Identification of platelet activating factor by tandem mass spectrometry

Platelet activating factor, a phospholipid (1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine), is a potent mediator of inflammation and acute hypersensitivity reactions. Chemical ionization mass spectra provide useful information for confirmation of structure. However at low levels the confirmation of structure in biological samples is difficult because the chemical noise level is too great. Collisionally activated decomposition daughter spectra of the protonated molecule and major fragment ions of authentic standards were recorded and are discussed. Selected tandem mass spectral scans provided the improvement in signal-to-noise to allow positive confirmation of structure at nanogram levels in partially purified extracts from a biological source, the epidermal cell secretions of the saltwater catfish Arius thalassinus.