ASAP‐MS and DART‐MS as ancillary tools for direct analysis of the lichen metabolome

Abstract

Introduction: Lichens contain unique metabolites that most often need to be characterized from a limited amount of material. While thin layer chromatography is still the preferred analysis method for most lichenologists, liquid chromatography gives a deeper insight in the lichen metabolome, but an extractive step is needed before any analysis. Therefore, ambient ionization mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of lichen samples using Atmospheric Solid Analysis Probe (ASAP) and Direct Acquisition in Real Time (DART) techniques is evaluated.Objective: We looked for a faster method to screen the metabolome by disrupting the classical workflow of analysis.Methods: Four lichens selected for their metabolic diversity were analyzed with MS; namely Evernia prunastri, Lichina pygmaea, Parmelia saxatilis, and Roccella fuciformis.ASAP and DART analyses were compared against the reference electrospray ionization with a bioinformatic process including Van Krevelen diagrams as well as the multivariate comparison of the ionization methods in positive and negative modes.Results: Metabolite profiles obtained from DART and ASAP analyses of lichen samples are consistent with classical analyses of lichen extracts. Through an easy and rapid experiment and without any extraction solvent, a large and informative profile of lichen metabolites is obtained when using complementary ionization modes of these high resolution mass spectrometry methods.Conclusion: ASAP-MS and DART-MS are two ancillary methods that provide a comprehensive evaluation of the lichen metabolome.

Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2022: An annual review

“…The analysis of biological materials is perhaps the largest area of research utilizing AIMS technology, and this section is by no means exhaustive. Nevertheless, additional biological applications worthy of note include the development of a high‐throughput DESI method for the exploration of enzymes as potential drug targets, 156 and the use of DART and ASAP to characterize the metabolome of lichens 157 …”

“…Nevertheless, additional biological applications worthy of note include the development of a high‐throughput DESI method for the exploration of enzymes as potential drug targets, 156 and the use of DART and ASAP to characterize the metabolome of lichens. 157 …”

An Agile and Accurate Approach for N-Nitrosamines Detection and Quantification in Medicines by DART-MS

“…The interaction between this metastable gas and the sample allows real-time direct analysis of substances in the sample, making DART-MS a powerful technique for compound analysis in various analytical applications. , Among DART-MS advantages, it can be highlighted for its high sensitivity, no solvent requirements, and minimal or no sample preparation. , Moreover, the technique enables direct analyses on sample surfaces, as the gas efficiently thermally desorbs the sample in situ . DART-MS has significant applicability in forensic sciences, explosives detection, pharmaceutical studies, , metabolomic assays, and food safety-related analyses. , …”

“…12,21 Moreover, the technique enables direct analyses on sample surfaces, as the gas efficiently thermally desorbs the sample in situ. 22 DART-MS has significant applicability in forensic sciences, 23 explosives detection, 18 pharmaceutical studies, 24,25 metabolomic assays, 26 and food safety-related analyses. 27,28 Considering the aforementioned, it can be stated that the DART-MS technique presents an alternative and promising method for NAs assessment.…”