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Radical Mass Spectrometry for Bio-Analysis
Our research program aims broadly at developing new mass spectrometry (MS) methods and instrumentation for bio-analysis. Current efforts focus on utilizing radical and photochemical reactions in solution or in vacuo to enhance structural characterization of biomolecules by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). We have designed a new photo-initiating system enabling rapid (in 5s) and controllable disulfide alkylation, with demonstrated applications in the bottom-up analysis of antibody–drug conjugates. Our group pioneered the coupling of the Paternò–Büchi reaction with MS/MS for the identification and quantitation of C=C location isomers across a broad range of lipid classes. We have also developed radical-induced dissociation MS/MS methods for characterizing sn-position, methyl-branching, and -OH position in complex lipids. These MS/MS methods have been integrated into robust workflows for lipidome-wide isomer analysis. We are leveraging these new structural lipidomic tools to identify atypical lipid structures, uncover lipid functions, and provide new insights into lipid metabolism associated with health and disease.