Applications of mass spectrometry to DNA sequencing.

The ability of the mass spectrometer to analyze collectively the masses of DNA fragments that are produced in the Sanger procedure for sequencing may allow the gel electrophoresis step to be eliminated. On the other hand, if gel electrophoresis is required, the use of resonance ionization spectroscopy coupled to a mass spectrometer may enable much faster analysis of DNA bands labeled with stable isotopes. Other combinations of labeling of the DNA and its mass spectrometric analysis with or without gel electrophoresis are also considered. Recent advances in these areas of mass spectrometry are reviewed.