Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry applied to biological macromolecules

Since its invention in the late 1980s, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been applied to a large number of analytical problems such as the analysis of proteins, glycoconjugates, polynucleotides and synthetic polymers. This article explains briefly the principle of MALDI and the instrumentation required. The preparation and purification of samples on a microlitre scale prior to mass analysis are described. Examples are given of MALDI mass analysis using infrared and ultraviolet lasers (IR- and UV-MALDI-MS), Analytical applications of MALDI-MS to mass analysis of electroblotted proteins, to unambiguous protein identification, the de novo sequencing of polynucleotides, DNA mutant analysis for diagnostic purposes, and the analysis of noncovalent complexes, are addressed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.