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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
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Imaging of Biological Tissues by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: July 12, 2013
Structurally selective imaging mass spectrometry by imaging ion mobility-mass spectrometry
John A McLean1, Larissa S Fenn, Jeffrey R Enders
1Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 4, 2010
Summary
Imaging ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) rapidly separates and identifies biomolecules, including isobaric species. This technique enhances molecular analysis in life sciences research, particularly for tissue sections.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Spectrometry
Background:
- Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analytical technique.
- Ion mobility (IM) separation enhances MS by separating ions based on size and shape.
- Combining IM with MS (IM-MS) offers advanced molecular characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the utility of structurally based separations using ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS).
- To detail the capabilities of rapid IM separations combined with imaging MS for practitioners.
- To highlight the application of imaging IM-MS in life sciences research.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing rapid (mus-ms) ion mobility separations coupled with imaging mass spectrometry.
- Describing drift tube and traveling wave IM-MS instrumentation.
- Presenting protocols for calculating ion-neutral collision cross sections from IM-MS data.
Main Results:
- Imaging IM-MS enables rapid separation and elucidation of diverse biomolecules (nucleotides, carbohydrates, peptides, lipids).
- The technique successfully distinguishes isobaric species.
- Selective imaging of peptide/protein and lipid distributions in thin tissue sections was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Imaging IM-MS is a valuable tool for analyzing complex biological samples.
- The technology facilitates detailed molecular distribution analysis in life sciences.
- Future directions include rapid and multiplexed imaging IM-MS/MS for enhanced discovery.
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