MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is well suited for the analysis of biomolecules in pure form or in complex mixtures, with a good level of tolerance towards usual buffer components.
We routinely analyze whole proteins (including membrane proteins and glycoproteins), peptides, glyco- and phosphopeptides, oligonucleotides, glycans, polymers and small organic molecules. An accurate mass (monoisotopic mass, corresponding to the theoretical exact mass) can be provided for molecules below 4000 Da.
Analyses can be performed with the aim to:
check the quality of a preparation from organic synthesis, protein engineering, or purification
identify post-translational modifications as well as modifications resulting from a chemical reaction
perform peptide mapping by analyzing peptides mixtures obtained by proteolysis of a fairly pure protein
observe a protein in a covalent complex with a ligand