Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization of oligonucleotides with various matrices.

Ferulic acid, 3-hydroxypicolinic acid (3-HPA), and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB) were used as matrices in MALDI of various oligonucleotides. It was found that 2,5-DHB is an excellent matrix for polydeoxyribothymidylic acid. A poly-T oligonucleotide with a size of 130 bases was successfully detected. 3-HPA was found to be a good matrix for MALDI of homo-oligomeric deoxynucleotides as well as those containing four different bases. Parent ions of pd(A)60, d(T)100, d(G)40, and d(C)40 were observed, and a mixed-base oligonucleotide of 150-mer was also detected. Polymer ions of poly-A as large as 420-mer were measured; however, the efficiency for detecting poly-T with 3-HPA as a matrix was slightly worse than when 2,5-DHB was used. Comparisons of three matrices for various oligonucleotides is also presented.