Utilizing Mass Spectrometry for Teaching and for the Analysis of Carbohydrates
Faculty Mentor Name
Andreas H. Franz
Research or Creativity Area
Natural Sciences
Abstract
Purpose: The intention was to save electronic waste and convert a decommissioned mass spectrometer into a teaching prop in the lecture hall. In addition, a brand-new replacement mass spectrometer was used to characterize oligo- and polysaccharides.
Results: Here we report on a hands-on prop for demonstrative learning in the field of mass spectrometry (MS), specifically Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) Time-Of-Flight (TOF) MS. The converted instrument not only saved expensive waste from accumulating, but also allowed for the expansion of students' knowledge within subjects covered in lecture; thus, strengthening their expertise within their own field of study.1,2 We also present preliminary results from a brand-new MALDI-TOF instrument that we used for analyzing carbohydrates labeled with a small UV-active molecular tag (2-aminobenzamide 2-AB or 1-pyrenemethylamine 1-PMA)3 as well as a high-mass polysaccharide dextran 9400. Utilizing the new instrument, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides were tested to identify the masses and the structures of these complex molecules. Labeled sugars were detected by Ultra-Violet (UV) absorption during High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) separation. Especially the 1-PMA tag caused extensive fragmentation of the precursor ion of maltoheptaose at m/z 1154 during Post-Source Dissociation (PSD), which provided valuable structural information. The dextran sample was difficult to ionize because of strong intermolecular attractive forces reducing ionization efficiency for ions above m/z ~6000.
Significance:
First, mechanical waste is a common and expensive problem universities face when presented with a nonfunctional instrument. Transforming these decommissioned machines into instruments for education allows for an inexpensive solution that sustains the teaching mission.
Second, reliable methods for quantifying oligosaccharides via UV-absorption and their unambiguous structural characterization are essential for establishing where sugars are found in nature and, ultimately, how they function in nature.
- Connor, M. C. et al., J. Chem. Ed. 2022, 99 (9), 3143-3154, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00415.
- Overway, K., J. Chem. Educ. 2024, 101 (7), 2802-2805, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c01300.
- Franz, A. H. et al. Anal. Sci. 2025, 41 (3), 297-310, https://doi.org/10.1007/s44211-024-00700-w.
Utilizing Mass Spectrometry for Teaching and for the Analysis of Carbohydrates
Purpose: The intention was to save electronic waste and convert a decommissioned mass spectrometer into a teaching prop in the lecture hall. In addition, a brand-new replacement mass spectrometer was used to characterize oligo- and polysaccharides.
Results: Here we report on a hands-on prop for demonstrative learning in the field of mass spectrometry (MS), specifically Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) Time-Of-Flight (TOF) MS. The converted instrument not only saved expensive waste from accumulating, but also allowed for the expansion of students' knowledge within subjects covered in lecture; thus, strengthening their expertise within their own field of study.1,2 We also present preliminary results from a brand-new MALDI-TOF instrument that we used for analyzing carbohydrates labeled with a small UV-active molecular tag (2-aminobenzamide 2-AB or 1-pyrenemethylamine 1-PMA)3 as well as a high-mass polysaccharide dextran 9400. Utilizing the new instrument, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides were tested to identify the masses and the structures of these complex molecules. Labeled sugars were detected by Ultra-Violet (UV) absorption during High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) separation. Especially the 1-PMA tag caused extensive fragmentation of the precursor ion of maltoheptaose at m/z 1154 during Post-Source Dissociation (PSD), which provided valuable structural information. The dextran sample was difficult to ionize because of strong intermolecular attractive forces reducing ionization efficiency for ions above m/z ~6000.
Significance:
First, mechanical waste is a common and expensive problem universities face when presented with a nonfunctional instrument. Transforming these decommissioned machines into instruments for education allows for an inexpensive solution that sustains the teaching mission.
Second, reliable methods for quantifying oligosaccharides via UV-absorption and their unambiguous structural characterization are essential for establishing where sugars are found in nature and, ultimately, how they function in nature.
- Connor, M. C. et al., J. Chem. Ed. 2022, 99 (9), 3143-3154, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00415.
- Overway, K., J. Chem. Educ. 2024, 101 (7), 2802-2805, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c01300.
- Franz, A. H. et al. Anal. Sci. 2025, 41 (3), 297-310, https://doi.org/10.1007/s44211-024-00700-w.
