Desorption Ionization Studies Using Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry

这个项目是在分析和表面化学的一般领域和在质谱的子领域。在这项为期三年的持续资助中，Russell教授和他的学生将应用矩阵辅助激光解吸电离傅立叶变换质谱（MALDI/FTMS）技术来研究大型生物分子的结构和反应性。本研究建立在美国国家科学基金会（NSF）资助CHE-8821780的基础上，旨在找到一种诱导多肽和多核苷酸离子序列特异性切割的方法。Russell教授的主要工作重点是利用激发态气相金属离子作为一种手段，使这些感兴趣的大型生物分子选择性地分裂。本研究目标的成功实现将为在微摩尔浓度体系中快速测定复杂肽和核酸的结构提供一种简便的方法。这种分析方法对生物技术和临床化学的进步具有极其重要的意义。

This project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of mass spectrometry. During the tenure of this three-year continuing grant, Professor Russell and his students will apply matrix assisted laser desorption ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MALDI/FTMS) to the development of techniques to investigate the structure and reactivity of large biomolecules. This research, which builds upon results obtained under the aegis of NSF grant CHE-8821780, seeks to find a method for inducing sequence-specific cleavage of polypeptide and polynucleotide ions. A primary focus of Professor Russell's efforts centers around the use of excited state gas phase metal ions as a means to cause these large biomolecules of interest to fragment selectively. %%% The successful attainment of the goals of this research would provide a facile method for the rapid determination of structures of complex peptides and nucleic acids in the femtomole concentration regime. Such analytical methods are of extreme importance to advances in biotechnology and clinical chemistry.