Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2026

Multi-Faceted Mass Spectrometric Investigation of Neuropeptides in Callinectes sapidus
Published on: May 31, 2022
Separation and identification of peptides in single neurons by microcolumn liquid chromatography-matrix-assisted
S Hsieh1, K Dreisewerd, R C van der Schors
1Department of Molecules and Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School Neurosciences Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Faculty of Biology, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Microcolumn liquid chromatography (LC) was interfaced with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) for separation and identification of peptides present in single neurons from the brain of the snail Lymnaea stagnalis. The nanoliter microcolumn LC effluent, mixed off-line with nanoliter matrix solution, was deposited onto the sample target every 60 s, producing fractions of approximately 145 nL in volume, which, upon drying, produced spots of approximately 1 mm in size. At the end of the chromatographic separation, fractions from the sample target were scanned by MALDI-TOF-MS. Identification of peptide peaks was achieved on the basis of LC elution order and mass information. Further identification based on sequence information was carried out for a native peptide fractionated by microcolumn LC from a single neuron with the postsource decay technique.
Related Concept Videos
Peptide Identification Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry
This technique helps gather information regarding the protein from which the peptide was obtained and to study the peptides’ amino acid sequence. Identifying peptides from a complex mixture is an important component of the growing field of...
MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI)

