Name: preparation of homogeneous maldi samples for quantitative applications
Uploaded: 2016-10-28T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation of Homogeneous MALDI Samples for Quantitative Applications at JoVE.com

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).

注意：このプロトコルは、乾燥液滴法を用いて調製した（1-7）マルトトリオース及びブラジキニンフラグメントの空間的な不均一性を減少させるために開発されています。プロトコルは、調製及び前処理、試料堆積、乾燥、及び質量分析データ分析を含む三つの主要な段階からなります。手順は、以下でより詳細に概説し、説明します。 1.準備と前処理<ol><li>サンプルプレートのクリ?...

<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. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alpha-Cyano-4-Hydroxycinnamic+Acid+as+a+Matrix+for+Matrix-Assisted+Laser+Desorption+Mass-Spectrometry.">Alpha-Cyano-4-Hydroxycinnamic Acid as a Matrix for Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Mass-Spectrometry.</a> Org. Mass Spectrom. 27, 156-158 (1992).</li><li>Ehring, H., 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=Role+of+Photoionization+and+Photochemistry+in+Ionization+Processes+of+Organic-Molecules+and+Relevance+for+Matrix-Assisted+Laser+Desorption+Ionization+Mass-Spectrometry.">Role of Photoionization and Photochemistry in Ionization Processes of Organic-Molecules and Relevance for Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass-Spectrometry.</a> Org. 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. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Direct+Tissue+Analysis+Using+Matrix-Assisted+Laser+Desorption/Ionization+Mass+Spectrometry:+Practical+Aspects+of+Sample+Preparation.">Direct Tissue Analysis Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Practical Aspects of Sample Preparation.</a> J. Mass Spectrom. 38, 699-708 (2003).</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=Marangoni+Effect+Reverses+Coffee-Ring+Depositions.">Marangoni Effect Reverses Coffee-Ring Depositions.</a> J. Phys. Chem. B. 110, 7090-7094 (2006).</li><li>Bhardwaj, R., Fang, X., Attinger, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pattern+Formation+During+the+Evaporation+of+a+Colloidal+Nanoliter+Drop:+A+Numerical+and+Experimental+Study.">Pattern Formation During the Evaporation of a Colloidal Nanoliter Drop: A Numerical and Experimental Study.</a> New J. Phys. 11, 075020 (2009).</li><li>Savino, R., Paterna, D., Favaloro, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Buoyancy+and+Marangoni+Effects+in+an+Evaporating+Drop.">Buoyancy and Marangoni Effects in an Evaporating Drop.</a> J Thermophys Heat Tr. 16, 562-574 (2002).</li><li>Probstein, R. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Surface Tension. in Physicochemical Hydrodynamics : An Introduction. , 305-361 (1994).</li><li>Lai, Y. -. H., 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=Reducing+Spatial+Heterogeneity+of+MALDI+Samples+with+Marangoni+Flows+During+Sample+Preparation.">Reducing Spatial Heterogeneity of MALDI Samples with Marangoni Flows During Sample Preparation.</a> J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 27, 1314-1321 (2016).</li><li>Hsiao, C. -. H., 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=Comprehensive+Molecular+Imaging+of+Photolabile+Surface+Samples+with+Synchronized+Dual-Polarity+Time-of-Flight+Mass+Spectrometry.">Comprehensive Molecular Imaging of Photolabile Surface Samples with Synchronized Dual-Polarity Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.</a> Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 25, 834-842 (2011).</li><li>Vorm, O., Roepstorff, P., Mann, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improved+Resolution+and+Very+High-Sensitivity+in+MALDI+TOF+of+Matrix+Surfaces+Made+by+Fast+Evaporation.">Improved Resolution and Very High-Sensitivity in MALDI TOF of Matrix Surfaces Made by Fast Evaporation.</a> Anal. Chem. 66, 3281-3287 (1994).</li><li>Gabriel, S. J., Schwarzinger, C., Schwarzinger, B., Panne, U., Weidner, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Matrix+Segregation+as+the+Major+Cause+for+Sample+Inhomogeneity+in+MALDI+Dried+Droplet+Spots.">Matrix Segregation as the Major Cause for Sample Inhomogeneity in MALDI Dried Droplet Spots.</a> J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 25, 1356-1363 (2014).</li><li>Mampallil, D., Eral, H. B., van den Ende, D., Mugele, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Control+of+Evaporating+Complex+Fluids+through+Electrowetting.">Control of Evaporating Complex Fluids through Electrowetting.</a> Soft Matter. 8, 10614-10617 (2012).</li></ol>

以前の理論的予測に基づいて、液滴内の温度誘導性の流体力学的な流れは、溶媒の蒸発によって誘導される外向きの毛細管流れを克服することができます。温度は、液滴増大内勾配時の分子のような内部再循環の効率が向上します。周囲温度でその周囲を維持しながら、5℃下、サンプルプレートの温度を維持した場合に予測された結果によれば、液滴内の再循環流の平均速度は、外側にキャ...

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>
</table>

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.

明視野画像並びにサンプルプレート5の温度25℃で調製マルトトリオース及びブラジキニンフラグメント（1-7）のMS画像は、図1に示されている。ナトリウムイオン付加マルトトリオース、イオン信号主としてを移入の場合それは、25℃のサンプルプレートの温度を用いて調製された試料領域の周囲に。 5℃にサンプルプレートの温度を下げることにより、信?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation of Homogeneous MALDI Samples for Quantitative Applications at JoVE.com

Preparation of Homogeneous MALDI Samples for Quantitative Applications

サンプルの乾燥工程時の基板温度を調節することにより、MALDI質量分析法におけるイオン信号の空間的な不均一性を低減するためのプロトコルが示されています。

定量的なアプリケーションのための均質なMALDI試料の調製

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

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

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

非コード小型RNA定量化のための高密度リポタンパク質の単離

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

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

細胞培養用ヒドロゲルの蛋白質ベースのアーキテクチャの簡単な操作

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

ペプチド ベースのマトリックスのためにサンプルを固定ホルマリンの最適な準備支援レーザー脱離イオン化質量分析イメージング ワークフロー

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

校正と単一のヌクレオチドの拡張子と MALDI-TOF 質量分析を用いた DNA 修復アッセイ

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

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

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

液体クロマトグラフィーとタンデム質量分析法を用いたサッカロミセス・セレビシエ細胞リピドームの定量的解析

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

並列反応モニタリングによるユビキチン連鎖解析

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

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

液体クロマトグラフィーとタンデム質量分析法を用いたサッ カロミセス・セレビシエ の定量的メタボロミクス

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

DNA上に集合したEWS-FLI1凝縮体の1分子イメージング

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 ...

A Robust Single-Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) Processing Workflow with cryoSPARC, RELION, and Scipion

A Robust Single-Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy cryo-EM Processing Workflow with cryoSPARC, RELION, and Scipion

クライオスパーク、リオン、サイピオンによる堅牢な単一粒子クライオ電子顕微鏡(クライオEM)処理ワークフロー

Recent advances in both instrumentation and image processing software have made single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) the preferred method ...

Identification of RNA Fragments Resulting from Enzymatic Degradation using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

MALDI−TOF質量分析法を用いた酵素分解によるRNA断片の同定

RNA is a biopolymer present in all domains of life, and its interactions with other molecules and/or reactive species, e.g., DNA, proteins, ions, drugs, ...