Structure of electron-capture dissociation fragments from charge-tagged peptides probed by tunable infrared multiple photon dissociation

In this study, we propose the first spectroscopic structural characterization of c-type ions produced by ECD of a peptide. The structure of c-type ions formed by electron capture dissociation and the overall mechanism leading to their formation are still a question of debate. Depending on the mechanism, c-type ions have been proposed to have either an enol-imine structure (-C(OH)-NH) or an amide one (-C(O)-NH₂). Since these ions are isomeric, mass spectrometry only cannot discriminate between them, but infrared spectroscopy can bring experimental evidence and help determine which scheme is operative. Using the coupling between a tunable free electron laser and a FT-ICR mass spectrometer, we show that c-type ions have an amide structure, characterized by an IR signature of the C-O stretch at 1731 cm^-1. This result is particularly interesting from the perspective of the elucidation of the ECD mechanism.