CONTRIBUTIONS OF FAST-ATOM-BOMBARDMENT MASS-SPECTROMETRY TO STUDIES OF CYCLIC-NUCLEOTIDE BIOCHEMISTRY

Cyclic nucleotides are biochemical second messengers which mediate the actions of many hormones and neurotransmitters. Fast-atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry and mass-analysed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra have provided a means of unambiguous identification of these compounds, and in addition to identifying endogenous putative cyclic nucleotides and their synthetic analogues FAB/MIKE analysis has now been applied to good effect to both qualitative and quantitative studies of cyclic nucleotide-related enzymes. Here the application of this mass spectrometric technique to cyclic nucleotides is described and its impact upon this field reviewed.