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Nobel
Achievement
John Fenn and
Koichi Tanaka have received the Nobel
Prize in Chemistry. Together with Kurt
Wuthrich from Switzerland, the scientists
shared the 2002 prize for their
contributions to the characterization of
biological macromolecules using mass
spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy (NMR).
Fenn and co-workers first published the
successful ionization of large synthetic
polymers (PEGs), and subsequently
proteins, using the electrospray
ionization (ESI) technique in the late
1980's while working at Yale University in
the United States. An important feature of
this technique was the transfer of
analytes directly from solution to the gas
phase with high charge states. The
multiple-charging phenomenon enables large
macromolecules to be detected in mass
spectrometers of modest mass-to-charge
ratio range. The solution-based ionization
method, like earlier Thermospray and other
liquid inlet sources, enables molecules to
be introduced directly into a mass
spectrometer from chromatographic and
electrophoretic separation systems.
Fenns work built on that of Malcolm Dole
from Northwestern University in the late
1960's who constructed and early
predecessor of the ESI ion source. Fenn
added a counter-current dry gas to assist
with the drying of the electrosprayed
droplets that greatly assisted in the
formation and detection of ions.
Dr. Tanaka from Shimadzu published work on
the development of matrix-assisted laser
desorption ionization using a finely
divided metal powder in a liquid matrix.
This work was performed concurrently with
that of Franz Hillenkamp and Michael Karas
who employed an organic matrix on a solid
surface more commonly used today.
Fenn and Tanaka join a small group of
scientists who have received a Nobel Prize
for mass spectrometry (see the
i-mass
guides).
To visit the official award page of the
Nobel web site - click
here
i-mass.com congratulates the scientists on
this well-deserved Nobel
achievement!
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