A simple method for differentiating Leu and Ile in peptides. The negative-ion mass spectra of [M-H]- ions of phenylthiohydantoin Leu and Ile.

Phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) amino acid derivatives are formed during sequential Edman degradation of peptides and proteins. Isomeric Leu and Ile (which differ only in respectively having iso-butyl and sec-butyl chains, and are often difficult to distinguish by conventional mass spectrometric techniques) may be readily identified by the characteristic decompositions of the [M-H]- ions of their PTH derivatives. The Leu spectrum shows major loss of propane, while that of the Ile derivative shows elimination of both methane and ethane. This method may be used routinely with 10 microgram quantities of peptide material.