Analyses and Localization of Phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylserine in Murine Ocular Tissue Using Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) allows for spatial visualization of proteins, lipids, and metabolite distributions in a tissue. Identifying these compounds through mass spectrometry, combined with mapping the compound distribution in the sample in a targeted or untargeted approach, renders IMS a powerful tool for lipidomics. IMS analysis for lipid species such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine allows researchers to pinpoint areas of lipid deficiencies or accumulations associated with ocular disorders such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Here, we describe an end-to-end IMS approach from sample preparation to data analysis for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine analysis.

Keywords: AP/MALDI; High-resolution mass spectrometry; Imaging mass spectrometry; Lipid localization; Phosphatidylcholine; Phosphatidylserine.