Mass Spectrometry-based Single-Cell Lipidomics: Advancements, Challenges, and the Path Forward

Area of Science:

• Metabolomics
• Lipidomics
• Mass Spectrometry (MS)

Background:

• Lipidomics, a subdiscipline of metabolomics, has gained attention, with mass spectrometry (MS) as a primary tool.
• Traditional bulk cell lipidomics masks crucial cell-to-cell heterogeneity.
• Single-cell lipidomics lags behind other 'omics' fields, leaving cellular lipid heterogeneity unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in MS-based single-cell lipidomics.
• To explore reasons for the slow development of single-cell lipidomics techniques.
• To identify knowledge gaps and propose future methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent advancements in mass spectrometry-based single-cell lipidomics.
• Analysis of challenges hindering single-cell lipidomics development.
• Identification of key knowledge gaps in the field.

Main Results:

• Mass spectrometry (MS) is a sensitive and versatile tool for lipid analysis.
• Bulk lipidomics obscures cellular heterogeneity, limiting functional insights.
• Significant challenges impede the progress of single-cell lipidomics.

Conclusions:

• Single-cell lipidomics is crucial for understanding cellular heterogeneity.
• Addressing current knowledge gaps is vital for advancing the field.
• Future methodologies are needed to propel single-cell lipidomics forward.