From eye lens crystallins to polylactide star polymers: Multidisciplinary applications of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

CHED 315

Courtney J. Prince, Diana L. Wagner, and Rebecca W. Corbin, rcorbin@ashland.edu. Department of Chemistry, Ashland University, 401 College Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) is one of the most versatile methods for the characterization of biological as well as synthetic polymer samples. This presentation will focus on the role that MALDI-TOF MS serves in collaborative research projects at Ashland University. Details of sample preparation, matrix selection, optimization of instrumental parameters, and data analysis strategies have been investigated for projects involving proteomics as well as polymer synthesis. The proteomics work involves MALDI-TOF MS analysis of recombinant and purified eye lens crystallins. Results reveal the identity of specific crystallin sequences and structural modifications. Furthermore, acquisition of mass spectra from polylactide star polymers provides information that is complementary to chromatographic-based molecular weight measurements.