Mass Spectrometry

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perfume and purple flowers

In this study, the experimental nontargeted screening approach and corresponding data analysis workflows—simultaneously using molecular ion information and structural information—are presented for the molecular identification and authenticity verification process from a brand perfume using GC–ecTOF-MS.

Top-down mass spectrometry (TD-MS) of peptides and proteins results in product ions that can be correlated to the polypeptide sequence. Joseph Loo and colleagues at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed ClipMS, an algorithm assigning both terminal and internal fragments generated by TD-MS fragmentation, which can be used to locate various modifications on the protein sequence.

Using a mass spectrometer as a gas chromatography (GC) detector has many advantages for compound identification and quantification, but there is another less-known benefit: speeding up analyses by using the mass spectrometry (MS) vacuum to lower pressure within the column. This technique, also known as “vacuum‑outlet GC” or “low-pressure GC–MS” (LPGC–MS), can provide significant gains for fast GC–MS.

Measuring volatile phenols in wine is essential in ensuring superior wine quality. A new analytical technique, called solid-phase mesh-enhanced sorption from headspace (SPMESH), was modified with direct immersion (DI) conditions and coupled to direct analysis in real time–mass spectrometry (DART–MS) to be used to detect smoke taint in winemaking.

Glen Jackson, Professor of Forensic and Investigative Science at West Virginia University, presented an "Expert Algorithm for Substance Identification (EASI): A New Paradigm for Mass Spectral Identifications" at SciX 2021, where it earned the FACSS Innovations Award. These awards are given for the most innovative and outstanding new research advancements debuted orally at the SciX Conference. Jackson spoke to Current Trends in Mass Spectrometry about his presentation.