Effect of Cationization Agent Concentration on Glycan Detection Using MALDI TOF-MS

The effect of cationization agent concentration on glycan detection via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-offlight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was investigated using Na+ ions in the form of NaCl as the cationization agent. NaCl solution concentrations ranging from 1 mM to 1 M were investigated. Glycans from ovalbumin were mixed with the cationization agent solution and the 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB) matrix solution in a volume ratio of 1:1:1. The resulting mixture was loaded onto the MALDI plate. Two MALDI-TOF MS instruments (Voyager DE-STR MALDI-TOF MS and Tinkerbell RT MALDITOF MS) were used for detection of glycans. The best detection, in terms of the number of identified glycans, the peak intensity, and the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, was obtained with NaCl concentrations of 0.01-0.1 M for both MALDI-TOF MS instruments.