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changes in protein profiles in bortezomib applied multiple myeloma ...

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2.1.4.5. Mass Spectrometry<br />

Mass Spectrometry (MS) is an analytic technique for the determ<strong>in</strong>ation of the<br />

elemental composition of a molecule. Its pr<strong>in</strong>ciple basically depends on separat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

molecular ions accord<strong>in</strong>g to their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). The ma<strong>in</strong> purposes of MS<br />

studies are molecular mass determ<strong>in</strong>ation, structure characterization, quantification at<br />

trace levels, and mixture analysis.<br />

In 1897, cathode ray tube experiments carried out by Sir J.J. Thomson cause the<br />

ris<strong>in</strong>g a new field named MS (Thomson, 1897), but it came <strong>in</strong>to prom<strong>in</strong>ence with the<br />

exploration of soft ionization techniques. Electrospray ionization (ESI) was <strong>in</strong>troduced<br />

by Fenn and his co-workers (Fenn et al., 1989) and matrix-assisted laser<br />

desorption/ionization (MALDI) was put <strong>in</strong>to the service of science by Karas and<br />

Hillenkamp (Karas and Hillenkamp, 1988). MS currently plays a key role <strong>in</strong> the<br />

identification of prote<strong>in</strong>s. High sensitivity (low attomole levels), rapidity, versatility,<br />

and the accuracy of the method <strong>in</strong> the field of biological science enable MS the most<br />

attractive properties of MS most comprehensive and used analytical technique.<br />

Mass spectrometer is fundamentally composed of three essential parts, namely<br />

the ionization source, the mass analyzer, and the detector (Figure 2.6).<br />

Figure 2.6. Basic Components of a Mass Spectrometer, Premier Biosoft.<br />

The ionization source is the first component of the MS. In MS analysis, the first<br />

vital step is to turn the analyte which is neutral <strong>in</strong>to gas phase ionic species to be able to<br />

check their motion. If the energies higher than ionization energies, fragmentation<br />

happens. Next, ions are accelerated towards a mass analyzer, which is the second<br />

component of the MS, through a voltage difference. Then, the charged fragments of the<br />

molecular ions are separated accord<strong>in</strong>g to their m/z ratio. The last component of MS is<br />

the detector (photomultiplier, micro-channel plate, electron multiplier) which detects the<br />

37

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