Part II: Development of Mass Spectrometry and Its Application in Biological Research

Types of Commonly U sed M ass S pectrometer s The subjects of biological research are generally complex macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, sugars, lipids, and various small molecules. The nature of various types of biomolecules also varies widely. Therefore, various types of mass spectrometers are used in biological research. The c ommon used ones for biological research include quadrupole mass spectromete r, t ime of f light m ass s pectrometer , ion trap mass spectrometer an d i on cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer . Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (TOF) The mass-to-charge ratio of ions determined by this type of mass spectrometer is derived by analyzing the time of flight of the ions in the vacuum flight tube. After continuous improvement, the TOF mass spectrometer has greatly improved in resolution and precision. The accuracy can reach PPM level after the post-correction procedure, and the detected ion mass range...