Characterization of Ribonucleic Acids and Their Modifications by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Recent advances in electrospray ionization and the extension of radical ion based dissociation techniques to ribonucleic acids (RNA) were key factors for developing top-down mass spectrometry as a powerful method for the detailed characterization of posttranscriptional and synthetic modifications of RNA. This new approach identifies and localizes all mass-altering modifications without the need for labeling reactions, and can be used for characterization of RNA of unknown sequence.