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Mass Spectrometry definitions

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  • Mass Spectrometry
    Technique for analyzing molecules by ionizing, separating, and detecting fragments based on their mass-to-charge ratios.
  • Mass-to-Charge Ratio
    Unique value used to identify molecular fragments, calculated as mass divided by charge, often equal to the mass for singly charged ions.
  • Ionization
    Process where molecules are converted into ions, often in a vacuum, using electrons or noble gases, resulting in fragmentation.
  • Fragmentation
    Breakdown of molecules into smaller pieces, typically at peptide bonds, during ionization in mass spectrometry.
  • Peptide
    Short chain of amino acids, often analyzed in mass spectrometry to determine structure and composition.
  • Electric Field
    Region used in mass spectrometry to deflect ionized fragments according to their mass-to-charge ratios.
  • Magnetic Field
    Area within a mass spectrometer that alters the path of ionized fragments based on their mass-to-charge ratios.
  • Detector
    Component that measures abundance and mass-to-charge ratios of ionized fragments, producing data for analysis.
  • Mass Spectrum
    Graphical output showing peaks for different fragments, with relative abundance on the y-axis and mass-to-charge ratio on the x-axis.
  • Relative Abundance
    Measurement of the quantity of each ionized fragment detected, represented as peak height in a mass spectrum.
  • Purified Peptide
    Sample prepared for mass spectrometry, free from contaminants, allowing accurate ionization and analysis.
  • Peptide Bond
    Chemical linkage between amino acids, commonly broken during fragmentation in mass spectrometry.
  • Mass Filter
    Device within a mass spectrometer that selects ionized fragments based on their mass-to-charge ratios for detection.
  • Gas Ion
    Fragmented molecule in a gaseous, charged state, produced during ionization for analysis in mass spectrometry.
  • Peak
    Feature in a mass spectrum representing a specific ionized fragment, indicating its abundance and mass-to-charge ratio.