EMU: acquisition of the tims-Tof Flex MALDI-2 spectrometer for metabolomic studies: first high-performance isomeric separation system in Latin America coupled with post-ionization laser activation

• Grant number: 22/11454-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Scientific
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Norberto Peporine Lopes
• Grantee: Norberto Peporine Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Cristiane Cassiolato Pires Hardoim ; Cristiano Soleo de Funari ; Gustavo Henrique Goldman ; Jairo Kenupp Bastos ; Leticia Veras Costa Lotufo ; Mônica Tallarico Pupo ; Ricardo Roberto da Silva ; Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani

Abstract

Metabolomics studies have grown dramatically around the world in several areas of science. Technological advances over the last two decades have allowed the development of metabolome analyzes at a level of detail never imagined. Mass spectrometry instruments are the most used tools to investigate this chemical diversity associated with biological systems. However, topics such as analysis in the fifth dimension or gain in resolution of images of metabolites at the cellular level, until recently, remained only a perspective of the future. About two years ago the company Bruker launched the timsTOF system with the increments mentioned above. Its incredible performance improvement, such as spatial focusing and temporal focusing of ions, accumulated for 100 milliseconds and eluted in chromatography for about 5 milliseconds, allow accelerating the equipment to acquisition rates of about 120-150 Hz. The result is that about 60 different substances can be analyzed every 0.5 seconds, obtaining information on m/z, isotopic pattern, mobility and fragmentation. Another point to be highlighted is the possibility of applying what has been called "Spatialomics", which, in addition to identifying the metabolites by the fragmentation pattern, allows to obtain their location at the cellular level (about 5 micrometers in spatial resolution). ) making the so-called "single cell" line of research a reality. In summary, this public notice opens perspectives for us to take a qualitative leap in metabolomics research carried out in Brazil, through the acquisition of the system called tims-Tof FlexMALDI-2. It is the first system in Latin America and definitely opens the way for single cell studies in the country. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LOPES, NORBERTO PEPORINE; KATO, NATALIA NAOMI; BUQUI, GABRIELA AMARAL; MENDONCA, JACQUELINE NAKAU; LOPES, JOAO LUIS CALLEGARI; LOPEZ, RENATA FONSECA VIANNA. Mapping Cutaneous Tissue Distribution of Sesquiterpene Lactone Goyazensolide Using MALDI Imaging. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY, v. 34, n. 6, p. 6-pg., 2024-06-27. (22/05378-0, 20/02207-5, 22/11454-1)