[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Since the early days of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), the definition of a unified theory on the MALDI process is a major challenge. The new results presented in this paper clearly show that the idea of a uniform MALDI mechanism that accounts for the spreading applications has to be given up. Based on different preparation protocols distinct differences in the desorption/ionization process for carbohydrates in contrast to peptides/proteins are elucidated. Although isolated/incorporated and cluster-desorbed peptides/proteins are effectively entrained and cooled within the expanding plume of matrix clusters, as shown by a low degree of metastable analyte-ion fragmentation, a laser desorption and gas-phase cationization mechanism can be confirmed as the dominant part in ionization for neutral oligosaccharides which can be initiated even for particulate analyte material or deposits onto a matrix surface. The previously presented “lucky survivor-model” on cluster desorption of preformed ions thus needs this extension.
International Journal of Mass Spectrometry.
