title: Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of oligonucleotides.
abstract: Because of the high molecular weights and thermal lability of biomolecules such as nucleic acids and protein, they can be difficult to analyze by mass spectrometry. Such analyses require a "soft" ionization method that is capable of generating intact molecular ions. In addition, most mass analyzers have a limited upper mass range that is not sufficient for studying these large molecules. ESI-MS can be used to analyze molecules with a molecular weight that is larger than the mass-to-charge ratio limit of the analyzer. This unit describes how ESI allows for analysis of high-molecular-weight compounds through the generation of multiply charged ions in the gas phase. It discusses analyzer configurations and solvent selection, and gives protocols for sample preparation. For applications of ESI-MS, the unit discusses molecular weight determination, sequencing, and analysis of oligonucleotide mixtures by LC-MS.
authors.affiliation: Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Colette M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Castleberry
authors.forename: Lenore P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rodicio
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Limbach
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D008722:Methods; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D012997:Solvents; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012997:Solvents