Multiplexed precursor isolation for mass spectrometry

1. A system for identifying precursor ions of product ions from combined product ion spectra produced by a tandem mass spectrometer that performs multiplexed precursor ion selection, comprising:

an ion source that provides a continuous beam of ions;

a tandem mass spectrometer that includes a mass filter that performs multiplexed precursor ion selection; and

a processor in communication with the ion source and the tandem mass spectrometer that

selects N precursor ions,

creates N groups of the N precursor ions, wherein each of the N groups has N−1 precursor ions of the N precursor ions and wherein a different precursor ion of the N precursor ions is not included in each of the N groups,

instructs the tandem mass spectrometer to perform multiplexed precursor ion selection on the continuous beam of ions for each of the N groups, fragment each of the N−1 precursor ions selected in each of the N groups, and measure the intensities of the product ions produced by each of the N groups, producing N product ion spectra,

plots a heat map for each of the N product ion spectra, producing N heat maps, combines the N product ion spectra into a combined product ion spectrum, and

identifies a precursor ion of a peak in the combined product ion spectrum by finding a heat map of the N heat maps that does not have data for the mass of the peak and determining that a precursor ion of the N precursor ions that is not included in a group that produced the heat map is the identified precursor ion.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mass filter comprises a quadrupole.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the quadrupole performs multiplexed precursor ion selection by resonating selected precursor ions and transmitting only the resonating selected precursor ions over an electric field potential barrier.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor combines the N product ion spectra by summing the N product ion spectra to produce the combined product ion spectrum.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a heat map of the N heat maps provides an indication of whether a product ion spectrum of the heat map does or does not include a product ion at a certain mass or mass range.

6. A method for identifying precursor ions of product ions from combined product ion spectra produced by a tandem mass spectrometer that includes a mass filter that performs multiplexed precursor ion selection, comprising:

selecting N precursor ions using a processor;

creating N groups of the N precursor ions using the processor, wherein each of the N groups has N−1 precursor ions of the N precursor ions and wherein a different precursor ion of the N precursor ions is not included in each of the N groups;

instructing a tandem mass spectrometer to perform multiplexed precursor ion selection on a continuous beam of ions provided by an ion source for each of the N groups, fragment each of the N−1 precursor ions selected in each of the N groups, and measure the intensities of the product ions produced by each of the N groups using the processor, producing N product ion spectra;

plotting a heat map for each of the N product ion spectra using the processor, producing N heat maps;

combining the N product ion spectra into a combined product ion spectrum using the processor, and

identifying a precursor ion of a peak in the combined product ion spectrum by finding a heat map of the N heat maps that does not have data for the mass of the peak and determining that a precursor ion of the N precursor ions that is not included in a group that produced the heat map is the identified precursor ion using the processor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mass filter comprises a quadrupole.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the quadrupole performs multiplexed precursor ion selection by resonating selected precursor ions and transmitting only the resonating selected precursor ions over an electric field potential barrier.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the N product ion spectra are combined by summing the N product ion spectra to produce the combined product ion spectrum.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein a heat map of the N heat maps provides an indication of whether a product ion spectrum of the heat map does or does not include a product ion at a certain mass or mass range.

11. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory and tangible computer-readable storage medium whose contents include a program with instructions being executed on a processor so as to perform a method for identifying precursor ions of product ions from combined product ion spectra produced by a tandem mass spectrometer that includes a mass filter that performs multiplexed precursor ion selection, comprising:

providing a system, wherein the system comprises one or more distinct software modules, and wherein the distinct software modules comprise a control module and an identification module;

selecting N precursor ions using the control module;

creating N groups of the N precursor ions using the control module, wherein each of the N groups has N−1 precursor ions of the N precursor ions and wherein a different precursor ion of the N precursor ions is not included in each of the N groups;

instructing a tandem mass spectrometer to perform multiplexed precursor ion selection on a continuous beam of ions provided by an ion source for each of the N groups, fragment each of the N−1 precursor ions selected in each of the N groups, and measure the intensities of the product ions produced by each of the N groups using the control module, producing N product ion spectra;

plotting a heat map for each of the N product ion spectra using the identification module, producing N heat maps;

combining the N product ion spectra into a combined product ion spectrum using the identification module, and

identifying a precursor ion of a peak in the combined product ion spectrum by finding a heat map of the N heat maps that does not have data for the mass of the peak and determining that a precursor ion of the N precursor ions that is not included in a group that produced the heat map is the identified precursor ion using the identification module.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the mass filter comprises a quadrupole.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the quadrupole performs multiplexed precursor ion selection by resonating selected precursor ions and transmitting only the resonating selected precursor ions over an electric field potential barrier.

14. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the N product ion spectra are combined by summing the N product ion spectra to produce the combined product ion spectrum.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein a heat map of the N heat maps provides an indication of whether a product ion spectrum of the heat map does or does not include a product ion at a certain mass or mass range.