Liquid Infrared Atmospheric Pressure Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry of Sialylated Carbohydrates

A 2.94-(mu)m Er:YAG laser for IR atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization on an ion trap mass spectrometer is used for the analysis of sialylated oligosaccharides. This approach provided the opportunity to utilize liquid matrixes and is effective in determining structural features-sequence, branching, and linkage-of intact, fully sialylated molecular species.