Is nontargeted data acquisition for target analysis (nDATA) in mass spectrometry a forward-thinking analytical approach?

Abstract

Targeted mass spectrometry is extensively used for the quantitative measurement of various molecules present in complex matrices. It is certainly one of the most important analytical duties in a mass spectrometry laboratory. Systematic development of selected-reaction monitoring (SRM), multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) and parallel-reaction monitoring (PRM) methods for targeted mass spectrometry-based analysis was performed without considering future opportunities. The advancement of hardware and software technologies has resulted in greater resolution, accuracy, speed and depth. For sure, SRM, MRM or PRM acquisitions can quantify molecules very accurately at trace levels. However, they do not provide datasets allowing future data mining. Obviously, we cannot truly quantify something that we do not know is there. However, using non-targeted data acquisition for target analysis, we can generate a MS1 and MS2 digital libraries of each sample, providing future proof datasets. This is instrumental for data mining following new questions potentially arising in time permitting new and deeper processing and interpretation. This perspective article provides thoughts on why we believe it is time to question the status quo in targeted mass spectrometry.