Mass Spectrometry

Troubleshooting, maintenance and experimentation with Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry experiment (MS) is a high-throughput experimental method that characterizes molecules by their mass-to-charge ratio. The MS is composed of sample preparation, molecular ionization, detection, and instrumentation analysis processes. MS is beneficial in that it is generally fast, requires a small amount of sample, and provides high accuracy measurements. For these reasons, MS alone or combined with other structural proteomics techniques is widely used for various molecular biology analysis purposes. Examples of the analysis include post-translations modifications in proteins, identification of vibrational components in proteins, and analysis of protein conformation and dynamics. We will focus on MS-coupled methods that provide information about conformation and dynamics of the protein being studied. For a comprehensive review on MS procedures and for a review on various types of MS-coupled methods.The performance of a mass spectrometer will be severely impaired by the lack of a good vacuum in the ion transfer region of the mass analyser.  As the vacuum deteriorates it will become insufficient to maintain biomedical instrumentation in the operating mode. If the foreline pump is not maintained, the oil may become so contaminated that the  optimum pumping is no longer possible.  Initially, gas transport and metabolism ballasting may clean the oil.  If the  oil has become discoloured then it should be changed according to the pump  manufacturers’ maintenance manual.  When rotary pumps are used to pump away conflict resolution, the solvent can  become dissolved in the oil causing an increase in backing line pressure.  Gas  ballasting is a means of purging the oil to remove dissolved contaminants.