Intact and top-down characterization of biomolecules and direct analysis using infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization coupled to FT-ICR mass spectrometry

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2009 Apr;20(4):667-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jasms.2008.12.003. Epub 2008 Dec 13.

Abstract

We report the implementation of an infrared laser onto our previously reported matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (MALDESI) source with ESI post-ionization yielding multiply charged peptides and proteins. Infrared (IR)-MALDESI is demonstrated for atmospheric pressure desorption and ionization of biological molecules ranging in molecular weight from 1.2 to 17 kDa. High resolving power, high mass accuracy single-acquisition Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectra were generated from liquid- and solid-state peptide and protein samples by desorption with an infrared laser (2.94 mum) followed by ESI post-ionization. Intact and top-down analysis of equine myoglobin (17 kDa) desorbed from the solid state with ESI post-ionization demonstrates the sequencing capabilities using IR-MALDESI coupled to FT-ICR mass spectrometry. Carbohydrates and lipids were detected through direct analysis of milk and egg yolk using both UV- and IR-MALDESI with minimal sample preparation. Three of the four classes of biological macromolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) have been ionized and detected using MALDESI with minimal sample preparation. Sequencing of O-linked glycans, cleaved from mucin using reductive beta-elimination chemistry, is also demonstrated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Carbohydrates / chemistry*
  • Cattle
  • Chickens
  • Egg Yolk / chemistry
  • Horses
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Milk / chemistry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mucins / chemistry
  • Mucins / metabolism
  • Myoglobin / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods*

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Mucins
  • Myoglobin
  • Polysaccharides
  • Proteins