THE STUDY OF 2,3,4-TRIHYDROXYACETOPHENONE AND 2,4,6-TRIHYDROXYACETOPHENONE AS MATRICES FOR DNA DETECTION IN MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER-DESORPTION IONIZATION TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS-SPECTROMETRY

The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometric study of DNA detection using 2,3,4-trihydroxyaceto phenone, 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone, and their combination has been carried out systematically, The results show that a mixture of 2,4,6-t rihydroxyacetophenone, 2,3,4-trihydroxyacetophenone and ammonium citra te with molar ratios of 2:1:1 serves as a good matrix for the detectio n of DNA, especially for samples containing a small quantity of DNA su ch as polymerase chain reaction product. The resolution and shot-to-sh ot reproducibility using this matrix are better than, and the MALDI se nsitivity comparable to, that obtained when using 3-hydroxy picotinic acid (3-HPA), PA and ammonium citrate matrix (9:1:1), The mechanism of desorption/ionization using this matrix is discussed.