MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Peptides in Medicago truncatula Root Nodules

Mass spectrometry imaging is routinely used to visualize the distributions of biomolecules in tissue sections. In plants, mass spectrometry imaging of metabolites is more often conducted, but the imaging of larger molecules is less frequently performed despite the importance of proteins and endogenous peptides to the plant. Here, we describe a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging method for the imaging of peptides in Medicago truncatula root nodules. Sample preparation steps including embedding in gelatin, sectioning, and matrix application are described. The method described is employed to determine the spatial distribution of hundreds of peptide peaks.