Liquid extraction surface analysis mass spectrometry coupled with field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry for analysis of intact proteins from biological substrates

Previously we have shown that liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA) mass spectrometry is suitable for the analysis of intact proteins from a range of biological substrates. Here we show that LESA mass spectrometry may be coupled with high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) for top-down protein analysis directly from thin tissue sections (mouse liver, mouse brain) and from bacterial colonies (Escherichia coli) growing on agar. Incorporation of FAIMS results in significant improvements in signal-to-noise and reduced analysis time. Abundant protein signals are observed in single scan mass spectra. In addition, FAIMS enables gas-phase separation of molecular classes, for example, lipids and proteins, enabling improved analysis of both sets of species from a single LESA extraction.