[Mass spectrometry of peptides]

Recent progress in biochemistry has shown the occurrence of many important peptides, among antibiotics, immunostimulants, hormones and neuromediators. The mass spectrometric study of these components by classical ionization techniques such as electron impact, chemical ionization or field desorption require a prior chemical derivatization because of their amphoteric properties, their low volatility and low thermostability. Recent improvements in methods of ionization, fast atom bombardment, secondary ion mass spectrometry, or mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry have made it possible to study the structure of peptides with more than 15 amino acid residues and eased mass spectra interpretation. Through the different methodologies described in this review three characteristic informations can be obtained concerning the molecular mass of peptides, the nature of constituent amino acids and the peptidic sequence and even quantitative measurements can be performed.