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Capillary electrophoresis ionization-mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5365585

The combination of capillary electrophoresis, including capillary zone electrophoresis and capillary isotachophoresis, with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry provides a powerful analytical tool for the analysis of proteins and oligopeptides. The electrospray ionization process provides detection limits in the attomole to femtomole range. The multiple charging phenomena observed in the electrospray ionization mass spectra of large biomolecules also has two important advantageous effects. First, the mass range for analysis with conventional quadrupole mass spectrometers is extended by a factor equal to the extent of charging. This provides mass spectrometric resolution and precision of mass measurement equivalent or superior to mass spectrometric methods dedicated to the measurements at high m/z. Secondly, the efficiency of collisionally induced dissociation (for MS/MS) is markedly enhanced. This provides for an important flexibility and advantage in the qualitative investigation of analytes above the range of mass ordinarily accessible for singly charged analyte parent ions. The experimental results are described suggest the possible extension of tandem MS techniques for protein analysis.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/NE; DOHHS; NSF
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
5365585
Report Number(s):
PNL-SA-16838; CONF-8908181--1; ON: DE90002664
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English