Application of Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry and Mass-Analysed Ion Kinetic Energy Spectrum Scanning to Studies of Cyclic Nucleotide Biochemistry

Abstract FAB mass spectrometry with MIKES scanning provides an effective means of identifying cyclic nucleotides. Its application readily distinguishes 2′,3′- and 3′,5′-isomers, and has enabled the demonstration of the natural occurrence of ccMP, cUMP, cIMP and cdT'NP in manrmals and higher plants, the identification of novel side-products generated by cytidylyl cyclase activity and of synthetic cyclic nucleotide derivatives, and the quantitation of phosphodiesterase activity.