1 Gas-Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Publisher Summary Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combines a versatile method for the separation of mixtures of organic compounds with one of the most sensitive and generally effective techniques for their detection and structural characterization. These capabilities are potentially of value in several fields and particularly in the biological sciences where there has been a rapid growth of interest in the applications of the technique. This chapter considers some of these applications as they relate to biochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology with the intention of demonstrating the present scope of the methods in these areas. The chapter describes the principles of mass spectrometry and GC-MS and emphasis has been placed on developments concerned with the role of computers in data analysis, selected ion monitoring methods, the use of stable isotopes, and alternative ionization processes.