Electrospray ionization: “We taught elephants to fly”

Maher, Rosemary ORCID: 0000-0002-2137-6619 and Emmott, Edward ORCID: 0000-0002-3239-8178 (2022) Electrospray ionization: “We taught elephants to fly” The Biochemist, 44 (5). pp. 5-8. ISSN 0954-982X, 1740-1194

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Abstract

Electrospray ionization (ESI), for which John Fenn was awarded a share of the 2002 Nobel Prize in chemistry, has revolutionized the use of mass spectrometry for biological and clinical applications. Developed in the late 1980s, building on the pioneering experiments by Malcom Dole’s lab, John Fenn et al. demonstrated the use of ESI for the ‘soft ionization’ of biologically important ‘molecular elephants’, allowing high molecular weight biopolymers (i.e., proteins) to be analysed by mass spectrometry. Here we describe the principles and mechanisms of ESI. Using the field of proteomics, we provide illustrations of how ESI has underpinned discoveries in this field for decades and is enabling emerging methods even today.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	3101 Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 31 Biological Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2023 16:02
Last Modified:	23 May 2026 06:55
DOI:	10.1042/bio_2022_127
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1042/bio_2022_127
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3168171
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