New Publication in Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry highlights a new research opportunity
Cajetan Neubauer*, Kristýna Kantnerová, Alexis Lamothe, Joel Savarino, Andreas Hilkert, Dieter Juchelka, Kai-Uwe Hinrichs, Marcus Elvert, Verena Heuer, Martin Elsner, Rani Bakkour, Maxime Julien, Merve Öztoprak, Stefan Schouten, Shohei Hattori, and Thorsten Dittmar
Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (2023)
Abstract
For a generation or more, the mass spectrometry that developed at the frontier of molecular biology was worlds apart from isotope ratio mass spectrometry, a label-free approach done on optimized gas-source magnetic sector instruments. Recent studies show that electrospray-ionization Orbitraps and other mass spectrometers widely used in the life sciences can be fine-tuned for high-precision isotope ratio analysis. Since isotope patterns form everywhere in nature based on well-understood principles, intramolecular isotope measurements allow unique insights into a fascinating range of research topics. This Perspective introduces a wider readership to current topics in stable isotope research with the aim of discussing how soft-ionization mass spectrometry coupled with ultrahigh mass resolution can enable long-envisioned progress. We highlight novel prospects of observing isotopes in intact polar compounds and speculate on future directions of this adventure into the overlapping realms of biology, chemistry, and geology.