Mapping of Alkaloids in Dendrobatid Poison Frogs by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging (DESI-MSI)

• Grant number: 18/03577-0
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 10, 2018
• Effective date (End): January 18, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Principal researcher: Taran Grant
• Grantee: Adriana Moriguchi Jeckel
• Supervisor abroad: Demian Rocha Ifa
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: York University, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/09999-9 - Sequestration efficiency, metabolism and excretion of alkaloids in poison frogs and their non-sequestering relatives, BP.DR

Abstract

Several lineages of anurans independently evolved the ability to sequester alkaloids from their diet. To date, there are more than 1400 dietary alkaloids of 24 different classes described for poison frogs, but there is little information about the sequestration mechanism of these compounds from the alkaloid-containing arthropods. Animals that sequester might present means to avoid autointoxication, including modification of compounds either to facilitate excretion or in order to storage in a non-toxic metabolite. Mapping these alkaloids in the body of these amphibians will help elucidate the pathway, and organs and/or tissues that participate in the mechanism of alkaloids and its metabolism. DESI-IMS is a suitable technique for the mapping, since it ionizes the compounds directly in the sample tissue in ambient conditions and requires little preparation of the sample, allowing for better detection of small molecules like alkaloids.

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)

JECKEL, ADRIANA M.; MATSUMURA, KUNIHIRO; NISHIKAWA, KEISUKE; MORIMOTO, YOSHIKI; SAPORITO, RALPH A.; GRANT, TARAN; IFA, DEMIAN R.. Use of whole-body cryosectioning and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging to visualize alkaloid distribution in poison frogs. Journal of Mass Spectrometry, v. 55, n. 6, JUN 2020. (16/09999-9, 18/03577-0, 18/15425-0, 12/10000-5)