Plasma desorption mass spectrometry of large biomolecules

Two mass spectrometric techniques, plasma desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS) and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS), are now extensively used for characterisation of large biomolecules. Mass spectra of protein molecules up to 34 kDa have been observed and mass spectrometry has been demonstrated to be an effective analytical tool for protein chemistry and biotechnology. Also carbohydrates and oligonucleotides can be analysed by mass spectrometry, but further improvements of the techniques are needed.