General overview of the studies with MALDI-TOF

In the 1980s, the discovery of a variety of soft ionization techniques provided the technical basis for the first time mass spectrometric detection and analysis of free, chemically polar, variable biopolymers and their degradation products. In recent years, Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has become a well-liked and multifaceted method to perform analyses of macromolecules which is the biological origin. This review provides a general overview of the areas of use of MALDI-TOF MS for biotechnological researches. MALDI-TOF MS is a way that supplies well-directed, affordable, and speedy identification of fungi, viruses, bacteria in clinical microbiological laboratories. Newly, this method has been successfully applied to DNA sequencing (genotyping) as well as mutation screening. Also, this way has the potential to become a conventional method for high throughput genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), both for biotechnology laboratories and for clinical applications. When it is compared with conventional and molecular identification methods, it makes a major contribution to minimizing the mortality rate and hospitalization period of the patients. It is more effective on per sample costs and elapsed time on working.