What is Tandem MS?
Tandem MS or MS/MS is used for structure determination of molecular ions or fragments. In Tandem MS, the ion of interest is selected with the first analyzer (MS-1), collided with inert gas atoms in a collision cell, and the fragments generated by the collision are separated by a second analyzer (MS-2). In Q-TOF and Ion Trap experiments, the experiments are carried out in one analyzer, and the various events are separated in time, not in space. The information can be used to sequence peptides and small DNA/RNA oligomers, to determine structure and connectivity of polysaccharides, to determine the position of post-translational modifications, and to carry out other structure determinations.
