Laser-assisted dissociation: structural analysis of biomolecules

Mass spectrometry is an extremely important analytic technique for the identification of molecules, via the measurement of the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of the ionized species or of its fragments. The coupling with a laser has brought a new dimension to mass spectrometry. Indeed, due to the control of the ion excitation via the energy of the light used, the nature and position of the chromophores, the temporal duration of the light pulse and its power, this excitation technique opens the way towards the control of ion fragmentation, a selective fragmentation of a given isomer, the measurement of the optical absorption spectrum of isolated ions, etc. Thus, beyond the structural analysis, the coupling of optical spectrometry and mass spectrometry allows for the conformational and dynamic study of biomolecules that are isolated or in a controlled environment.