Spectrometry Biological Applications

In line with the policy of Advances to provide periodic coverage of major developments in physical methodology for the study of carbohydrates, A. Dell (London) here surveys the use of fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry in application to carbohydrates. This technique has achieved rapid prominence as the soft ionization technique of choice for structural investigation of complex carbohydrate sequences in biological samples. The author s extensive personal involvement in this field makes her chapter a critical, state-of-the-art overview for the specialist, as well as a valuable primer for the reader unfamiliar with this technique. 

In Table I are listed comprehensive citations of published methods for analyses of trace metals In body fluids and other clinical specimens by means of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Readers are cautioned that many of the early methods that are cited In Table I have become outmoded, owing to Improvements In Instrumentation for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. All of the published methods need to be critically evaluated In the prospective analyst s laboratory before they can be confidently employed for diagnostic measurements of trace metals In body fluids. Despite these caveats, the author believes that Table I should be helpful as a guide to the growing literature on clinical and biological applications of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. 

Robinson, B.H. (1974). In Chemical and Biological Applications of Relaxation Spectrometry, Wyn-Jones, E. (ed.), D. Reidel Publishing Co., Boston... 

R.B. Cole, Electrospray and MALDI Mass Spectrometry Fundamentals, Instrumentation, Practicalities and Biological Applications, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, 2010. 

This section provides a brief guide to biological applications of stable isotopes and to isotopic abundance measurement using mass spectrometry. 

Bianchin, B., Chrisment, J., Delpuech, J. J., Deschamps, M. N., Nicole, D. and Serratrice, G. (1975). In Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute Chemical and Biological Applications of Relaxation Spectrometry (E. Wyn-Jones, ed.) p. 365. D. Reidel Publishing, Dordrecht, Holland... 

Cuzman, N.A. Stubbs, R.J. The Use of Selective Adsorbents in Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry for Analyte Preconcentration and Microreactions A Powerful Three-dimensional Tool for Multiple Chemical and Biological Applications, Electrophoresis 22, 3602-3628 (2001). 

Generally, the source must be more intense than that required for UV-Vis absorption spectrometry as the magnitude of the emitted radiation is directly proportional to the power of the source. Hence, lasers are sometimes used as excitation sources, resulting in the technique of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), which is often used in biological applications and allows some of the lowest detection limits possible, e.g. 10 M. 

Ekstrom, S., Nilsson, J., Helldin, G, Laurell, T., and Marko-Varga, G, Disposable polymeric high-density nanovial arrays for matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry II. Biological applications. Electrophoresis, 22, 3984—3992, 2001. 

BAG Aniansson, SN Wall. In B Wyn-Jones, ed Chemical and Biological Applications of Relaxation Spectrometry. Dordrecht Reidel, 1975, p 223. 

See also Chemiluminescence Overview. Chromatography Principles. Clinical Analysis Overview. Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy Biological Applications. Fluorescence Overview. Ion-Selective Electrodes Overview. Mass Spectrometry Overview. Microscopy Overview. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Overview. Ozone. Radiochemical Methods Overview. Sensors Overview. Spectrophotometry Overview. 

Van Berkel, GJ., Kertesz, V. (2010) Electrochemistry of the Electrospray Ion Source. In Cole, R.B. (ed.) Electrospray and MALDI Mass Spectrometry Fundamentals, Instramentation, Practicalities, and Biological Applications, 2nd Edition. John Wiley Sons, Inc., Hoboken. 

Smith, R.D. (2000) Evolution of ESI-Mass Spectrometry and Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance for Proteomics and Other Biological Applications. Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 200 509-544. 

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