Molecular Profiling of Native and Matrix-Coated Tissue Slices from Rat Brain by Infrared and Ultraviolet Laser Desorption/Ionization Orthogonal Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Phospho- and glycolipids contained in the plasma membrane of neuronal tissue were profiled by direct infraredlaser desorption/ionization orthogonal time-of-flight massspectrometry (IR-LDI-o-TOF-MS), performed on cryosected native slices generated from rat brain. About 100different detected lipid species are putatively assignedbased on their molecular weight. Spraying of potassiumacetate onto the slices was found to facilitate data interpretation in positive ion mode by reducing residualsodium adduct ion intensities. Coating the slices withmatrix and using an ultraviolet laser for UV-MALDI-o-TOF-MS extends the analysis to peptides and smallproteins but induces analyte diffusion. Peptides andpartially cleaved proteins derived from proteolytic digestswere recorded after incubation of native sections withtrypsin and subsequent coating of the slices with MALDImatrix.