Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
07:33
Analyzing Protein Architectures and Protein-Ligand Complexes by Integrative Structural Mass Spectrometry
Published on: October 15, 2018
Towards single-molecule nanomechanical mass spectrometry.
A K Naik1, M S Hanay, W K Hiebert
1Kavli Nanoscience Institute, California Institute of Technology, MC 114-36, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Nature Nanotechnology
|July 8, 2009
Summary
Researchers demonstrate novel nanoelectromechanical system-mass spectrometry for single molecule detection. This technology offers high mass sensitivity for real-time analysis of individual biological molecules.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biophysics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Mass spectrometry is crucial for protein identification but requires higher sensitivity for single-cell analysis.
- Existing mass spectrometry techniques face limitations in detecting individual molecules.
- Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) offer exceptional mass sensitivity for real-time molecular detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the first mass spectrometry system utilizing nanoelectromechanical systems for single biological molecule detection.
- To establish a new analytical platform for ultra-sensitive, real-time molecular analysis.
Main Methods:
- Integration of nanoelectromechanical systems with mass spectrometry principles.
- Introduction of analytes (nanoparticles, proteins) via electrospray injection into vacuum.
- Detection using a phase-locked, ultrahigh-frequency NEMS resonator that records frequency shifts proportional to adsorbed mass.
Main Results:
- Successful real-time detection and mass-based identification of individual biological molecules.
- Demonstration of nanoelectromechanical system-mass spectrometry (NEMS-MS) spectra from hundreds of adsorption events.
- Achieved modest mass sensitivity, paving the way for future improvements.
Conclusions:
- NEMS-MS represents a groundbreaking approach for single biological molecule detection.
- The developed system shows significant potential for future advancements in ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry.
- This technology is uniquely suited for applications requiring analysis at the single-molecule level.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Tandem mass spectrometry is a technique that uses multiple mass analyzers in series to obtain a higher selectivity and reduce chemical noise during analyte detection. Instruments with multiple analyzers separated by an interaction cell enable secondary fragmentation and selected study of the fragment ions.Secondary fragmentations occur in the interaction cell and can be induced by various factors. Fragmentation induced by collision with inert gases, such as N2, Ar, He, etc., is called...
01:19Mass Spectrometry: Overview
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to determine the molecular mass and molecular formula of a compound. The basic principle of mass spectrometry is to generate ions from the analyte molecule and measure these ion abundances against their molecular mass. One common type of ionization, known as electron ionization or EI, bombards the analyte molecules in the gas phase with high-energy electron beams. The electron beams displace an electron from the molecule and leave behind a...
01:21Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
Mass spectrometry is an important technique for the identification of pure compounds. However, it has some limitations for the analysis of complex mixtures, often due to excessive fragmentation making the spectrum too complicated to decipher. Mass spectrometry can be combined with suitable separation methods in sequence, forming hyphenated methods, which are useful in the analysis of complex mixtures.
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
01:15High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)
The resolution of a mass spectrometer depends on the efficiency of separating ions with different ion masses. The mass of an atom is approximated to the sum of the masses of protons and neutrons inside, considering the masses of protons and neutrons as equal. However, the masses of the proton (1.6726 × 10−24 g) and neutron (1.6749 × 10−24 g) are not truly equal. There is a minor error in the expression of atomic masses relative to the simplest atom of hydrogen. For example, the mass of helium...
01:13Mass Analyzers: Overview
The mass analyzer is a crucial component of the mass spectrometer. In the ionization chamber, the vaporized sample is bombarded with a high-energy electron beam to generate a radical cation and further fragment into neutral molecules, radicals, and cations. A series of negatively charged accelerator plates accelerate the cations into the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer separates ions according to their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios and then directs them to the detector. The common types of mass...
01:19MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
Mass spectrometry is a powerful characterization technique that can identify and separate a wide variety of compounds ranging from chemical to biological entities, based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). The instruments that allow this detection, known as mass spectrometers, have three components: an ion source, a mass analyzer, and a detector. These spectrometers differ based on the nature of their ion source and analyzers.Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a commonly...