ABSTRACT
LC–MS only plays a modest role in the analysis and characterization of oligonucleotides and related compounds. Unlike in proteomics, the role of LC–MS in DNA sequencing is not very significant. While in the mid 1990s some researchers expected a significant role of MS–MS in DNA sequencing in relation to the Human Genome Project, this expectation was not made true, because DNA sequencers rather than mass spectrometers were applied. Nevertheless, LC–MS is applied in the analysis and characterization of nucleic acids and related compounds in a variety of areas. Like with other biomolecules, two different MS approaches are applied in solving the analytical problems at hand, i.e., matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization (MALDI) or electrospray ionization (ESI). The focus in this discussion is on ESI-MS and LC–MS technology development rather than on the results achieved.
