Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization of high-mass molecules by Fourier-transform mass spectrometry

Following the first demonstrations of high-mass analysis using time-of-flight matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) techniques by Hillenkamp, Tanaka and their co-workers, there have been significant efforts in a number of laboratories to adapt the new methodology to Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FTMS). The motivation for this research is obvious. Namely, it would be desirable to couple the unparalleled high mass resolution of FTMS with the extended mass range provided by MALDI, particularly for analysis of polymers and biomolecules. Unfortunately, prior to the present work, attempts to mate FTMS and MALDI have met with limited success. The highest mass matrix-assisted laser-desorption-FTMS result previously obtained appears to be the unpublished low resolution spectrum of bovine insulin recently reported by Russell and co-workers. We, Campana and co-workers, and Hettich and Buchanan have had some success with MALDI-FTMS of biomolecules with masses lower than 3000 Da, including melittin, a variety of lower mass peptides, and oligonucleotides with masses lower than 1800 Da. Furthermore, with the single exception of Campana's report of obtaining mass resolution of 5000 for the molecular ion of melittin, such spectra have not displayed high resolution. Here, we report successful development of MALDI-FTMS, demonstrated with spectra obtained from a variety of high-mass polymer and biomolecule samples, using 355 nm radiation from an excimer-pumped dye laser for desorption/ionization and sinapinic acid as matrix. Some of these spectra are of much higher mass resolution than is possible with current time-of flight mass spectrometers.