Analysis of mRNA 5’ Cap Structure Using a Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

User Benefits

- The LCMS-2050 single quadrupole (SQ) mass spectrometer and the LabSolutions Insight™ Biologics analysis software can confirm the molecular weights of nucleic acids. - The LCMS-2050 enables a user-friendly operation that is similar to LC systems. - The software enables users to set analytical parameters for modifications and impurities as desired.

Introduction

There has been increasing attention regarding the new drug discovery modality of mRNA because of its efficacy for COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, authorized mRNA vaccines are synthesized using in vitro transcriptions to add the Cap-1 structure (m7GpppRm-) on the 5’ end. This modification contributes to mRNA recognition, better efficiency of translation, and mRNA stability in cells, making 5’ cap structure analysis an important element ofmRNA quality controls. The quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer that was introduced in the Application News No. 01-00733 is useful for sequence coverage identification of nucleic acids that SQ cannot perform. However, SQ mass spectrometers are easy to use and similar to operate as an LC, so they are in increasing demand for confirming molecular weights, such as for quality controls. Below is an introduction to 5' capped mRNA analysis using the LCMS-2050 SQ mass spectrometer and LabSolutions Insight Biologics analysis software.

July 9, 2024 GMT