Electrospray and tandem mass spectrometry in biochemistry

Over the last 20 years, biological MS has changed out of all recognition. T his is primarily due to the development in the 1980s of 'soft ionization' m ethods that permit the ionization and vaporization of large, polar, and the rmally labile biomolecules. These developments in ionization mode have driv en the design and manufacture of smaller and cheaper mass analysers, making the mass spectrometer a routine instrument in the biochemistry laboratory today. In the present review the revolutionary 'soft ionization' methods wi ll be discussed with particular reference to electrospray. The mass analysi s of ions will be described. and the concept of tandem MS introduced. Where appropriate, examples of the application of MS in biochemistry will be pro vided. Although the present review will concentrate on the MS of peptides/p roteins and lipids, all classes of biomolecules can be analysed, and much e xcellent work has been done in the fields of carbohydrate and nucleic acid biochemistry.