How to learn Mass spec

[dolphin]

Hi,

I have studied the theory of mass spec instruments.I would like to have a hands on experience on Mass spec and GC instruments. Could anyone suggest me the possible ways to learn? Thank you for responding

[danfive]

Mass spec is very easy. The learning part is the troubleshooting, data analysis, and statistical analysis. Sample Prep and Experimental Design are the most important things. The most important thing to know is how to set up an experiment for the Mass Spec, so results are relevant. Mass spec results are not usually validated by a distant independent lab, so you usually want to verify any interesting finds with cross validations studies like Immunohistochemistry, gene-expression...

[greeneye555]

As for hands-on experience, where do you currently work/go to school?

[ylu]

Hi, I think attending some MS research group will help. Working with MS instruments is the only way to get both, theory and hand-on practice/experience. Best of the luck.

[dolphin]

Thanks

[glbiochem]

the MS was not easy, I means the ESI-MS or Moldi-tof for peptide.
For easy sample, the data was very easy to judge.

But when you met some hydrophobic or strong acidic sample, the data become very strange. Our MS guys always judge wrong or showed small right peak.

Many of our correct sample wrong judged for this reason.

[danfive]

Originally Posted by glbiochem

the MS was not easy, I means the ESI-MS or Moldi-tof for peptide.
For easy sample, the data was very easy to judge.

But when you met some hydrophobic or strong acidic sample, the data become very strange. Our MS guys always judge wrong or showed small right peak.

Many of our correct sample wrong judged for this reason.

Interesting...Do you recall the make and model of your mass spec??
My only tip for MALDI is to use the best matrix CHCA available. For me that comes from Agilent Tech.

[glbiochem]

Shimadzu, LC-MS, from Japan.
We made around 20,000 peptide one year. Our MS guys need to make over 100 peptide (crude or pure)sample analysis per day. Because the peptide sequence diverse quite different, so their character were not the same. For some strong hydrophobic samples, they were really headache.

[dolphin]

Hi All,

Thank you for your suggestion. I think it is a lot easy when one starts working with it, but until then, it is confusing. Could any one suggest a bible book to follow and master the LC-MS instrument?, I have worked for couple months on LCQ, and found it interesting, so want to learn more.what are the ways to get a hands on experience?, I am not a student anymore.

[danfive]

Originally Posted by dolphin

Hi All,

Thank you for your suggestion. I think it is a lot easy when one starts working with it, but until then, it is confusing. Could any one suggest a bible book to follow and master the LC-MS instrument?, I have worked for couple months on LCQ, and found it interesting, so want to learn more.what are the ways to get a hands on experience?, I am not a student anymore.

Don't know of any books, here are the search results for LC-MS in cold spring harbor protocols ---> CSH Protocols -- Search Result
You can most likely get hands on experience at a Proteomics research lab.