title: Ion/neutral, ion/electron, ion/photon, and ion/ion interactions in tandem mass spectrometry: do we need them all? Are they enough?
abstract: A range of strategies and tools have been developed to facilitate the determination of primary structures of analyte molecules of interest via tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The two main factors that determine the primary structural information present in an MS/MS spectrum are the type of ion generated from the analyte molecule and the dissociation method. The ion type subjected to dissociation is determined by the ionization method/conditions and ion transformation processes that might take place after initial gas-phase ion formation. Furthermore, the range of analyte-related ion types can be expanded via derivatization reactions prior to mass spectrometry. Dissociation methods include those that simply alter the population of internal states of the mass-selected ion (i.e., activation methods like collision-induced dissociation) as well as processes that rely on the transformation of the ion type prior to dissociation (e.g., electron capture dissociation). A variety of ion interactions have been studied for the purpose of ion dissociation and ion transformation, including ion/neutral, ion/photon, ion/electron, and ion/ion interactions. A wide range of phenomena have been observed, many of which have been explored/developed as means for structural analysis. The techniques arising from these phenomena are discussed within the context of the elements of structural determination in tandem mass spectrometry: ion-type definition and dissociation. Unique aspects of the various ion interactions are emphasized along with any barriers to widespread implementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2084, USA. mcluckey@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McLuckey
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mentinova
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D005740:Gases; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D017785:Photons; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D007477:Ions