Effect of matrix crystal structure on ion abundance of carbohydrates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Sample preparation techniques for carbohydrate analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) are explored, with particular emphasis on analyte/matrix co-crystallization procedures. While carbohydrates are known to prefer 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB) as the matrix of choice, these analytes are quite specific about matrix crystal structure, which in turn is dependent on the rate of drying of analyte/matrix spots on the MALDI target. With N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid or NeuAc) as test monosaccharides, significant increases in ion abundances are demonstrated with 2,5-DHB/NeuAc spots (> 10-fold improvement) and 2,5-DHB/GlcNAc spots (similar to 5-fold improvement) with active drying. The fine structure of crystals generated in active and passive drying was investigated using powder diffraction. Passively dried samples were shown to consist of an ordered polymorph, crystallizing in the space group P2(1)/a, while the actively dried samples produced a disordered phase crystallizing in the space group Pa. These data provide the wherewithal to engineer a matrix best suited for carbohydrate analyses. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.