A reactive mass label for labelling a biological molecule for detection by mass spectrometry, which label comprises a reactive functionality for labelling thiol groups or carbonyl groups. Also provided is a reactive mass label for labelling a biological molecule for detection by mass spectrometry, wherein the mass label comprises the following structure:
X-L-M-S-Re
wherein X is a mass marker moiety, L is a cleavable linker, M is a mass normalization moiety, S is a mass series modifying group comprising the following group:
wherein J is C═O, K is NH, and n is 2 or J and K are both CH2 and n is 1, and wherein m is at least 1; and Re is a reactive functionality for attaching the mass label to a biological molecule.