@article{db80587e80434ac3b055a353a22ae24e,
title = "Mass spectral studies of probe pyrolysis products of intact oligoribonucleotides",
abstract = "Pyrolysis of underivatized homogeneous oligoribonucleotides in the source of a mass spectrometer leads to production of simple mass spectra which resemble the spectra of the bases themselves. It is proposed that pyrolysis occurs by hydrogen transfer to the base moiety followed by elimination of the neutral base. Ionization by electron impact gives rise to the observed spectra. Mixed oligoribonucleotides pyrolyze readily to give spectra of adenine and uracil, but evidence for the presence of guanine and cytosine in mixed polymers and native RNA's is difficult to obtain presumably because of their low vapor pressure. The method may be useful for detection of modified bases in tRNA and for studies of temperature effects on RNA pyrolysis.",
author = "Gross, {Michael L.} and Lyon, {Philip A.} and Asim Dasgupta and Gupta, {Naba K.}",
note = "Funding Information: Another problem encountered in this study is the unexpected observation of m/e_ 135 in the pyrolysis of poly(C). Without the capability of making exact mass measurements, this signal could be interpreted mistakenly to indicate the presence of adenine. Accordingly, high resolution mass spectrometry is recommended, at least for the initial studies. • The incentive for further study is provided by two potential applications of the method. First, a high proportion of modified bases occurs for transfer RNA. One strategy for structure elucidation of these bases is to hydrolyze the tRNA, separate and derivatize the nucleosides, and then obtain the mass spectra. An excellent review of this methodology has recently been published by McCloskey and Nishimura . Direct pyrolysis may prove to be more expeditious. Secondly, we have noted interesting {"}thermograms{"} produced by rapid acquisition of mass spectra during pyrolysis. Although we are uncertain of their meaning at this time, the exciting potential for assessing tertiary structure still exists. Further research is planned to test these ideas. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are grateful to Dr. J. L. Wiebers for discussion and encouragement, to the National Science Foundation (MPS-7505914) for funds to acquire the MS-5076 and for partial support of this work (CHE76-23549), and to the National Institute of Health (Grants GM-18796 and GM-22079).",
year = "1978",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1093/nar/5.8.2695",
language = "English",
volume = "5",
pages = "2695--2704",
journal = "Nucleic acids research",
issn = "0305-1048",
number = "8",
}