Reaction of Pentafluoropropionic Anhydride Vapor on Polypeptide as Revealed by Mass Spectrometry. A Carboxypeptidase Mimetic Degradation

Pentafluoropropionic anhydride vapor at −18 °C degraded a dodecapeptide, AlaArgGlyIleLysGlyIleArgGlyPheSerGly to the peptides which are successively lacking from the C-terminus. The mass spectrum of the reaction mixture for 10 minutes indicated each molecular ions from the intact peptide up to the N-terminal dipeptide clearly, together with two types of successively degraded molecular ions, minus 18 and minus 45 M/Z respectively.