Mass spectrometric analysis of DNA mixtures: instrumental effects responsible for decreased sensitivity with
Xiaoyu Chen1, Michael S Westphall, Lloyd M Smith
1Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1396, USA.
Abstract:
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry has demonstrated great potential to replace gel electrophoresis for DNA sequence analysis. A current limitation in this method is, however, the decreased sensitivity with increasing mass of DNA molecules. In the present study, instrumental effects on the mass analysis of DNA molecules were investigated quantitatively using an equimolar DNA mixture. It is shown that detection efficiency, detector saturation, and ion beam divergence account for the entirety of the observed falloff in signal intensity with increasing mass. Although the present study focused upon the analysis of DNA mixtures, the instrumental effects observed apply equally to other macromolecular mixtures (e.g., proteins, polymers).
Related Concept Videos
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometry: Overview
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometry: Isotope Effect
Mass Analyzers: Overview


