Plasma Desorption Mass Spectrometry of Peptides and Proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the use of plasma desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS) for the analysis of peptides and proteins. PDMS is increasingly being used in protein laboratories because the instrumentation is relatively cheap and simple to operate and because, taking advantage of a nitrocellulose matrix, it is compatible with most procedures in protein chemistry. Molecular mass information can be obtained with an accuracy of 0.1 % or better. Structural information can be gained by application of successive biochemical or chemical procedures to the sample. However, the presence of most detergents, especially sodium dodecyl sulfate, is devastating for PDMS of peptides. If detergents cannot be avoided, octyl glycoside has been found to be acceptable.