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DESI-MS Imaging of Lipids and Metabolites from Biological Samples

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Mass Spectrometry in Metabolomics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1198))

Abstract

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) is a powerful technique used to image the distribution of hundreds of small molecules directly from biological samples, without the need of extensive sample preparation. Operated at ambient temperature and in the open-air environment, DESI-MS employs a fine spray of charged droplets to rapidly extract molecules from the sample surface into the solvent droplets and to transfer the analytes to the mass spectrometer. When operated in the imaging mode, a two-dimensional map of the compounds within the sample surface is obtained with a typical spatial resolution of hundreds of micrometers or less. Here, we describe the imaging of complex lipids from a mouse brain tissue section using a histologically compatible solvent system. The imaging experiment described is performed in the negative ion mode using an Orbitrap mass spectrometer for mass analysis. Following DESI-MS imaging, the same tissue section is subjected to histochemistry allowing molecular information to be correlated to histological information.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges Dr. Nathaniel L. Sanders for kindly reviewing the content of this book chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, 333 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305-5080, USA

    Livia S. Eberlin

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  1. Livia S. Eberlin
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Correspondence to Livia S. Eberlin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington Fred Hutchinson Cancer Rsrch Ctr, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Daniel Raftery

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Eberlin, L.S. (2014). DESI-MS Imaging of Lipids and Metabolites from Biological Samples. In: Raftery, D. (eds) Mass Spectrometry in Metabolomics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1198. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1258-2_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1258-2_20

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1257-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1258-2

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