FIGURE 1.

Mass spectrum from an equal molar mixture of Q₅ and Q₃RR. The synthetic peptides Q₅ and Q₃RR were quantified by amino acid analysis and mixed at a ratio of 1:1 prior to analysis by MALDI-TOF. The spectrum presented above demonstrates that Q₃RR ions are present at much higher levels than those from Q₅. Note also that protonated Q₃RR ions are more prevalent than sodium or potassium Q₃RR ions. By contrast Q₅ is almost evenly distributed among the three ionic species.