Intensity dependence of cation kinetic energies from 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid near the infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization threshold

• Published in: Journal of mass spectrometry. 2001-05, Vol.36 (5), p.538-545
• Main Authors: Ermer, D. R., Baltz-Knorr, M., Haglund Jr, R. F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aminoacids, peptides. Hormones. Neuropeptides; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Angiotensin II - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Cations; charge transfer; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gentisates; Hydroxybenzoates - chemistry; infrared; Infrared Rays; ionization; Kinetics; Mass spectrometry; matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization; Organic chemistry; Proteins; quadrupole; Reactivity and mechanisms; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
• ISSN: 1076-5174; 1096-9888
• DOI: 10.1002/jms.155

The mechanisms responsible for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) are far from being well understood, particularly where infrared laser irradiation is used to initiate the process. We measured the emission yields and kinetic energy distributions of positive ions emitted from 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid loaded with angiotensin II in a standard MALDI preparation during irradiation with an infrared free‐electron laser tuned to 2.94 µm. As the laser intensity is scanned through the MALDI threshold, we see a marked change in the energy distributions of the matrix ion. Above threshold, the energy distributions of both analyte and matrix cations are constant over a broad range of laser intensities. This behavior does not appear to be consistent with any extant model of the MALDI mechanism. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.