The potential of mass spectrometry imaging in plant metabolomics: a review

Abstract

Imaging mass spectrometry (MSI) has contributed important information to several scientific fields and more recently to the biological sciences. The use of MSI as an investigative tool for plant metabolomics has recently been explored and initial results show a promising direction that plant metabolomics could be heading to with the use of these mass directed imaging techniques. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI), secondary ion mass spectrometry and desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry are the best-known MSI techniques used currently. MALDI-MSI is the most common used technique for molecular imaging. With new developments, spatial resolution capabilities have reached 5 lm which has resulted in a significant improvement in the data outputs for MSI analysis. Developments in the improvement of sample preparation techniques, instrumental improvements and more efficient and effective data analysis, have had a dramatic improvement in the obtained informational content. More recent developments on instrumentation and applications are seeing a change in direction towards the imaging of lower mass range metabolites. The unique feature that MSI brings to bio-analytical analysis is the possibility to analyse the distribution of hundreds of plant metabolites across a sample without any significant sample preparation. This has highlighted the potential of MSI techniques as ideal for metabolome analysis with the additional advantage of generating crucial spatial distribution information as well. The further development of MSI for the use in plant metabolomics is at an exciting time and the prospects for interesting new discoveries are very evident.

An Appraisal on the Source-to-Sink Relationship in Plants: an Application of Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging

“…Several methodologies have been used for this purpose, such as isotopic labeling ( 15 N and 14 C), radioactive labeling, electron and transmission electron microscopy, normal and fluorescence microscopy, laser-scanning microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, gamma irradiation detection, and imaging techniques based on positron emission tomography and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). [9][10][11][12][13] However, some of these methodologies are expensive, laborious and/or time consuming. Moreover, none of them present similar performance comparing to desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) regarding the huge amount of information potentially attainable in a quite short period of time.…”

“…13,28 A couple of publications dealing with the application of DESI-MSI on plant metabolomics have also been reported, including unprecedented information regarding physiological role and metabolites distribution. 20 For instance, some interesting studies dealing with this subject have been conducted, such as: (i) monitoring of metabolic changes in sprout that result from a pathogen invasion; 29 (ii) detection of chlorophyll degradation products in senescent plants; 30 (iii) distribution of metabolites (mainly long chain fatty acids) in leaves, flower cuticles, and petals; 20 (iv) distribution of pesticides on the surface of leaves and in cross sections of plant stem and leaves; 31 (v) elucidation of marine natural product defenses.…”

Review of emerging metabolomic tools and resources: 2015–2016

“…It is noteworthy that imaging MS is more often used for metabolites/lipids/small molecules rather than for proteins/peptides. MSI has been widely implemented in plant metabolomics research . Resurgence in MALDI‐MS based, LDI, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) MS based tissue imaging has also led to new software.…”

Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Metabolites in Barley Grain Tissues

“…Introduced by Spengler et al (1994) and Caprioli et al (1997), the technique was first used to visualize peptides and proteins in animal tissue sections. Investigations of plant tissues with MALDI-MSI are increasing, and recent reviews provide an excellent overview of its applications (Svatoš, 2010;Matros and Mock, 2013;Bartels and Svatoš, 2015;Boughton et al, 2016;Heyman and Dubery, 2016). Investigations of plant tissues with MALDI-MSI are increasing, and recent reviews provide an excellent overview of its applications (Svatoš, 2010;Matros and Mock, 2013;Bartels and Svatoš, 2015;Boughton et al, 2016;Heyman and Dubery, 2016).…”