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Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) Mass Spectrometry & Phenylketonuria (PKU) Screening. Phenylketonuria (PKU). Genetic d isorder characterized by the inability to metabolize phenylalanine, an essential amino acid Recessively inherited
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Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) Mass Spectrometry &Phenylketonuria (PKU) Screening
Phenylketonuria (PKU) • Genetic disorder characterized by the inability to metabolize phenylalanine, an essential amino acid • Recessively inherited • Caused by partial or complete deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase • Enzyme that metabolizes phenylalanine into tyrosine • Accumulation of phenylalanine leads to neurological damage • Mental retardation, seizures Phenylalanine
Phenylketonuria (PKU) • Treatment: Diet low in phenylalanine • Avoid high protein foods (meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk, dried beans, peas) • Testing: Every state requires blood screening for all newborns • Fourier transform mass spectrometry often used • A high phenylalanine: tyrosine ratio (above 2:1) results in a positive screening
Mass Spectrometry • Ion Source • Compound vaporized into gas phase • Energy added to ionize the compound • Excess energy may also fragment compound • Mass Analyzer • Fragments sorted based on mass/charge ratios (m/z) • Ions detected • Ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) in an ion trap is a type of mass analyzer
Fourier Transform-Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) Mass Spectrometry • Ions are trapped in an ion trap • Magnetic and electric fields used to make ions cycle • Ions excited by energy • Causes ions to move in packets • Ions perpendicular to a magnetic field move in a circular path with a radius & frequency: • Can measure cyclotron frequency and calculate the mass very accurately r = mv/eB f = eB/pm
When ions pass by receiver plate, causes electrical signal called an image current • Signal is free induction decay • Consists of many superimposed sine waves • Fourier Transform converts time signal to frequencydomain, where mass can be calculated.
Advantages & Disadvantages Advantages • Extremely High Resolution (>500,000) • Very Good Accuracy (<1 ppm) Disadvantages • Expensive • Requires Superconducting Magnet
GC FT-MS chromatographs of a PKU newborn before treatment (above) with a phenylalanine: tyrosine ratio of 2.30 and after three months of treatment (below) with a ratio of 1.02