Oligonucleotide analysis by MALDI-MS

Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) has been successfully used for oligonucleotide analysis. Delayed extraction is shown to dramatically improve the overall quality of mass spectra. Described applications include oligonucleotide sequence confirmation, determination of the extent of synthetic DNA failure sequences, characterization of the oxidation of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides, and use of MALDI-TOF for DNA sequencing by the Sanger dideoxy temination reaction.