Optimization in Detecting Multiply-charged Protein Ions using MALDI TOF-MS

The effects of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) were evaluated on the generation of multiply charged ions of cytochrome c in a 2-nitrophloroglucinol (2-NPG) matrix in high-vacuum, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The presence of 1% TFA in the 2-NPG matrix solution was more effective in generating multiply charged protein ions than matrix solutions containing 0.1% or 0% TFA. Regarding the matrix itself, with 1% TFA, 2-NPG was significantly more effective in generating multiply charged ions than 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB). The maximum charge state of cytochrome c was +8 when using a 2-NPG matrix containing 1% TFA.