Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of restriction enzyme-digested plasmid DNA using an active Nafion substrate.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization using a 3-hydroxypicolinic acid matrix from an active Nafion substrate has been used for detection of restriction enzyme-digested double-stranded plasmid DNA using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. DNA strands of up to 267 base pairs were detected with minimal sample purification, although only as species corresponding to single-stranded DNA.