| Mass spectrometry has become an invaluable tool to a wide range of biological, chemical, and physical research endeavors. It is routinely used in both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, as well as the environmental field and for homeland security applications. Electrospray and nanospray ionization, especially when mated to separations techniques, have become one of the indispensable techniques for biomolecular analysis. The use of both of these methods in the course of this research has resulted in the identification and verification of a reported glutathione thionitrate species. Supporting evidence for its existence was also obtained through the use of ESI/Nanospray mated to quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry. In addition, a suspected 'internal sulfonamide' species was investigated and tandem MS data were obtained which shed light into its structure.; The separation technique of gas chromatography was mated with electron impact ionization and mass spectrometry to identify VOC species from bacterial cultures. It is hoped that this will lay the groundwork for the use of this technique in identifying biomarkers of infection to help diagnose disease or provide a first step in the development of sensors designed to look for the identified species.; LC-MS was also used to investigate the nature of the species (PAHs, dioxins, etc) that are responsible for the bioassay response in a CALUX type bioassay. In general, the work in this dissertation illustrates the variety of applications where mass spectrometry may be brought to bear to help solve pressing problems. |
