Biological systems
are composed of heterogeneous populations of
cells that intercommunicate to form a functional living tissue. Biological
function varies greatly across populations of cells, as each single
cell has a unique transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome that translates
to functional differences within single species and across kingdoms.
Over the past decade, substantial advancements in our ability to characterize
omic profiles on a single cell level have occurred, including in multiple
spectroscopic and mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques. Of these
technologies, spatially resolved mass spectrometry approaches, including
mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), have shown the most progress for
single cell proteomics and metabolomics. For example, reporter-based
methods using heavy metal tags have allowed for targeted MS investigation
of the proteome at the subcellular level, and development of technologies
such as laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LAESI-MS)
now mean that dynamic metabolomics can be performed in situ. In this
Perspective, we showcase advancements in single cell spatial metabolomics
and proteomics over the past decade and highlight important aspects
related to high-throughput screening, data analysis, and more which
are vital to the success of achieving proteomic and metabolomic profiling
at the single cell scale. Finally, using this broad literature summary,
we provide a perspective on how the next decade may unfold in the
area of single cell MS-based proteomics and metabolomics.