Mass spectrometry of natural products: current, emerging and future technologies

Abstract

Although mass spectrometry is a century old technology, we are entering into an exciting time for the analysis of molecular information directly from complex biological systems. In this Highlight, we feature emerging mass spectrometric methods and tools used by the natural product community and give a perspective of future directions where the mass spectrometry field is migrating towards over the next decade.

Figure 1

Two representative atmospheric ionization sources. a) DESI and b) DART ionization methods.

Figure 2

Molecular networking of MS/MS spectra of tetracycline antibiotics: Doxycycline (m/z 445), Methacycline (m/z 443), Minocycline (m/z 458) and Oxytetracycline (m/z 461).