Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS): a challenge for reliable quantitative analyses

A Kubo, M Kajimura, M Suematsu - Mass Spectrometry, 2012 - jstage.jst.go.jp
A Kubo, M Kajimura, M Suematsu
Mass Spectrometry, 2012jstage.jst.go.jp
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is
capable of determining the distribution of hundreds of molecules at once directly from tissue
sections. Since tissues are analyzed intact without homogenization, spatial relationships of
molecules are preserved. e technology is, therefore, undoubtedly powerful to investigate the
molecular complexity of biological processes. However, several technical refinements are
essential for full exploitation of MALDI-IMS to dictate dynamics alteration of biomolecules in …
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is capable of determining the distribution of hundreds of molecules at once directly from tissue sections. Since tissues are analyzed intact without homogenization, spatial relationships of molecules are preserved. e technology is, therefore, undoubtedly powerful to investigate the molecular complexity of biological processes. However, several technical refinements are essential for full exploitation of MALDI-IMS to dictate dynamics alteration of biomolecules in situ; these include ways to collect tissues, target-specific tissue pretreatment, matrix choice for efficient ionization, and matrix deposition method to improve imaging resolution. Furthermore, for MALDI-IMS to reach its full potential, quantitative property in the IMS should be strengthened. We review the challenges and new approaches for optimal imaging of proteins, lipids and metabolites, highlighting a novel quantitative IMS of energy metabolites in the recent literature.
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