Analytical Methods
Mass Spectrometry
Definition
Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions to identify and characterize molecules. In peptide research, MS serves as the definitive identity test — confirming that a peptide has the correct molecular weight and amino acid composition. Common MS techniques for peptides include ESI-MS (Electrospray Ionization), MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight), and LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry). When paired with HPLC, MS provides both purity and identity confirmation.