Ion Mobility-Coupled Mass Spectrometry for Metallophore Detection
Bailey A Bell1, Josephine M Anderson1, Scott R Rajski1
1Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.
Journal of Natural Products
|February 10, 2025
Summary
We developed a novel method using ion mobility-coupled mass spectrometry (IM-MS) to rapidly detect metal-binding molecules (metallophores) in complex bacterial extracts. This technique improves sensitivity and metal selectivity for identifying natural products.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Microbiology
Background:
- Metallophores are crucial for microbial interactions and bacterial survival.
- Existing metallophore identification methods suffer from low sensitivity, poor metal selectivity, and complex data analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, sensitive, and selective method for detecting metallophores in natural product extracts.
- To overcome limitations of current metallophore identification techniques.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ion mobility-coupled mass spectrometry (IM-MS) for metallophore detection.
- Compared direct infusion (DI) and liquid chromatography (LC) separation coupled with IM-MS.
- Analyzed marine bacterial extracts with and without added metals to identify metal-binding metabolites by changes in mass and mobility.
Main Results:
- Developed a novel IM-MS approach for metallophore detection based on mass and mobility shifts.
- DI-IM-MS generally outperformed LC-IM-MS in speed and simplicity, though LC improved detection in some cases by reducing ion suppression.
- Identified 10 metallophores in a marine *Micromonospora* sp. extract.
Conclusions:
- IM-MS provides a rapid and effective method for detecting metal-binding natural products in complex biological samples.
- The comparison of mass and mobility data with and without metals enables specific metallophore identification.
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