Identification of denatured double-stranded DNA by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 1995;9(6):537-40. doi: 10.1002/rcm.1290090613.

Abstract

We created double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) by annealing synthetic oligonucleotides and used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to measure the difference in molecular weight of the complementary strands after denaturation. Refined sample preparation and deliberate rectilinear construction at a linear mass spectrometer produced a mass resolution exceeding 1000 for single-stranded DNA. We present methodologies and demonstrate the potential for analysing dsDNA by determining the mass of the complementary strands.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / analysis*
  • Lasers
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nucleic Acid Denaturation*
  • Oligonucleotides / analysis

Substances

  • Oligonucleotides
  • DNA