On the use of laser microprobe mass spectrometry for the analysis of organic biomolecules.

Laser microprobe mass spectrometry has been applied to a variety of organic polyfunctional molecules, covering a wide range of polarity and mass spectrometric behaviour. The technique apparently combines desorption under relatively soft conditions with extensive fragmentation and hence allows much structural information from intactly released thermolabiles to be obtained. The mass spectra appear unfamiliar in comparison to conventional techniques. Interpretation is attempted in a purely empirical way by means of the evidence from our database and tentative hypotheses to rationalize the desorption and ionization by laser microbeam irradiation of organic solids. Selected examples are presented to illustrate the potential and limitations of the method in the field of biomolecules, such as pyridoxine and pyridoxal phosphate, nucleosides, nucleotides and related analogues, drugs and the corresponding N-oxides.