CF-252-PLASMA DESORPTION MASS-SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF LIPIDS-A OBTAINED BY AN ELIMINATION-REACTION UNDER MILD CONDITIONS

Lipids A are the hydrophobic domains of bacterial endotoxic lipopolysa ccharides. Since they are responsible for most of the biological activ ities (both pathogenic and beneficial) of endotoxins, the characteriza tion of their structure is crucial to the understanding of their mode of action. However, the inadequacy of existing methods for preparing c ertain lipids A has prompted us to devise a new, mild procedure which gives intact products. Use was made of the special features of Cf-252- plasma desorption mass spectrometry for forming molecular ions from th ese species and giving qualitative and quantitative information from t he primary mass spectrum.