Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of the large oligopeptides melittin, glucagon and the B chain of bovine insulin

Application of developments in the fast atom bombardment ion source and high field magnet technology are presented, which together have resulted in the ability to obtain mass spectra from involatile compounds with molecular weights in excess of 3000 daltons. Examples include resolved molecular species from melittin, glucagon and the oxidized form of the B chain of bovine insulin. It is concluded that there now exists a genuine requirement for extended mass range facilities to be available on a routine basis.