Cryo-ultramicrotomy and Mass Spectrometry Imaging Analysis of Nudibranch Microstructures

• Published in: Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 592 - 597
• Main Authors: Hamilton, Brett R, Chan, Weili, Cheney, Karen L, Sullivan, Robert K. P, Floetenmeyer, Matthias, Garson, Mary J, Wepf, Roger
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 02-03-2022
• Subjects: Animals; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic - analysis; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic - chemistry; Cryoultramicrotomy - methods; Gastropoda - chemistry; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Molecular Imaging - methods; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization - methods; Thiazolidines - analysis; Thiazolidines - chemistry; mass spectrometry imaging; MSI; ultrathin cryosections; MALDI; high resolution
• ISSN: 1044-0305; 1879-1123
• DOI: 10.1021/jasms.1c00254

In this paper, we investigate the presence of latrunculin A in the outer rim of a nudibranch Chromodoris kuiteri and show that by combining ultrathin cryosection methods with MALDI MSI we can achieve improved lateral (x and y) resolution and very high resolution in the z dimension by virtue of the ultrathin 200 nm thin cryosections. We also demonstrate that a post ionization laser increases sensitivity. Recent advances in MALDI source design have improved the lateral resolution (x and y) and sensitivity during MSI. Taken together, very high z resolution, from ultrathin sections, and improved lateral (x and y) resolution will allow for subcellular molecular imaging with the potential for subcellular 3D volume reconstruction.