This work is supported by the Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan, the Republic of China (Contract No. 104-2119-M-001-014).

NOTE: This protocol is developed for reducing the spatial heterogeneity of maltotriose and bradykinin fragment (1-7) prepared with the dried-droplet method. The protocol consists of three main steps, including preparation and preconditioning, sample deposition and drying, and mass spectrometry data analysis. The procedures are outlined and described in more detail below:
1. Preparation and Preconditioning
<ol>
	<li>Cleaning the Sample Plate
	<ol>
		<li>Wear nitrile gloves and hand-wash the sample plate gently with detergent and distilled-deionized water (DDW).</li>
		<li>Rinse the sample plate with methanol (MeOH) and DDW.</li>
		<li>Insert the sample plate in a 600 ml beaker and fill with DDW.</li>
		<li>Sonicate the sample plate in DDW for 15 min in an ultrasonic bath (200 W, 40 kHz).</li>
		<li>Remove DDW from the beaker and fill the beaker with MeOH.</li>
		<li>Sonicate the sample plate in MeOH for 15 min in the ultrasonic bath (200 W, 40 kHz).</li>
		<li>Blow off the solvent drops on the plate with nitrogen gas and keep the sample plate dry before sample deposition.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Regulating Drying Chamber Temperature 
	NOTE: The drying chamber is a 35 x 20 x 45 cm3 (W x D x H) acrylic chamber. Figure 1 shows the picture of this drying system. The chamber is purged with room temperature nitrogen gas through a gas flowmeter at a constant flow rate to maintain a low relative humidity condition monitored by a calibrated hygrometer installed inside the drying chamber. A copper base block in the drying chamber equipped with a programmed constant temperature water circulator is used to accommodate stainless steel sample plates. The copper base block is able to regulate the sample plate temperature from 5 to 25 &#176;C. The temperatures of air, copper base block, and the sample plate are monitored by K-type thermocouples.
	<ol>
		<li>Open the door and rapidly put the sample plate on the copper base block then close the door.</li>
		<li>Manually adjust the gas flowmeter to set the nitrogen flow rate to 10 standard cubic feet per hour (SCFH).</li>
		<li>Monitor the relative humidity in the drying chamber by the hygrometer and fine tune the gas flowmeter to ensure the relative humidity is always below 25%.</li>
		<li>Monitor the temperature of the sample plate by K-type thermocouples and adjust the water circulator temperature manually until the sample plate reaches 5 &#176;C for experiment or room temperature (25 &#176;C) for control. 
		NOTE: In order to stabilize the sample plate at a designed temperature, the water circulator temperature is typically set 0 to 5 &#176;C lower than the designed sample. For example, to maintain 5 &#176;C at the sample plate, the temperature setting of the water circulator is in the range of 0 to 2 &#176;C; to maintain the sample plate at 25 &#176;C, the temperature setting of the water circulator is in the range of 23 to 25 &#176;C.</li>
		<li>Ensure the required temperatures and the relative humidity are reached (Table 1) before sample deposition. 
		NOTE: All parameters as well as their setting values for the drying processes with different sample plate temperatures are shown in Table 1. 
		NOTE: At a low sample plate temperature, water condensation on the sample plate may occur if the chamber door is open for a long time. If water condensation occurs, close the door and DO NOT deposit any sample on it until water condensation is dried out.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Preparation of Matrix and Analyte Solutions
	<ol>
		<li>Preparation of matrix solutions
		<ol>
			<li>Prepare 0.1 M THAP solution with 50% acetonitrile (ACN): 50% DDW aqueous solution.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Preparation of analytes
		<ol>
			<li>Prepare 10-4 M maltotriose solution with DDW.</li>
			<li>Prepare 10-5 M bradykinin fragment (1-7) solution in 50% acetonitrile (ACN) : 50% DDW aqueous solution.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Sample Deposition and Drying
<ol>
	<li>Premix 0.25 &#181;l of 0.1 M THAP solution and 0.25 &#181;l of 10-4 M maltotriose or 10-5 M bradykinin fragment (1-7) solutions in a microcentrifuge tube.</li>
	<li>Vortex the mixed solution for 3 sec.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the mixed solution for 2 sec (2,000 x g) to collect the solution at the bottom of the centrifuge tube.</li>
	<li>Open the door of the drying chamber, carefully deposit 0.1 &#181;l of the solution on the sample plate with pipette and close the door immediately.</li>
	<li>Wait for the sample droplet to dry out. 
	NOTE: The typically observed drying times with different sample plate temperatures are listed in Table 1. For sample plate temperature of 5 &#176;C, the average drying time is 800 to 1,000 sec; for sample plate temperature of 25 &#176;C, the average drying time is 100 to 150 sec.</li>
	<li>After drying, open the door of the drying chamber.</li>
	<li>Set the water circulator temperature to room temperature (25 &#176;C). 
	NOTE: Skip this step if the sample plate is kept constantly at room temperature (25 &#176;C) during the drying process.</li>
	<li>After the sample plate temperature returns to room temperature (25 &#176;C), remove the sample plate from the drying chamber.</li>
	<li>Examine the sample morphology under a 5X stereomicroscope and take a snapshot bright-field image. 
	NOTE: If the crystal morphologies are not as expected, it is necessary to prepare a new sample with the same procedure. Typical crystal morphologies are shown in the upper panels of Figure 2. 
	NOTE: In the cases with low sample plate temperatures, such as 5 &#176;C, it is important to warm up the sample plate to room temperature before taking it out of the drying chamber. When depositing the samples, DO NOT keep the premixed solution in the tip of the pipette over 10 sec. DO NOT use the premixed solution again after depositing the samples. The upper panels of Figure 2 show bright-field images of samples prepared with different sample plate temperatures.</li>
</ol>
3. Mass Spectrometry Data Analysis
<ol>
	<li>Mass Spectrometry Data Acquisition 
	NOTE: After preparation, the sample can be analyzed using imaging mass spectrometry. In the current study, the imaging MS experiments are conducted using a laboratory-built synchronized dual-polarity TOF (DP-TOF) imaging mass spectrometer.15 Commercial MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers with imaging capability are also suitable for such experiments. The mass spectrometer is operated in linear extraction and positive ion modes with optimized extraction delays. The kinetic energy of ions is 20 kV. The laser beam size is 35 &#181;m in diameter on the sample surface, and the spectrum of every spot is the average of 5 laser shots.
	<ol>
		<li>Insert the sample plate into the MALDI mass spectrometer.</li>
		<li>Perform imaging mass spectrometry analysis to the sample prepared in steps 2.1-2.9.</li>
		<li>Select a characteristic mass peak from the mass list shown in the result window and click &#34;2D&#34; to plot a two-dimensional ion image. 
		NOTE: For maltotriose mixed with THAP, the characteristic peaks are sodiated maltotriose, protonated THAP, and sodiated THAP. For bradykinin fragment (1-7) mixed with THAP, the characteristic peaks include protonated bradykinin fragment (1-7), protonated THAP, and sodiated THAP.</li>
		<li>Click the adjustment buttons in the popup window to determine the upper and lower limits of the signal intensity and click &#34;save a picture&#34;. This setting defines the contrast of ion images. 
		NOTE: In every individual set of data, the cracked regions and the null spots showing low brightness are eliminated.</li>
		<li>Observe and compare the ion image with the bright-field image that was taken at step 2.9. 
		NOTE: Imaging mass spectrometry and construction of images of particular ions can be achieved with commercial instruments. Due to the variety of data acquisition and analysis software, the users should follow software instructions provided by the instrument vendor to get high quality images.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Data Analysis 
	NOTE: The heterogeneity of samples is analyzed quantitatively. In this demonstration, every sample is divided into multiple concentric areas by software developed in-house to analyze the spatial distribution of the ions. The analysis can also be performed using stand-alone data analysis software.
	<ol>
		<li>Click the null spots and the cracked regions in the ion image shown in the result window to remove unimportant areas. 
		NOTE: This procedure defines the essential area of ion image.</li>
		<li>Click &#34;find edge&#34; button to find the outmost layer of the ion image.</li>
		<li>Click &#34;deduct&#34; to save the ion abundance information of the outmost layer in a database and remove this layer from the ion image simultaneously. A check box representing this outmost layer will appear in the &#34;output data&#34; list of the result window.</li>
		<li>Repeat steps 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 until the center of the ion image is defined.</li>
		<li>Click and select all the check boxes in the &#34;output data&#34; list and click &#34;export&#34; to export the data.</li>
		<li>Open the exported data using spreadsheet software to calculate the average ion abundance of every layer to obtain the spatial distribution information of ions.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Karas, M., Hillenkamp, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laser+Desorption+Ionization+of+Proteins+with+Molecular+Masses+Exceeding+10000+Daltons.">Laser Desorption Ionization of Proteins with Molecular Masses Exceeding 10000 Daltons.</a> Anal. Chem. 60, 2299-2301 (1988).</li><li>Beavis, R. C., Chait, B. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Velocity+Distributions+of+Intact+High+Mass+Polypeptide+Molecule+Ions+Produced+by+Matrix+Assisted+Laser+Desorption.">Velocity Distributions of Intact High Mass Polypeptide Molecule Ions Produced by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption.</a> Chem. Phys. Lett. 181, 479-484 (1991).</li><li>Beavis, R. C., Chaudhary, T., Chait, B. 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Mass Spectrom. 27, 472-480 (1992).</li><li>Strupat, K., Karas, M., Hillenkamp, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=2,5-Dihydroxybenzoic+Acid+-+a+New+Matrix+for+Laser+Desorption+Ionization+Mass-Spectrometry.">2,5-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid - a New Matrix for Laser Desorption Ionization Mass-Spectrometry.</a> Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Process. 111, 89-102 (1991).</li><li>Hu, H., Larson, R. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaporation+of+a+Sessile+Droplet+on+a+Substrate.">Evaporation of a Sessile Droplet on a Substrate.</a> J. Phys. Chem. B. 106, 1334-1344 (2002).</li><li>Deegan, R. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Capillary+Flow+as+the+Cause+of+Ring+Stains+from+Dried+Liquid+Drops.">Capillary Flow as the Cause of Ring Stains from Dried Liquid Drops.</a> Nature. 389, 827-829 (1997).</li><li>Hu, J. -. B., Chen, Y. -. C., Urban, P. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coffee-Ring+Effects+in+Laser+Desorption/Ionization+Mass+Spectrometry.">Coffee-Ring Effects in Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry.</a> Anal. Chim. Acta. 766, 77-82 (2013).</li><li>Schwartz, S. A., Reyzer, M. L., Caprioli, R. 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The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Based on previous theoretical predictions, temperature-induced hydrodynamic flows within droplets can overcome outward capillary flows induced by solvent evaporation. The efficiency of such internal recirculation of molecules is enhanced when the temperature gradients within a droplet increase. According to the predicted results, when keeping the sample plate temperature under 5 &#176;C while maintaining its surroundings at ambient temperature, the average velocity of recirculation flows within the droplet is about 4 tim...

Mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most important analytical techniques for analyzing the molecular compositions of complex samples. Among all the ionization methods used in MS, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is the most sensitive and widely used method in bioanalytical applications.1 In comparison to other ionization techniques, MALDI has the highest sensitivity and high tolerance to salt contaminants. Such analytical properties make MALDI the first choice for carbohydrate analysis and many proteomics applications. However, sample preparation is a crucial step for obtaining high quality data in MALDI-MS.
The most commonly used sample preparation method for MALDI-MS is the dried-droplet method, in which sample droplets are deposited on a surface and dried under ambient conditions. This drying method is simple and generally effective.2-5 However, a common problem in the dried-droplet method is that the resultant analyte/matrix crystals normally distribute irregularly. In many cases, the crystals aggregate at the periphery of sample areas, resulting in the so-called ring-stain formation.6-8 The heterogeneous crystal morphologies affect the spatial distribution of analyte molecules, which results in severe fluctuation in ion signal over sample areas. Such severe signal fluctuations and poor data reproducibility are known as the "sweet spot" problem in MALDI-MS.9 Thus, there is a great need for reducing spatial heterogeneities in MALDI-MS dried droplet applications.
Hydrodynamic flows in the sample droplet play an important role in determining the spatial distribution of samples prepared with the dried-droplet method.10-12 It was found that the evaporation of solvent induces outward capillary flows within droplets, which are responsible for the ring-stain formation.7,10 In contrast, recirculation flows induced by tangential surface-tension gradients may counterbalance the outward capillary flows.13 If the recirculation flow speeds are higher than that of the outward capillary flows, the samples can be efficiently redistributed to reduce the heterogeneity problem.14
In this work, we demonstrate a detailed protocol for preparing samples with a simple drying chamber to induce efficient recirculation flows during droplet drying processes. Droplet drying conditions are precisely controlled, including the temperatures of the sample plate and its surroundings, and the relative humidity within the chamber. The model analytes include maltotriose and bradykinin chain (1-7). The matrix used for the demonstration is 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP). The samples are examined with time-of-flight (TOF) MS, and the data are analyzed quantitatively to show the reduction of heterogeneity.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="787">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Name of Reagent</td>
			<td style="width:157px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:191px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Detergent powder</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Alconox</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">242985</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Methanol</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">106009</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Acetonitrile</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">100003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP)</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">T64602&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Bradykinin fragment (1-7)</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">B1651</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Maltotriose</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">47884</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Pipette tips</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Mettler Toledo</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">17005091</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Microcentrifuge tube</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Axygen</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">MCT-150-C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;"></td>
			<td style="width:157px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Name of Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:157px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Milli-Q water purification system</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">ZMQS6VFT1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Powder-free nitrile gloves</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Microflex</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">SU-690</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">600 mL beaker</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Duran</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">2110648</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Ultrasonic cleaner</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Delta</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">DC300H</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Hygrometer</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Wisewind</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">5330</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Nitrogen gas flowmeter</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Dwyer</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">RMA-6-SSV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">K-type thermocouples</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Digitron</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">311-1670</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Select BioProducts</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Force Mini&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Pipette</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Rainin</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">pipet-lite XLS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Stereomicroscope</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">SZX16</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">Temperature controllable drying chamber</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">this lab</td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:303px;">Synchronized dual-polarity time-of-flight imaging mass spectrometer (DP-TOF IMS)</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">this lab</td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:303px;">MALDI-TOF stainless steel sample target</td>
			<td style="width:157px;">this lab</td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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preparation of homogeneous maldi samples for quantitative applications

This protocol demonstrates a simple sample preparation to reduce spatial heterogeneity in ion signals during matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The heterogeneity of ion signals is a severe problem in MALDI, which results in poor data reproducibility and makes MALDI unsuitable for quantitative analysis. By regulating sample plate temperature during sample preparation, thermal-induced hydrodynamic flows inside droplets of sample solution are able to reduce the heterogeneity problem. A room-temperature sample preparation chamber equipped with a temperature-regulated copper base block that holds MALDI sample plates facilitates precise control of the sample drying condition. After drying of sample droplets, the temperature of sample plates is returned to room temperature and removed from the chamber for subsequent mass spectrometric analysis. The areas of samples are examined with MALDI-imaging mass spectrometry to obtain the spatial distribution of all components in the sample. In comparison with the conventional dried-droplet method that prepares samples under ambient conditions without temperature control, the samples prepared with the method demonstrated herein show significantly better spatial distribution and signal intensity. According to observations using carbohydrate and peptide samples, decreasing substrate temperature while maintaining the surroundings at ambient temperature during the drying process can effectively reduce the heterogeneity of ion signals. This method is generally applicable to various combinations of samples and matrices.

The bright-field images as well as the MS images of maltotriose and bradykinin fragment (1-7) prepared with sample plate temperature of 5 and 25 &#176;C are shown in Figure 1. In the case of sodiated maltotriose, the ion signal mainly populates at the periphery of the sample area when it is prepared with a sample plate temperature of 25 &#176;C. By decreasing the sample plate temperature to 5 &#176;C, the signal populates homogeneously over the entire sample area. The onl...

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Preparation of Homogeneous MALDI Samples for Quantitative Applications

A protocol for reducing spatial heterogeneities of ion signals in MALDI mass spectrometry by regulating substrate temperature during sample drying processes is demonstrated.

This protocol demonstrates a simple sample preparation to reduce spatial heterogeneity in ion signals during matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization ...

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Biochemistry

8.7K Views.  Academia Sinica. A protocol for reducing spatial heterogeneities of ion signals in MALDI mass spectrometry by regulating substrate temperature during sample drying processes is demonstrated.

Video: Preparation of Homogeneous MALDI Samples for Quantitative Applications

Isolation of High-density Lipoproteins for Non-coding Small RNA Quantification

The diversity of small non-coding RNAs (sRNA) is rapidly expanding and their roles in biological processes, including gene regulation, are emerging. Most interestingly, sRNAs are also found outside of cells and are stably present in all biological fluids. As such, extracellular sRNAs represent a novel class of disease biomarkers and are likely involved in cell signaling and intercellular communication networks. To assess their potential as biomarkers, sRNAs can be quantified in plasma, urine, and other fluids. Nevertheless, to fully understand the impact of extracellular sRNAs as endocrine signals, it is important to determine which carriers are transporting and protecting them in biological fluids (e.g., plasma), which cells and tissues contribute to extracellular sRNA pools, and cells and tissues capable of accepting and utilizing extracellular sRNA. To accomplish these goals, it is critical to isolate highly pure populations of extracellular carriers for sRNA profiling and quantification. We have previously demonstrated that lipoproteins, particularly high-density lipoproteins (HDL), transport functional microRNAs (miRNA) between cells and HDL-miRNAs are significantly altered in disease. Here, we detail a new protocol that utilizes tandem HDL isolation with density-gradient ultracentrifugation (DGUC) and fast-protein-liquid chromatography (FPLC) to obtain highly pure HDL for downstream profiling and quantification of all sRNAs, including miRNAs, using both high-throughput sequencing and real-time PCR approaches. This protocol will be a valuable resource for the investigation of sRNAs on HDL.

This protocol describes the isolation and quantification of high-density lipoprotein small RNAs.

The diversity of small non-coding RNAs (sRNA) is rapidly expanding and their roles in biological processes, including gene regulation, are emerging. Most ...

Sheathless Capillary Electrophoresis&#8211;Mass Spectrometry for Metabolic Profiling of Biological Samples

In metabolomics, a wide range of analytical techniques is used for the global profiling of (endogenous) metabolites in complex samples. In this paper, a protocol is presented for the analysis of anionic and cationic metabolites in biological samples by capillary electrophoresis&#8211;mass spectrometry (CE-MS). CE is well-suited for the analysis of highly polar and charged metabolites as compounds are separated on the basis of their charge-to-size ratio. A recently developed sheathless interfacing design, i.e., a porous tip interface, is used for coupling CE to electrospray ionization (ESI) MS. This interfacing approach allows the effective use of the intrinsically low-flow property of CE in combination with MS, resulting in nanomolar detection limits for a broad range of polar metabolite classes. The protocol presented here is based on employing a bare fused-silica capillary with a porous tip emitter at low-pH separation conditions for the analysis of a broad array of metabolite classes in biological samples. It is demonstrated that the same sheathless CE-MS method can be used for the profiling of cationic metabolites, including amino acids, nucleosides and small peptides, or anionic metabolites, including sugar phosphates, nucleotides and organic acids, by only switching the MS detection and separation voltage polarity. Highly information-rich metabolic profiles in various biological samples, such as urine, cerebrospinal fluid and extracts of the glioblastoma cell line, can be obtained by this protocol in less than 1 hr of CE-MS analysis.

A protocol for metabolic profiling of biological samples by capillary electrophoresis&#8211;mass spectrometry using a sheathless porous tip interface design is presented.

In metabolomics, a wide range of analytical techniques is used for the global profiling of (endogenous) metabolites in complex samples. In this paper, a ...

Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications

Hydrogels are recognized as promising materials for cell culture applications due to their ability to provide highly hydrated cell environments. The field of 3D templates is rising due to the potential resemblance of those materials to the natural extracellular matrix. Protein-based hydrogels are particularly promising because they can easily be functionalized and can achieve defined structures with adjustable physicochemical properties. However, the production of macroporous 3D templates for cell culture applications using natural materials is often limited by their weaker mechanical properties compared to those of synthetic materials. Here, different methods were evaluated to produce macroporous bovine serum albumin (BSA)-based hydrogel systems, with adjustable pore sizes in the range of 10 to 70 &#181;m in radius. Furthermore, a method to generate channels in this protein-based material that are several hundred microns long was established. The different methods to produce pores, as well as the influence of pore size on material properties such as swelling ratio, pH, temperature stability, and enzymatic degradation behavior, were analyzed. Pore sizes were investigated in the native, swollen state of the hydrogels using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The feasibility for cell culture applications was evaluated using a cell-adhesive RGD peptide modification of the protein system and two model cell lines: human breast cancer cells (A549) and adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (MCF7).

Different methods to manipulate three-dimensional architecture in protein-based hydrogels are evaluated here with respect to material properties. The macroporous networks are functionalized with a cell-adhesive peptide, and their feasibility in cell culture is evaluated using two different model cell lines.

Hydrogels are recognized as promising materials for cell culture applications due to their ability to provide highly hydrated cell environments. The field ...

Optimal Preparation of Formalin Fixed Samples for Peptide Based Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging Workflows

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) has rapidly expanded, since this technique analyzes a host of biomolecules from drugs and lipids to N-glycans. Although various sample preparation techniques exist, detecting peptides from formaldehyde preserved tissues remains one of the most difficult challenges for this type of mass spectrometric analysis. For this reason, we have created and optimized a robust methodology that preserves the spatial information contained within the sample, while eliciting the greatest number of ionizable peptides. We have also aimed to achieve this in a cost effective and simple way, thereby eliminating potential bias or preparation error, which can occur when using automated instrumentation. The end result is a reproducible and inexpensive protocol.

This protocol describes a reproducible and reliable method for the sublimation-based preparation of formalin fixed tissue destined for imaging mass spectrometry.

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) has rapidly expanded, since this technique analyzes a host ...

Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis

The maintenance of the genome and its faithful replication is paramount for conserving genetic information. To assess high fidelity replication, we have developed a simple non-labeled and non-radio-isotopic method using a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization with time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) analysis for a proofreading study. Here, a DNA polymerase [e.g., the Klenow fragment (KF) of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (pol I) in this study] in the presence of all four dideoxyribonucleotide triphosphates is used to process a mismatched primer-template duplex. The mismatched primer is then proofread/extended and subjected to MALDI-TOF MS. The products are distinguished by the mass change of the primer down to single nucleotide variations. Importantly, a proofreading can also be determined for internal single mismatches, albeit at different efficiencies. Mismatches located at 2-4-nucleotides (nt) from the 3' end were efficiently proofread by pol I, and a mismatch at 5 nt from the primer terminus showed only a partial correction. No proofreading occurred for internal mismatches located at 6 - 9 nt from the primer 3' end. This method can also be applied to DNA repair assays (e.g., assessing a base-lesion repair of substrates for the endo V repair pathway). Primers containing 3' penultimate deoxyinosine (dI) lesions could be corrected by pol I. Indeed, penultimate T-I, G-I, and A-I substrates had their last 2 dI-containing nucleotides excised by pol I before adding a correct ddN 5'-monophosphate (ddNMP) while penultimate C-I mismatches were tolerated by pol I, allowing the primer to be extended without repair, demonstrating the sensitivity and resolution of the MS assay to measure DNA repair.

A non-labeled, non-radio-isotopic method for DNA polymerase proofreading and a DNA repair assay was developed by using high-resolution MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and a single nucleotide extension strategy. The assay proved to be very specific, simple, rapid, and easy to perform for proofreading and repair patches shorter than 9-nucleotides.

The maintenance of the genome and its faithful replication is paramount for conserving genetic information. To assess high fidelity replication, we have ...

Use of Microscale Thermophoresis to Measure Protein-Lipid Interactions

The ability to determine the binding affinity of lipids to proteins is an essential part of understanding protein-lipid interactions in membrane trafficking, signal transduction and cytoskeletal remodeling. Classic tools for measuring such interactions include surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). While powerful tools, these approaches have setbacks. ITC requires large amounts of purified protein as well as lipids, which can be costly and difficult to produce. Furthermore, ITC as well as SPR are very time consuming, which could add significantly to the cost of performing these experiments. One way to bypass these restrictions is to use the relatively new technique of microscale thermophoresis (MST). MST is fast and cost effective using small amounts of sample to obtain a saturation curve for a given binding event. There currently are two types of MST systems available. One type of MST requires labeling with a fluorophore in the blue or red spectrum. The second system relies on the intrinsic fluorescence of aromatic amino acids in the UV range. Both systems detect the movement of molecules in response to localized induction of heat from an infrared laser. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Label-free MST can use untagged native proteins; however, many analytes, including pharmaceuticals, fluoresce in the UV range, which can interfere with determination of accurate KD values. In comparison, labeled MST allows for a greater diversity of measurable pairwise interactions utilizing fluorescently labeled probes attached to ligands with measurable absorbances in the visible range as opposed to UV, limiting the potential for interfering signals from analytes.

Microscale thermophoresis obtains binding constants quickly at low material cost. Either labeled or label free microscale thermophoresis is commercially available; however, label free thermophoresis is not capable of the diversity of interaction measurements that can be performed using fluorescent labels. We provide a protocol for labeled thermophoresis measurements.

The ability to determine the binding affinity of lipids to proteins is an essential part of understanding protein-lipid interactions in membrane ...

Quantitative Analysis of the Cellular Lipidome of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Lipids are structurally diverse amphipathic molecules that are insoluble in water. Lipids are essential contributors to the organization and function of biological membranes, energy storage and production, cellular signaling, vesicular transport of proteins, organelle biogenesis, and regulated cell death. Because the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a unicellular eukaryote amenable to thorough molecular analyses, its use as a model organism helped uncover mechanisms linking lipid metabolism and intracellular transport to complex biological processes within eukaryotic cells. The availability of a versatile analytical method for the robust, sensitive, and accurate quantitative assessment of major classes of lipids within a yeast cell is crucial for getting deep insights into these mechanisms. Here we present a protocol to use liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the quantitative analysis of major cellular lipids of S. cerevisiae. The LC-MS/MS method described is versatile and robust. It enables the identification and quantification of numerous species (including different isobaric or isomeric forms) within each of the 10 lipid classes. This method is sensitive and allows identification and quantitation of some lipid species at concentrations as low as 0.2 pmol/&#181;L. The method has been successfully applied to assessing lipidomes of whole yeast cells and their purified organelles. The use of alternative mobile phase additives for electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in this method can increase the efficiency of ionization for some lipid species and can be therefore used to improve their identification and quantitation.

Quantitative Analysis of the Cellular Lipidome of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

We present a protocol using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to identify and quantify major cellular lipids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The described method for a quantitative assessment of major lipid classes within a yeast cell is versatile, robust, and sensitive.

Lipids are structurally diverse amphipathic molecules that are insoluble in water. Lipids are essential contributors to the organization and function of ...

Ubiquitin Chain Analysis by Parallel Reaction Monitoring

Assessment of the global profile of ubiquitin chain topologies within a proteome is of interest to answer a wide range of biological questions. The protocol outlined here takes advantage of the di-glycine (-GG) modification left after the tryptic digestion of ubiquitin incorporated in a chain. By quantifying these topology-characteristic peptides the relative abundance of each ubiquitin chain topology can be determined. The steps required to quantify these peptides by a parallel reaction monitoring experiment are reported taking into consideration the stabilization of ubiquitin chains. Preparation of heavy controls, cell lysis, and digestion are described along with the appropriate mass spectrometer setup and data analysis workflow. An example data set with perturbations in ubiquitin topology is presented, accompanied by examples of how optimization of the protocol can affect results. By following the steps outlined, a user will be able to perform a global assessment of the ubiquitin topology landscape within their biological context.

This method describes the assessment of global changes in ubiquitin chain topology. The assessment is performed by the application of a mass spectrometry-based targeted proteomics approach.

Assessment of the global profile of ubiquitin chain topologies within a proteome is of interest to answer a wide range of biological questions. The ...

Quantitative Metabolomics of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Metabolomics is a methodology used for the identification and quantification of many low-molecular-weight intermediates and products of metabolism within a cell, tissue, organ, biological fluid, or organism. Metabolomics traditionally focuses on water-soluble metabolites. The water-soluble metabolome is the final product of a complex cellular network that integrates various genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and environmental factors. Hence, the metabolomic analysis directly assesses the outcome of the action for all these factors in a plethora of biological processes within various organisms. One of these organisms is the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a unicellular eukaryote with the fully sequenced genome. Because S. cerevisiae is amenable to comprehensive molecular analyses, it is used as a model for dissecting mechanisms underlying many biological processes within the eukaryotic cell. A versatile analytical method for the robust, sensitive, and accurate quantitative assessment of the water-soluble metabolome would provide the essential methodology for dissecting these mechanisms. Here we present a protocol for the optimized conditions of metabolic activity quenching in and water-soluble metabolite extraction from S. cerevisiae cells. The protocol also describes the use of liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the quantitative analysis of the extracted water-soluble metabolites. The LC-MS/MS method of non-targeted metabolomics described here is versatile and robust. It enables the identification and quantification of more than 370 water-soluble metabolites with diverse structural, physical, and chemical properties, including different structural isomers and stereoisomeric forms of these metabolites. These metabolites include various energy carrier molecules, nucleotides, amino acids, monosaccharides, intermediates of glycolysis, and tricarboxylic cycle intermediates. The LC-MS/MS method of non-targeted metabolomics is sensitive and allows the identification and quantitation of some water-soluble metabolites at concentrations as low as 0.05 pmol/&#181;L. The method has been successfully used for assessing water-soluble metabolomes of wild-type and mutant yeast cells cultured under different conditions.

Quantitative Metabolomics of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

We present a protocol for the identification and quantitation of major classes of water-soluble metabolites in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The described method is versatile, robust, and sensitive. It allows the separation of structural isomers and stereoisomeric forms of water-soluble metabolites from each other.

Metabolomics is a methodology used for the identification and quantification of many low-molecular-weight intermediates and products of metabolism within ...

Single-Molecule Imaging of EWS-FLI1 Condensates Assembling on DNA

The fusion genes resulting from chromosomal translocation have been found in many solid tumors or leukemia. EWS-FLI1, which belongs to the FUS/EWS/TAF15 (FET) family of fusion oncoproteins, is one of the most frequently involved fusion genes in Ewing sarcoma. These FET family fusion proteins typically harbor a low-complexity domain (LCD) of FET protein at their N-terminus and a DNA-binding domain (DBD) at their C-terminus. EWS-FLI1 has been confirmed to form biomolecular condensates at its target binding loci due to LCD-LCD and LCD-DBD interactions, and these condensates can recruit RNA polymerase II to enhance gene transcription. However, how these condensates are assembled at their binding sites remains unclear. Recently, a single-molecule biophysics method-DNA Curtains-was applied to visualize these assembling processes of EWS-FLI1 condensates. Here, the detailed experimental protocol and data analysis approaches are discussed for the application of DNA Curtains in studying the biomolecular condensates assembling on target DNA.

Here, we describe the use of the single-molecule imaging method, DNA Curtains, to study the biophysical mechanism of EWS-FLI1 condensates assembling on DNA.

The fusion genes resulting from chromosomal translocation have been found in many solid tumors or leukemia. EWS-FLI1, which belongs to the FUS/EWS/TAF15 ...