Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of model prebiotic peptides: Optimization of sample preparation.

Understanding the diversity and chemical evolution of proto-peptides is of interest to origins-of-life research. Here, we have demonstrated MALDI-TOF MS can be used to rapidly screen the length and monomer composition of model prebiotic peptides containing a mixture of ester and amide backbone linkages.