Single-cell mass spectrometry. Issue 11 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tajik, Mohammad; Baharfar, Mahroo; Donald, William A.
• Is Part Of: Trends in biotechnology. Volume 40:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: 1374
• Page End: 1392
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: single-cell analysis -- mass spectrometry -- proteomics -- metabolomics -- lipidomics -- mass cytometry -- cellular heterogeneity; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biochemical engineering -- Periodicals; Genetic engineering -- Periodicals; Industrial microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.04.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-7799

Abstract

Abstract : Owing to recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS), tens to hundreds of proteins, lipids, and small molecules can be measured in single cells. The ability to characterize the molecular heterogeneity of individual cells is necessary to define the full assortment of cell subtypes and identify their function. We review single-cell MS including high-throughput, targeted, mass cytometry-based approaches and antibody-free methods for broad profiling of the proteome and metabolome of single cells. The advantages and disadvantages of different methods are discussed, as well as the challenges and opportunities for further improvements in single-cell MS. These methods is being used in biomedicine in several applications including revealing tumor heterogeneity and high-content drug screening. Highlights: Single-cell mass spectrometry (MS) can now be used to measure tens to hundreds of proteins, metabolites, and lipids in individual cells. The pace of the development of single-cell MS has been breathtaking. Some key performance metrics in single-cell MS that differentiate between methods include measurement throughput, the extent of analyte coverage, and the type of analytes measured (proteins, small molecules, lipids). Key challenges and opportunities for improvement can be classified into increasing measurement throughput and the extent of analyte coverage, in addition to enhancing the depth of analyte characterization (e.g., distinguishing between lipid isomers and characterizing proteoforms). Emergent and potential applications of single-cell MS include early disease diagnosis, analysis of tumor heterogeneity, and high information content drug screening.