Exploring Ion Mobility–Mass Spectrometry and CIU Data: An ASMS Interview with Brandon Ruotolo

Ruotolo talked with us at ASMS 2023 in Houston, Texas, where he discussed his recently published Analyst paper on ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM–MS), the reproducibility of collision-induced unfolding (CIU) data, and the impact his research can have on future biomolecular classification efforts.

Ruotolo is the Associate Chair for Research and a Professor of Chemistry at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In this interview, Ruotolo answers the following questions:

1. Would you explain in basic terms what the focus of your research was in your recent Analyst journal paper on ion mobility-mass spectrometry, and why this research is important?
2. Why is ion mobility (IM) resolution currently insufficient for detecting structural differences in large biomolecules?
3. How did you investigate the reproducibility of collision-induced unfolding (CIU) data, and what techniques did you use?
4. What is the significance of using CIU data when performing native ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM–MS) research?
5. Could you elaborate on the challenges that you faced in this study, particularly when it came to addressing differences in the CIU50 values?
6. Based on your findings, what implications do you think this research has for future biomolecular classification efforts?

Our interview with Ruotolo was one of several conducted live at ASMS 2023. Stay tuned for our other interviews conducted at ASMS.