Single embryo and oocyte lipid fingerprinting by mass spectrometry

• Grant number: 10/05854-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: July 01, 2010
• End date: December 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Nogueira Eberlin
• Grantee: Marcos Nogueira Eberlin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Methods used for lipid analysis in embryos and oocytes usually involve selective lipid extraction from a pool of many samples followed by chemical manipulation, separation and characterization of individual components by chromatographic techniques. Herein we report direct analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) of single and intact embryos or oocytes from various species. Biological samples were simply moisturized with the matrix solution and characteristic lipids (represented by phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins and triacylglycerols) profiles were obtained via MALDI-MS. As representative examples, human, bovine, sheep and fish oocytes, as well as bovine and insect embryos were analyzed. MALDI-MS is shown to be capable of providing characteristic lipid profiles of gametes and embryos and also to respond to modifications due to developmental stages and in vitro culture conditions of bovine embryos. Investigation of the biological roles of structural and reserve lipids in embryos and oocytes by MALDI-MS offers new opportunities for comprehensive lipid research in developmental biology. (AU)