BIRD (blackbody infrared radiative dissociation): Evolution, principles, and applications

Abstract

Blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD) describes the observation of ion-dissociation reactions at essentially zero pressure by the ambient blackbody radiation field, which is usually studied in the ion-trapping ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectrometer. A brief summary of the historical context and evolution is provided. Focussing on the quantitative observation of the temperature dependence of BIRD rates, methods are developed for connecting BIRD observations with activation parameters and dissociation thermochemistry. Three regimes are differentiated and described, comprising large molecules, small molecules, and intermediate-sized molecules. The different approaches to interpreting BIRD kinetics in those three regimes are discussed. In less than a decade since its inception, this approach to studying gas-phase ions has spread over a wide variety of applications, which are surveyed. Some major areas of activity are: the characterization of solvent-molecule detachment from solvated ions; dissociation reactions of biomolecules (polypeptides, oligonucleotides, complexes involving polysaccharides) and the structural information to be deduced from them; and dissociations of proton-bound and metal-ion-containing complexes. Studies of blackbody-radiation-driven evaporation of water molecules from large water-cluster ions are surveyed briefly. Several techniques related to BIRD are noted, including collisional dissociation in the FT-ICR ion trap; high-pressure thermal dissociation in quadrupole ion traps and in heated inlet capillary regions; hot-filament-assisted dissociation; and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD).

Orbitrap mass spectrometry: Instrumentation, ion motion and applications

“…This technique is analogous to earlier methods used to perform high-resolution resonant ejection of ions confined in an FT-ICR cell (Chen & Marshall, 1987) and Paul trap (Guan & Marshall, 1993). The implementation of these IMC techniques represents an important first step towards developing ion activation methods such as CID, blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD) (Dunbar, 2004;Schnier et al, 1996), infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) (Little et al, 1994) and SID inside the orbitrap, which would significantly increase its versatility (Fig. 25).…”

Communication: Charge transfer dominates over proton transfer in the reaction of nitric acid with gas-phase hydrated electrons

“…2(b) and 2(c), and fitted with a set of differential equations that account for the water loss due to reaction as well as BIRD. 23 Note that the time dependence of the difference in Fig. 2(c) is due to a complex interplay of BIRD, reaction kinetics and the 2 s long fill cycle of the cell.…”

Evidence for the Preservation of Native Inter- and Intra-Molecular Hydrogen Bonds in the Desolvated FK-Binding Protein·FK506 Complex Produced by Electrospray Ionization

“…Although BIRD allows quantitative binding information to be obtained in the gas phase, its application has been limited to only a few research groups due to the requirement for FT-ICR instrumentation with a temperature-controlled ICR cell [21]. A more generally available procedure for interrogating protein-ligand stability is to use collisioninduced dissociation (CID).…”