Combining Mass Spectrometry with Paternò-Büchi Reaction to Determine Double-Bond Positions in Lipids at the Single-Cell Level

Anal Chem. 2020 Aug 18;92(16):11380-11387. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c02245. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

Abstract

Single cell MS (SCMS) techniques are under rapid development for molecular analysis of individual cells among heterogeneous populations. Lipids are basic cellular constituents playing essential functions in energy storage and the cellular signaling processes of cells. Unsaturated lipids are characterized with one or multiple carbon-carbon double (C═C) bonds, and they are critical for cell functions and human diseases. Characterizing unsaturated lipids in single cells allows for better understanding of metabolomic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of rare cells (e.g., cancer stem cells); however, these studies remain challenging. We developed a new technique using a micropipette needle, in which Paternò-Büchi (PB) reactions at C═C bond can be induced, to determine locations of C═C bonds in unsaturated lipids at the single-cell level. The micropipette needle is produced by combining a pulled glass capillary needle with a fused silica capillary. Cell lysis solvent and PB reagent (acetone or benzophenone) are delivered into the micropipette needle (tip size ≈ 15 um) through a fused silica capillary. The capillary needle plays multiple functions (i.e., single cell sampling probe, cell lysis container, microreactor, and nano-ESI emitter) in the experiments. Both regular (no reaction) and reactive (with PB reaction) SCMS analyses of the same cell can be achieved. C═C bond locations were determined from MS scan and MS/MS of PB products assisted by Python programs. This technique can potentially be used for other reactive SCMS studies to enhance molecular analysis for broad ranges of single cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetone / chemistry
  • Alkenes / analysis*
  • Alkenes / chemistry
  • Benzophenones / chemistry
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Limit of Detection
  • Lipids / analysis*
  • Lipids / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Single-Cell Analysis / instrumentation
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / instrumentation
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

  • Alkenes
  • Benzophenones
  • Lipids
  • Acetone
  • benzophenone