Introduction

Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge

ratio of charged particles. It is used for determining masses of particles, for determining the
elemental composition of a sample or molecule. The MS principle consists of ionizing chemical
compounds to generate charged molecules or molecule fragments and measurement of their
mass-to-charge ratios by using the one of a variety of techniques (e.g EI/CI/ESI/APCI/MALDI).

Next, Mass Spectrometry is a powerful technique for identifying unknowns, studying

molecular structure, and probing the fundamental principles of chemistry. Applications of mass
spectrometry include identifying and quantitating pesticides in water samples, it identifying
steroids in athletes, determining metals at ppq (Part s Per Quadrillion) levels in water samples
carbon-14 dating the Shroud of Turin using only 40 mg of sample (1), looking for life on Mars,
determining the mass of an Si atom with an accuracy of 70 ppt(2), and studying the effect of
molecular collision angle on reaction mechanisms.

Mass spectrometry is essentially a technique for "weighing" molecules. Obviously, this is

not done with a conventional balance or scale. Instead, mass spectrometry is based up on the
motion of a charged particle, called an ion, in an electric or magnetic field. The mass to charge
ratio (m/z) of the ion effects this motion. Since the charge of an electron is known, the mass to
charge ratio a measurement of an ion's mass. Typical mass spectrometry research focuses on
the formation of gas phase ions, the chemistry of ions, and applications of mass spectrometry.
Mass spectrometer overview:

Extracted from: http://www.intechopen.com/source/html/45088/media/image4_w.jpg

 The pattern of ions obtained and their abundance is characteristic of the structure of a
particular molecule. The x-axis of a mass spectrum represents the masses of ions produce
(m/z). The y-axis represents the relative abundance of each ion produced.

Source: https://www.chemguide.co.uk/analysis/masspec/elements.html
Applications
Mass spectrometry represents a powerful technique with a myriad of different
applications in biology, chemistry, and physics, but also in clinical medicine and even space
exploration. It is used to determine the molecular weight of compounds by separating
molecular ions on the basis of their mass and charge. Various types of mass spectrometry with
high specificity (coupled with gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and matrix-assisted
laser desorption / ionization) are being increasingly utilized as tools in the clinical laboratory,
but also in different research settings.

Mass spectrometry has emerged as an indispensable method for the characterization

and sequencing of different proteins. The development of two soft ionization techniques
capable of ionizing proteins – electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser
desorption/ionization – revolutionized protein analysis via mass spectrometry. Two basic
approaches are employed in characterizing proteins: “top-down” strategy where intact proteins
are ionized by aforementioned soft ionization techniques and then introduced to a mass
analyzer, and a second approach where proteins are first enzymatically digested into smaller
peptides (by using proteases and other proteolytic agents) and then introduced to the mass
analyzer. Mass spectrometry has gained popularity for protein analysis due to its ability to
tackle the intricacies underlying the proteome. The three fundamental applications of the
technique in proteomics are determining protein interactions, categorizing protein expression,
and locating sites of protein modification.

Mass spectrometry was used for respiratory gas analysis in hospitals since 1975 as part
of a complex system, consisting of respired gas samples from patients undergoing anesthesia.
Nevertheless, serious misinterpretations may ensue if certain weaknesses of the method are
not appreciated. Mass spectrometry can also be used for genomics studies with potential
implications for clinical medicine. Among the several potential uses of this method, applications
are usually concentrated on the characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms and short
tandem repeats.With the use of metabolomics, mass spectrometry has shown promise in
diabetes research as well, as it can discern specific serum profile changes of different
metabolites from healthy persons and diabetes mellitus type 2. Furthermore, it has greatly
expanded in an area of newborn screening, resulting in a portfolio of multiplexing assays for
amino acids, organic acids, fatty acid oxidation, and other congenital errors of metabolism.

There are also space-related applications of mass spectrometry, two important ones
being observing air quality of manned space mission and examining the composition of
planetary atmospheres. The success of its use in planetary missions can be attributed to space
vacuum that can be used to decrease resource demands. Due to its speed and sensitivity, mass
spectrometry has also played a pivotal role in many phases of drug discovery. Drug reaction
optimization, structural analysis of library products, and the evaluation of library compound
quality are just few examples of how this technique can be employed. Mass spectrometry is
also becoming increasingly used in geologic research for petroleum composition measurement
and carbon dating. The technique can also be used to test water quality or potential food
contamination. In short, mass spectrometry is becoming very prominent in all sorts of clinical
and other research endeavors. Thus a basic grasp of the technology is necessary to understand
all the possible productive interactions.