Development and Characterization of an Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Source Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Electrospray Ioni
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ABSTRACT SAMPSON, JASON SCOTT. Development and Characterization of an Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Source Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Electrospray Ionization Coupled to Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry for Analysis of Biological Macromolecules. (Under the direction of David Charles Muddiman). The field of mass spectrometry has grown tremendously over the past few decades due in large part to the continued application to new and interesting areas of exploration. The advent of soft ionization sources such as electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization has dramatically increased the applications of mass spectrometry; in particular, analysis of complex biological samples. Electrospray ionization has demonstrated the capability to generate multiply-charged ions which increases the amount of information garnered from each analysis. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization has demonstrated complex sample analysis requiring minimal sample preparation, which results in high throughput. As a result of these findings, there has been tremendous growth in the development of new ionization source technology in recent years for reducing sample preparation required prior to analysis for high throughput sample analysis and the generation of multiply-charged ions. Demonstrated herein is the development and characterization of an atmospheric pressure ionization source called matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (MALDESI). MALDESI is a hybrid combination of MALDI and ESI which utilizes laser desorption with electrospray postionization for the generation of multiply-charged ions. Multiply-charged ions are of particular importance when using Fourier transform mass spectrometry, due to the increase in resolving power and mass accuracy with increasing charge on the molecule. Positive identification of biological macromolecules is demonstrated utilizing top-down characterization of intact polypeptides as well as high mass accuracy utilizing internal calibration. A newly designed highly robust and versatile atmospheric pressure ionization platform is designed and developed for high precision analysis (i.e., imaging) and described in detail. Solid- and liquid state analysis of three out of the four classes of biological molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids) is demonstrated using the high precision versatile ionization platform. Ultraviolet and infrared MALDESI is demonstrated at various wavelengths (UV, 337 nm and 349 nm and IR, 2.94 µm and 10.6 µm) with and without ESI postionization for the generation of multiply-charged ions. The liquid-state MALDESI ionization process is characterized which may be described as laser desorption from a macroscopic electrospray droplet. MALDESI direct analysis with minimal or no sample preparation is demonstrated and applications for high throughput analysis of complex samples (i.e., glycans) are described. © Copyright 2009 by Jason Scott Sampson All Rights Reserved Development and Characterization of an Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Source Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Electrospray Ionization Coupled to Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry for Analysis of Biological Macromolecules by Jason Scott Sampson A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Chemistry Raleigh, North Carolina July 8, 2009 APPROVED BY: ______________________ ______________________ David C. Muddiman Edmond F. Bowden Professor, Chemistry Professor, Chemistry Committee Chair _______________________ _______________________ Kenneth W. Hanck Jorge A. Piedrahita Professor, Chemistry Professor, Molecular Biomedical Sciences DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my wife Starla and our son Jacob. Without your love and support this body of work would not have been possible. ii BIOGRAPHY Jason Scott Sampson was born in Greensboro, North Carolina to Ken and Carol Sampson. He is from a large close knit family with six brothers and three sisters with fourteen nieces and nephews (and counting). He continues to enjoy the great outdoors including kayaking, hiking, biking and riding motorcycles. Upon completion of his Bachelor of Science in chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro he and his family moved to Raleigh, NC where he attended graduate school at North Carolina State University to work on his PhD in Chemistry under the direction of Dr. David C. Muddiman. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................xi LIST OF PUBLICATIONS ........................................................................................ xiii ABSTRACTS FOR PRESENTATIONS .................................................................... xiii 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Ionization Sources ....................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization ................................... 1 1.1.2 Electrospray Ionization .................................................................... 3 1.1.3 Atmospheric Pressure Hybrid Ionization ......................................... 5 1.2 Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance ............................................. 9 1.2.1 FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry ............................................................ 9 1.2.2 Resolving Power ........................................................................... 10 1.2.3 Mass Measurement Accuracy ....................................................... 11 1.2.4 Limit of Detection .......................................................................... 13 1.3 Synopsis of Completed Research ............................................................ 14 1.4 References .............................................................................................. 19 2. Generation and Detection of Multiply-Charged Peptides and Proteins by Matrix- Assisted Laser Desorption Electrospray Ionization (MALDESI) Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry.................................................... 24 iv 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 24 2.2 Experimental ............................................................................................ 27 2.2.1 Materials ....................................................................................... 27 2.2.2 MALDESI FT-ICR Mass Spectrometer .......................................... 27 2.2.3 Control Experiments ...................................................................... 29 2.3 Results and Discussion ............................................................................ 30 2.3.1 MALDESI of Peptides and Proteins .............................................. 30 2.3.2 Evidence in Support of ESI Charging Mechanism in MALDESI .... 31 2.4 Conclusions ............................................................................................. 33 2.5 References .............................................................................................. 34 3. Direct Characterization of Intact Polypeptides by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry .......................................................................... 37 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 37 3.2 Experimental ............................................................................................ 39 3.2.1 Materials ....................................................................................... 39 3.2.2 MALDESI QFT-ICR Mass Spectrometer ....................................... 40 3.3 Results and Discussion ............................................................................ 42 3.3.1 High Mass Measurement Accuracy of Polypeptides using Internal Calibration ..................................................................................... 42 v 3.3.2 Direct Intact and Product Ion Analysis of Polypeptides by MALDESI-QFT-ICR-MS ................................................................ 44 3.3.3 Sensitivity Determination Using the MALDESI Source .................. 46 3.4 Conclusions ............................................................................................. 48 3.5 References .............................................................................................. 49 4. Construction of a Versatile High Precision Ambient Ionization Source for Direct Analysis and Imaging ......................................................................................... 52 4.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 52 4.2 Experimental ............................................................................................ 53 4.2.1 Materials ....................................................................................... 53 4.2.2 Profilometery Measurements ........................................................ 54 4.2.3 MALDESI-LTQ-FT Mass Spectrometry