Optimizing UV laser focus profiles for improved MALDI performance

Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) applications, such as proteomics, genomics, clinical profiling and MALDI imaging, have created a growing demand for faster instrumentation. Since the commonly used nitrogen lasers have throughput and life span limitations, diode-pumped solid-state lasers are an alternative. Unfortunately this type of laser shows clear performance limitations in MALDI in terms of sensitivity, resolution and ease of use, for applications such as thin-layer sample preparations, acceptance of various matrices (e.g. DHB for glycopeptides) and MALDI imaging. While it is obvious that the MALDI process has some dependence on the characteristics of the laser used, it is unclear which features are the most critical in determining laser performance for MALDI. In this paper we show, for the first time, that a spatially structured laser beam profile in lieu of a Gaussian profile is of striking importance. This result enabled us to design diode-pumped Nd : YAG lasers that on various critical applications perform as well for MALDI as the nitrogen lasers and in some respects even better. The modulation of the beam profile appears to be a new parameter for optimizing the MALDI process. In addition, the results trigger new questions directing us to a better understanding of the MALDI process.     

Laser Beam Filtration for High Spatial Resolution MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry

We describe an easy and inexpensive way to provide a highly defined Gaussian shaped laser spot on target of 5 μm diameter for imaging mass spectrometry using a commercial MALDI TOF instrument that is designed to produce a 20 μm diameter laser beam on target at its lowest setting. A 25 μm pinhole filter on a swivel arm was installed in the laser beam optics outside the vacuum ion source chamber so it is easily flipped into or out of the beam as desired by the operator. The resulting ion images at 5 μm spatial resolution are sharp since the satellite secondary laser beam maxima have been removed by the filter. Ion images are shown to demonstrate the performance and are compared with the method of oversampling to achieve higher spatial resolution when only a larger laser beam spot on target is available.

Protein desolvation in UV matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)

We describe experiments in MALDI-TOF and MALDI-TOF-TOF showing that the ejection of protein-matrix cluster ions and their partial decay in the source occur in MALDI. The use of radial beam deflection and small size detector in linear mode allows detection of ions with higher time-of-flight and kinetic energy deficit. MALDI-TOF-TOF experiments were carried out by selecting chemical noise ions at m/z higher than that of a free peptide ion. Whatever the selected m/z (up to m/z 300) the molecular peptide ion appeared as the main fragment. The production of protein-matrix clusters and their partial decay in the source was found to increase with the size of the protein (MW from 1000 to 150,000 u), although it decreases with increasing charge state. These effects were observed for different matrices (HCCA and SA) and in a large laser fluence range. Experimental results and calculation highlight that a continuous decay of protein-matrix cluster ions occurs in the source. This decay-desolvation process can account for the high-mass tailing and peak shifting as well as the strong noise/background in the mass spectra of proteins.     

Implementation of a Gaussian Beam Laser and Aspheric Optics for High Spatial Resolution MALDI Imaging MS

We have investigated the use of a Gaussian beam laser for MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry to provide a precisely defined laser spot of 5 μm diameter on target using a commercial MALDI TOF instrument originally designed to produce a 20 μm diameter laser beam spot at its smallest setting. A Gaussian beam laser was installed in the instrument in combination with an aspheric focusing lens. This ion source produced sharp ion images at 5 μm spatial resolution with signals of high intensity as shown for images from thin tissue sections of mouse brain.

Sodium Cation Affinities of Commonly Used MALDI Matrices Determined by Guided Ion Beam Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The sodium cation affinities of six commonly used MALDI matrices are determined here using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry techniques. The collision-induced dissociation behavior of six sodium cationized MALDI matrices, Na⁺(MALDI), with Xe is studied as a function of kinetic energy. The MALDI matrices examined here include: nicotinic acid, quinoline, 3-aminoquinoline, 4-nitroaniline, picolinic acid, and 3-hydroxypicolinic acid. In all cases, the primary dissociation pathway corresponds to endothermic loss of the intact MALDI matrix. The cross section thresholds are interpreted to yield zero and 298 K Na⁺−MALDI bond dissociation energies (BDEs), or sodium cation affinities, after accounting for the effects of multiple ion-neutral collisions, the kinetic and internal energy distributions of the reactants, and dissociation lifetimes. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G* and MP2(full)/6-311+G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory are used to characterized the structures and energetics for these systems. The calculated BDEs exhibit very good agreement with the measured values for most systems. The experimental and theoretical Na⁺−MALDI BDEs determined here are compared with those previously measured by cation transfer equilibrium methods.     

双嘧达莫的荧光光谱分析法

以荧光光谱法研究了双嘧达莫在溴化十六烷基三甲基铵(CTMAB)、β_环糊精 (β_CD)、十二烷基硫酸钠 (SDS)等介质体系中的荧光性质 ,发现CTMAB、SDS和 β_CD对双嘧达莫均有不同程度的荧光增敏作用 ,提出了在CTMAB、SDS和 β_CD水溶液中测定双嘧达莫的荧光光谱分析法 ;该法灵敏度高 ,检出限低(3.20×10 -9mol/L) ,在6.40×10 -8～3.20×10 -6mol/L范围内荧光强度与双嘧达莫的浓度呈良好线性关系     

槲皮素荧光光度测定法的研究

本详细研究了表面活性剂十二烷基磺酸钠存在下，槲皮素与锆形成三元荧光光胶束配的条件，并建立了测定槲皮素的荧光光度法。在０．９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ盐酸介质中，槲皮素与锆（Ⅳ），ＳＬＳ形成１：４：４的黄绿色荧光配合物，激发波长４３２。１ｎｍ，发射波长５０１。３ｎｍ，线性范围为０．３０×１０－６－１．１１×１０－５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ，检测限为３．７９×１０－７ｍｏｌ／ Ｌ。所拟方法用于芦丁酸水解产物的测定及槐花中回收率的     

Fluorometric determination of nitrite

A sensitive, simple and rapid fluorometric procedure for the determination of nitrite is described. It is based on the reaction of nitrite with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene in acidic solution to form 1-[H]-naphthotriazole, a highly fluorescent compound in alkaline medium. The detection limit is approximately 0.5 ng ml in the test sample (1% relative fluorescence intensity). Application of the method to analysis of a milk sample was tested with aliquots spiked with known amounts of nitrite.     

Fluorometric determination of formaldehyde

A simple, selective and sensitive fluorometric method is presented for the determination of formaldehyde in water based on its reaction with 3,4-diaminoanisole in alkaline ethanol-water solution to give a strongly fluorescing Schiff base. The dependence of the fluorescence intensity on the solvent composition, quenching by acetic and sulphuric acid, heating time and interference by other compounds is discussed. The detection limit of the method is 0.6 μg/L. The recovery of formaldehyde spiked into river water is 93% with an R.S.D of 6.05% at a concentration level of 10 μg/L. Received: 18 November 1996 / Revised: 17 February 1997 / Accepted: 18 February 1997     

Fluorometric determination of formaldehyde

A simple, selective and sensitive fluorometric method is presented for the determination of formaldehyde in water based on its reaction with 3,4-diaminoanisole in alkaline ethanol-water solution to give a strongly fluorescing Schiff base. The dependence of the fluorescence intensity on the solvent composition, quenching by acetic and sulphuric acid, heating time and interference by other compounds is discussed. The detection limit of the method is 0.6 μg/L. The recovery of formaldehyde spiked into river water is 93% with an R.S.D of 6.05% at a concentration level of 10 μg/L.     

Fluorometric Determination of Cellulase

Abstract

A fluorometric procedure is described for the determination of the enzyme cellulase. The method is based upon the hydrolysis of the nonfluorescent substrate, resorufin acetate, by the enzyme to give the highly fluorescent resorufin (λ_ex = 540 mμ;, λ_em = 580 mμ). By this procedure from 0.00010 to 0.060 units per ml. of cellulase can be determined with an accuracy and deviation of about 1.5%. Evidence is offered to demonstrate cellulase, and not esterase, activity.     

Fluorometric determination of biacetyl

The fluorometric determination of biacetyl is described. 3,4-Diaminoanisole reacts with biacetyl in alkaline ethanol-water solution to give strongly fluorescing 2,3-dimethyl-6-methoxy-quinoxaline. Variables such as solvent composition, quenching by acetic and sulphuric acid, heating time and interference by other carbonyl compounds present are discussed. The method may be suitable for the determination of biacetyl in foodstuffs.     

Carbon Nanoparticles and Graphene Nanosheets as MALDI Matrices in Glycomics: a New Approach to Improve Glycan Profiling in Biological Samples

Glycomics continues to be a highly dynamic and interesting research area due to the need to comprehensively understand the biological attributes of glycosylation in many important biological functions such as the immune response, cell development, cell differentiation/adhesion, and host-pathogen interactions. Although matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) has proven to be suitable for glycomic profiling studies, there is a need for improved sensitivity in the detection of native glycans, which ionize inefficiently. In this study, we investigated the efficiencies of graphene nanosheets (GNs) and carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) as MALDI matrices and co-matrices in glycan profiling. Our results indicated an enhancement of signal intensity by several orders of magnitude upon using GNs and CNPs in MALDI analysis of N-glycans derived from a variety of biological samples. Interestingly, increasing the amounts of CNPs and GNs improved not only the signal intensities but also prompted in-source decay (ISD) fragmentations, which produced extensive glycosidic and cross-ring cleavages. Our results indicated that the extent of ISD fragmentation could be modulated by CNP and GN concentrations, to obtain MS² and pseudo-MS³ spectra. The results for glycan profiling in high salt solutions confirmed high salt-tolerance capacities for both CNPs and GNs. Finally, the results showed that by using CNPs and GNs as co-matrices, DHB crystal formation was more homogeneous which improved shot-to-shot reproducibility and sensitivity.

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Graphical Abstract ?

     

微量硼的荧光光度测定法

本文拟定了一个用荧光法测定微量硼的新方法,其线性范围为0～40μg/ml,检测下限为0.04μg/ml。用此方法测定了钢样及高温铁基镍合金中的微量硼,结果令人满意。     

Improved spectra for MALDI MSI of peptides using ammonium phosphate monobasic in MALDI matrix

MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables analysis of peptides along with histology. However, there are several critical steps in MALDI MSI of peptides, 1 of which is spectral quality. Suppression of MALDI matrix clusters by the aid of ammonium salts in MALDI experiments is well known. It is asserted that addition of ammonium salts dissociates potential matrix adducts and thereafter decreases matrix cluster formation. Consequently, MALDI MS sensitivity and mass accuracy increase. Up to our knowledge, a limited number of MALDI MSI studies used ammonium salts as matrix additives to suppress matrix clusters and enhance peptide signals. In this work, we investigated the effect of ammonium phosphate monobasic (AmP) as alpha‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid (α‐CHCA) matrix additive in MALDI MSI of peptides. Prior to MALDI MSI, the effect of varying concentrations of AmP in α‐CHCA was assessed in bovine serum albumin tryptic digests and compared with the control (α‐CHCA without AmP). Based on our data, the addition of AmP as matrix additive decreased matrix cluster formation regardless of its concentration, and specifically, 8 mM AmP and 10 mM AmP increased bovine serum albumin peptide signal intensities. In MALDI MSI of peptides, both 8 and 10 mM AmP in α‐CHCA improved peptide signals especially in the mass range of m/z 2000 to 3000. In particular, 9 peptide signals were found to have differential intensities within the tissues deposited with AmP in α‐CHCA (AUC > 0.60). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first MALDI MSI of peptides work investigating different concentrations of AmP as α‐CHCA matrix additive to enhance peptide signals in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues. Further, AmP as part of α‐CHCA matrix could enhance protein identifications and support MALDI MSI‐based proteomic approaches.     

荧光光度法测定过氧化氢

在碱性介质中,以四羧基铁酞菁为过氧化物酶模拟催化H2O2氧化邻苯二胺,生成2,3-二氨基吩嗪,该产物在577 nm处产生荧光,其荧光强度随H2O2浓度的增大而增加,在1.6×10-7～9.7×10-6mol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数r为0.9941,据此建立了一种测定痕量H2O2的新方法。方法的检出限为1.1×10-7mol/L,用于雨水中H2O2的测定,结果令人满意。     

Fluorometric Determination of Atmospheric Nox

Nitrogen oxides in urban air are mostly from exhaust gases emitted by internal-combustion engines with a considerable impact on human health. It plays an important role in the generation of photochemical smog and photochemical oxidants such as ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). And it is a precursor of nitrous acid, nitric acid and fractions of solid nitrates which are important in the acid rain chemistry.     

ToF-SIMS Depth Profiling of Trehalose: The Effect of Analysis Beam Dose on the Quality of Depth Profiles

In static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) experiments, an analysis dose of 10(12) ions/cm(2) typically produces optimum results. However, the same dose used in dual beam depth profiling can significantly degrade the signal. This is because during each analysis cycle a high-energy beam is rastered across the same x-y location on the sample. If a sufficient amount of sample is not removed during each sputter cycle, the subsequent analysis cycle will sample a volume degraded by the previous analysis cycles. The dimensionless parameter R' is used to relate the amount of damage accumulated in the sample to the amount of analysis beam dose used relative to the etching beam. Depth profiles from trehalose films spin-cast onto silicon wafers acquired using Bi(1) (+) and Bi(3) (+) analysis beams were compared. As R' increased, the depth profile and the depth resolution (interface width) both degraded. At R' values below 0.04 for both Bi(1) (+) and Bi(3) (+), the shape of the profile as well as the depth resolution (9 nm) indicated that dual beam analysis can be superior to C(60) single beam depth profiling.     

Quick quantification of proteins by MALDI

Previously, we reported that the matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization spectrum of a peptide became reproducible when an effective temperature was held constant. Using a calibration curve drawn by plotting the peptide‐to‐matrix ion abundance ratio versus the peptide concentration in a solid sample, a peptide could be quantified without the use of any internal standard. In this work, we quantified proteins by quantifying their tryptic peptides with the aforementioned method. We modified the digestion process; e.g. disulfide bonds were not cleaved, so that hardly any reagent other than trypsin remained after the digestion process. This allowed the preparation of a sample by the direct mixing of a digestion mixture with a matrix solution. We also observed that the efficiency of the matrix‐to‐peptide proton transfer, as measured by its reaction quotient, was similar for peptides with arginine at the C‐terminus. With the reaction quotient averaged over many such peptides, we could rapidly quantify proteins. Most importantly, no peptide standard, not to mention its isotopically labeled analog, was needed in this method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.