Question

How can the product of our chemical modification be characterized by mass spectrometry? If you compare the spectra obtained from non-modified and modified proteins, what information would you get?

Answer 1

Mass spectrometry is a useful methodology used for identification ,sorting ,structural elucidation and analysis of compounds.The compounds are studied by,ionizing them and fractionating them based on their mass by charge (m/z) ratio).and subjected in an electromagnetic field ,where similar ions undergoes same deflection.

The chemical species of ionization of a protein /compound varies from that of a non-modified one.So,the mass spectra will show chemical species of varying m/z ratio.Those species can be characterized by comparing the m/z ratio with that from the database.

Once the species composing a protein are identified ,its structural elucidation can be done and identified.For proteins with post translational modifications the fragments/chemical species of ionization have different m/z ratio,due to different sequencing of amino acids