Lipid/peptide/nucleotide separation with MALDI-ion mobility-TOF MS.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Mass Spectrometry

Background:

• Complex biological samples contain diverse biomolecules.
• Separating isobaric ions (lipids, peptides, oligonucleotides) is challenging.
• Existing preseparation methods can be impractical for certain sample types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization coupled with ion mobility-orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-IM-oTOF-MS) for biomolecule analysis.
• To assess the technique's capability for fast separation of complex mixtures.
• To determine the applicability of MALDI-IM-oTOF-MS to challenging biological samples.

Main Methods:

• Utilized matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization for ion generation.
• Employed ion mobility-orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry for separation and detection.
• Analyzed biomolecules in complex mixtures, including lipids, peptides, and oligonucleotides.
• Investigated the relationship between ion mobility, m/z, and ion type.

Main Results:

• Achieved fast separation of isobaric lipid, peptide, and oligonucleotide ions.
• Demonstrated preseparation of ions with up to 30% differences in mobility drift time.
• Observed well-defined trend lines for ions of similar chemical types in 2D mobility vs. m/z plots (approx. 3% deviation).

Conclusions:

• MALDI-IM-oTOF-MS is a viable technique for rapid biomolecule analysis in complex mixtures.
• The method excels in preseparating isobaric ions based on mobility.
• Its utility is particularly high for samples like bodily fluids and intact tissues where alternative preseparation is difficult.