An Introduction to Mass Spectrometry

Dr Alison E. Ashcroft, Mass Spectrometry Facility Manager,
Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, Astbury Building , The University of Leeds.


     1. What is mass spectrometry (MS)? What Information does mass spectrometry provide?

     2.  Where are mass spectrometers used?

     3.  How can mass spectrometry help biochemists?

     4.  How does a mass spectrometer work?

              1. Introduction

              2. Sample introduction

              3. Methods of sample ionisation

              4. Analysis and separation of sample ions

              5. Detection and recording of sample ions

     5.  Electrospray ionisation

              1. Electrospray ionisation

              2. Nanospray ionisation

              3. Data processing

     6.  Matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation

     7.  Positive or negative ionisation?

     8.  Tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS): Structural and sequence information from mass spectrometry

              1. Tandem mass spectrometry

              2. Tandem mass spectrometry analyses

              3. Peptide sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry

              4. Oligonucleotide sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry

     9.  Background reading