Cryogenic OrbiSIMS Localizes Semi‐Volatile Molecules in Biological Tissues. (13th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Newell, Clare L.; Vorng, Jean‐Luc; MacRae, James I.; Gilmore, Ian S.; Gould, Alex P.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 132:Number 41(2020)
• Page Start: 18351
• Page End: 18357
• Publication Date: 2020-08-13
• Subjects: analytical methods -- biological mass spectrometry imaging -- lipids -- semi-volatile molecules; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202006881
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: OrbiSIMS is a recently developed instrument for label‐free imaging of chemicals with micron spatial resolution and high mass resolution. We report a cryogenic workflow for OrbiSIMS (Cryo‐OrbiSIMS) that improves chemical detection of lipids and other biomolecules in tissues. Cryo‐OrbiSIMS boosts ionization yield and decreases ion‐beam induced fragmentation, greatly improving the detection of biomolecules such as triacylglycerides. It also increases chemical coverage to include molecules with intermediate or high vapor pressures, such as free fatty acids and semi‐volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). We find that Cryo‐OrbiSIMS reveals the hitherto unknown localization patterns of SVOCs with high spatial and chemical resolution in diverse plant, animal, and human tissues. We also show that Cryo‐OrbiSIMS can be combined with genetic analysis to identify enzymes regulating SVOC metabolism. Cryo‐OrbiSIMS is applicable to high resolution imaging of a wide variety of non‐volatile and semi‐volatile molecules across many areas of biomedicine. Abstract : Cryogenic OrbiSIMS decreases molecular fragmentation and expands the chemical space that is amenable to mass spectrometry imaging with high spatial and mass resolution. Semi‐volatile and non‐volatile molecules can now be imaged simultaneously in biological tissues.