,6-linked sialic acids compared with existing sialic acid derivatization approaches. SALSA fully stabilizes both α2,3- and α2,6-linked sialic acids by alkylamidation; thereby, it became possible to combine SALSA with existing glycan analysis/preparation methods as follows. The combination of SALSA and chemoselective glycan purification using hydrazide beads allows easy one-pot purification of glycans from complex biological samples, together with linkage-specific sialic acid stabilization. Moreover, SALSA-derivatized glycans can be labeled via reductive amination without causing byproducts such as amide decomposition. This solid-phase SALSA followed by glycan labeling has been successfully applied to human plasma N-glycome profiling.

Hydrogen Attachment/Abstraction Dissociation (HAD) of Gas-Phase Peptide Ions for Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Dissociation of gas-phase peptide ions through interaction with low-energy hydrogen (H) radical (∼0.15 eV) was observed with a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry. The H radical generated by thermal dissociation of H2 molecules passing through a heated tungsten capillary (∼2000 °C) was injected into the ion trap containing target peptide ions. The fragmentation spectrum showed abundant c-/z- and a-/x-type ions, attributable to H attachment/abstraction to/from peptide ion. Because the low-energy neutral H radical initiated the fragmentation, the charge state of the precursor ion was maintained during the dissociation. As a result, precursor ions of any charge state, including singly charged positive and negative ions, could be analyzed for amino acid sequence. The sequence coverage exceeding 90% was obtained for both singly protonated and singly deprotonated substance P peptide. This mass spectrometry also preserved labile post-translational modification bonds. The modification sites of triply phosphorylated peptide (kinase domain of insulin receptor) were identified with the sequence coverage exceeding 80%.

Timeframe Dependent Fragment Ions Observed in In-Source Decay Experiments with ß-Casein Using MALDI MS.

The fragment ions observed with time-of-flight (TOF) and quadrupole ion trap (QIT) TOF mass spectrometers (MS) combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization in-source decay (MALDI-ISD) experiments of phosphorylated analytes ß-casein and its model peptide were compared from the standpoint of the residence timeframe of analyte and fragment ions in the MALDI ion source and QIT cell. The QIT-TOF MS gave fragment c-, z'-, z-ANL, y-, and b-ions, and further degraded fragments originating from the loss of neutrals such as H(2)O, NH(3), CH(2)O (from serine), C2H4O (from threonine), and H(3)PO(4), whereas the TOF MS merely showed MALDI source-generated fragment c-, z'-, z-ANL, y-, and w-ions. The fragment ions observed in the QIT-TOF MS could be explained by the injection of the source-generated ions into the QIT cell or a cooperative effect of a little internal energy deposition, a long residence timeframe (140 ms) in the QIT cell, and specific amino acid effects on low-energy CID, whereas the source-generated fragments (c-, z'-, z-ANL, y-, and w-ions) could be a result of prompt radical-initiated fragmentation of hydrogen-abundant radical ions [M + H + H](+) and [M + H - H](-) within the 53 ns timeframe, which corresponds to the delayed extraction time. The further degraded fragment b/y-ions produced in the QIT cell were confirmed by positive- and negative-ion low-energy CID experiments performed on the source-generated ions (c-, z'-, and y-ions). The loss of phosphoric acid (98 u) from analyte and fragment ions can be explained by a slow ergodic fragmentation independent of positive and negative charges.

The C-terminal fragment of prostate-specific antigen, a 2331 Da peptide, as a new urinary pathognomonic biomarker candidate for diagnosing prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers and leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Mass screening has been carried out since the 1990s using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the serum as a PCa biomarker. However, although PSA is an excellent organ-specific marker, it is not a cancer-specific marker. Therefore, the aim of this study was to discover new biomarkers for the diagnosis of PCa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We focused on urine samples voided following prostate massage (digital rectal examination [DRE]) and conducted a peptidomic analysis of these samples using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS(n)). Urinary biomaterials were concentrated and desalted using CM-Sepharose prior to the following analyses being performed by MALDI-TOF/MS(n): 1) differential analyses of mass spectra; 2) determination of amino acid sequences; and 3) quantitative analyses using a stable isotope-labeled internal standard. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of the MALDI-TOF/MS mass spectra of urinary extracts revealed a 2331 Da peptide in urine samples following DRE. This peptide was identified as a C-terminal PSA fragment composed of 19 amino acid residues. Moreover, quantitative analysis of the relationship between isotope-labeled synthetic and intact peptides using MALDI-TOF/MS revealed that this peptide may be a new pathognomonic biomarker candidate that can differentiate PCa patients from non-cancer subjects. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that the 2331 Da peptide fragment of PSA may become a new pathognomonic biomarker for the diagnosis of PCa. A further large-scale investigation is currently underway to assess the possibility of using this peptide in the early detection of PCa.

Selective and nonselective cleavages in positive and negative CID of the fragments generated from in-source decay of intact proteins in MALDI-MS.

Selective and nonselective cleavages in ion trap low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments of the fragments generated from in-source decay (ISD) with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) of intact proteins are described in both positive and negative ion modes. The MALDI-ISD spectra of the proteins demonstrate common, discontinuous, abundant c- and z'-ions originating from cleavage at the N-Cα bond of Xxx-Asp/Asn and Gly-Xxx residues in both positive- and negative-ion modes. The positive ion CID of the c- and z'-ions resulted in product ions originating from selective cleavage at Asp-Xxx, Glu-Xxx and Cys-Xxx residues. Nonselective cleavage product ions rationalized by the mechanism of a "mobile proton" are also observed in positive ion CID spectra. Negative ion CID of the ISD fragments results in complex product ions accompanied by the loss of neutrals from b-, c-, and y-ions. The most characteristic feature of negative ion CID is selective cleavage of the peptide bonds of acidic residues, Xxx-Asp/Glu/Cys. A definite influence of α-helix on the CID product ions was not obtained. However, the results from positive ion and negative ion CID of the MALDI-ISD fragments that may have long α-helical domains suggest that acidic residues in helix-free regions tend to degrade more than those in helical regions.

Detection of the heterogeneous O-glycosylation profile of MT1-MMP expressed in cancer cells by a simple MALDI-MS method.

BACKGROUND: Glycosylation is an important and universal post-translational modification for many proteins, and regulates protein functions. However, simple and rapid methods to analyze glycans on individual proteins have not been available until recently. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A new technique to analyze glycopeptides in a highly sensitive manner by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) using the liquid matrix 3AQ/CHCA was developed recently and we optimized this technique to analyze a small amount of transmembrane protein separated by SDS-PAGE. We used the MALDI-MS method to evaluate glycosylation status of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). O-glycosylation of MT1-MMP is reported to modulate its protease activity and thereby to affect cancer cell invasion. MT1-MMP expressed in human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells was immunoprecipitated and resolved by SDS-PAGE. After in-gel tryptic digestion of the protein, a single droplet of the digest was applied directly to the liquid matrix on a MALDI target plate. Concentration of hydrophilic glycopeptides within the central area occurred due to gradual evaporation of the sample solution, whereas nonglycosylated hydrophobic peptides remained at the periphery. This specific separation and concentration of the glycopeptides enabled comprehensive analysis of the MT1-MMP O-glycosylation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We demonstrate, for the first time, heterogeneous O-glycosylation profile of a protein by a whole protein analysis using MALDI-MS. Since cancer cells are reported to have altered glycosylation of proteins, this easy-to-use method for glycopeptide analysis opens up the possibility to identify specific glycosylation patterns of proteins that can be used as new biomarkers for malignant tumors.

On-target separation of analyte with 3-aminoquinoline/α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid liquid matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

3-Aminoquinoline/α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3AQ/CHCA) is a liquid matrix (LM), which was reported by Kumar et al. in 1996 for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. It is a viscous liquid and has some advantages of durability of ion generation by a self-healing surface and quantitative performance. In this study, we found a novel aspect of 3AQ/CHCA as a MALDI matrix, which converges hydrophilic material into the center of the droplet of analyte-3AQ/CHCA mixture on a MALDI sample target well during the process of evaporation of water derived from analyte solvent. This feature made it possible to separate not only the buffer components, but also the peptides and oligosaccharides from one another within 3AQ/CHCA. The MALDI imaging analyses of the analyte-3AQ/CHCA droplet indicated that the oligosaccharides and the peptides were distributed in the center and in the whole area around the center of 3AQ/CHCA, respectively. This 'on-target separation' effect was also applicable to glycoprotein digests such as ribonuclease B. These features of 3AQ/CHCA liquid matrix eliminate the requirement for pretreatment, and reduce sample handling losses thus resulting in the improvement of throughput and sensitivity.

Highly sensitive MALDI analyses of glycans by a new aminoquinoline-labeling method using 3-aminoquinoline/α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid liquid matrix.

In glycomics, mass spectrometry is an indispensable tool for high throughput analyses. Generally speaking, glycans contain many hydroxyl groups and are more difficult to ionize than peptides. Derivatization of glycans has been useful for increasing sensitivity. However, it takes time to purify and causes loss of sample. Here, we show a highly sensitive aminoquinoline (AQ)-labeling method of glycans on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) target using a liquid matrix 3-aminoquinoline (3-AQ)/α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA). It is a rapid procedure and reduces loss of sample material during the reaction process, especially in negative ion mode where 10 amol of monosialylated N-glycan were detected as AQ-labeled molecular ions. In addition, MS/MS of 10 amol of monosialylated N-glycan was achieved.

Integrated mass spectrometry-based analysis of plasma glycoproteins and their glycan modifications.

We present a protocol for the identification of glycosylated proteins in plasma followed by elucidation of their individual glycan compositions. The study of glycoproteins by mass spectrometry is usually based on cleavage of glycans followed by separate analysis of glycans and deglycosylated proteins, which limits the ability to derive glycan compositions for individual glycoproteins. The methodology described here consists of 2D HPLC fractionation of intact proteins and liquid chromatography-multistage tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS(n)) analysis of digested protein fractions. Protein samples are separated by 1D anion-exchange chromatography (AEX) with an eight-step salt elution. Protein fractions from each of the eight AEX elution steps are transferred onto the 2D reversed-phase column to further separate proteins. A digital ion trap mass spectrometer with a wide mass range is then used for LC-MS/MS(n) analysis of intact glycopeptides from the 2D HPLC fractions. Both peptide and oligosaccharide compositions are revealed by analysis of the ion fragmentation patterns of glycopeptides with an intact glycopeptide analysis pipeline.

Derivatization for stabilizing sialic acids in MALDI-MS.

While matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is useful in oligosaccharide analysis, the sialic acid, or N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), moiety of an oligosaccharide is liable to dissociation in- or postsource during mass measurement. In this study, we tried to stabilize the moiety by amidation, as in the case of peptides (Sekiya, S.; Wada, Y. Tanaka, K. Anal. Chem. 2004, 76, 5894-5902), and found 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride to be a desirable condensing agent. Amidation stabilized the glycosidic bond with NANA and suppressed its preferential cleavage by in-source decay, postsource decay, or collision-induced dissociation. In addition, the suppressed dissociation considerably improved the yield of the B/Y type ions for structural analysis by MS/MS. These results demonstrate that amidation is an effective derivatization to reinforce the structural analysis of sialylated oligosaccharides by MALDI-MS. In addition, amidation with (15)N-labeled ammonium chloride decreases the mass shift from the acid to amide form to just 0.013, reducing the complexity of mass spectral interpretation and database searching.

Improvement of the MS/MS fragment ion coverage of acidic residue-containing peptides by amidation with 15N-substituted amine.

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is a powerful tool for peptide sequencing and characterization. However, the selective cleavage at acidic residues, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid prevents the generation of enough product ions to elucidate the entire sequence. We attempted to solve the problem by converting the residues into the corresponding amides, asparagine and glutamine. The amidation suppressed the cleavage at the converted residues, and the product ions derived from dissociation at other sites became abundant. Incorporation of nitrogen isotope (15)N in the amine constituent for amidation minimized the mass change from -0.984 016 to +0.013 019, allowing easy discrimination of acidic and amide residues in the original sequences by MS/MS database search. In addition, the amidated and unchanged peptides had the same nominal mass, even when the transformation was incomplete, which was approximately 70% in the current condition. The unmodified acidic residues remaining were rather useful to give marker fragments by the dominant dissociation. These results demonstrate that (15)N-amidation is effective in improving the performance of MS/MS to elucidate amino acid sequences of peptides.