On-Tissue Phospholipase C Digestion for Enhanced MALDI-MS Imaging of Neutral Glycosphingolipids.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) can be used to simultaneously visualize the lateral distribution of different lipid classes in tissue sections, but the applicability of the method to real-life samples is often limited by ion suppression effects. In particular, the presence of abundant phosphatidylcholines (PCs) can reduce the ion yields for all other lipid species in positive ion mode measurements. Here, we used on-tissue treatment with buffer-free phospholipase C (PLC) to near-quantitatively degrade PCs in fresh-frozen tissue sections.

Imaging by Elemental and Molecular Mass Spectrometry Reveals the Uptake of an Arsenolipid in the Brain of Drosophila melanogaster.

Arsenic-containing lipids (arsenolipids) are natural products of marine organisms such as fish, invertebrates, and algae, many of which are important seafoods. A major group of arsenolipids, namely, the arsenic-containing hydrocarbons (AsHC), have recently been shown to be cytotoxic to human liver and bladder cells, a result that has stimulated interest in the chemistry and toxicology of these compounds. In this study, elemental laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) and molecular matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI-)MS were used to image and quantify the uptake of an AsHC in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster.

Mass spectrometry imaging with laser-induced postionization.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) can simultaneously record the lateral distribution of numerous biomolecules in tissue slices, but its sensitivity is restricted by limited ionization. We used a wavelength-tunable postionization laser to initiate secondary MALDI-like ionization processes in the gas phase. In this way, we could increase the ion yields for numerous lipid classes, liposoluble vitamins, and saccharides, imaged in animal and plant tissue with a 5-micrometer-wide laser spot, by up to two orders of magnitude.

Analysis of Drosophila lipids by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging.

Drosophila melanogaster is a major model organism for numerous lipid-related diseases. While comprehensive lipidomic profiles have been generated for D. melanogaster, little information is available on the localization of individual lipid classes and species.

MALDI mass spectrometry imaging of bioactive lipids in mouse brain with a Synapt G2-S mass spectrometer operated at elevated pressure: improving the analytical sensitivity and the lateral resolution to ten micrometers.

Mass spectrometers from the Synapt-G1/G2 family (Waters) are widely employed for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). A lateral resolution of about 50 μm is typically achieved with these instruments, that is, however, below the often desired cellular resolution. Here, we show the first MALDI-MSI examples demonstrating a lateral resolution of about ten micrometers obtained with a Synapt G2-S HDMS mass spectrometer without oversampling.