Importance Of Mass Spectrometry

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The mass spectrometer has long been an indispensable tool in chemistry. Molecules to be analyzed, referred to as analytes, are first ionized in a vacuum. When the newly charged molecules are introduced into an electric and magnetic field, their paths through the field are a function of their mass-to-charge ratio, mlz. This measured property of the ionized species can be used to deduce the mass (M ) of the analyte with very high precision. Mass spectrometry can….. Identify single proteins from a gel band or solution Identify multiple proteins in solution Identify multiple proteins from a cell extract Obtain sufficient sequence for cloning Materials required to perform mass spectrometry. • gel band o Coomassie stained o mass spectrometry compatible silver stained o Sypro stained • solution …show more content…

The majority of protein sequence analysis today uses mass spectrometry. There are several steps in analyzing a protein. 1. Digest the protein to peptides (in gel or solution). Mass spectrometry currently gets limited sequence data from whole proteins, but can easily analyze peptides. 2. Trypsin is first choice for digestion-readily available, specific, majority of peptides are ideal size for analysis, peptides behave nicely in mass spectrometer. 3. Separate peptides, usually on reverse phase column with acetonitrile gradient. We use columns 75 µm in diameter. We use acetic acid in the solvents because the commonly used trifluoroacetic interferes with ionization. 4. Place ionized peptides in vapor phase by passing the column eluate, containing peptides and solvent, through a fine tip to form tiny droplets. After evaporation of solvent, peptides are left in the vapor phase. Charged surfaces move the ionized peptide into the mass spectrometer. Using chromatography to introduce molecules into a mass spectrometer is LC-MS (liquid chromatography mass spectrometry or HPLC-MS. 5. Measure mass of

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