MALDI mass spectrometric imaging using the stretched sample method to reveal neuropeptide distributions in aplysia nervous tissue.

ABSTRACT: Neuropeptides are a diverse set of complex cell-cell signaling molecules that modulate behavior, learning, and memory. Their spatially heterogeneous distributions, large number of post-translational modifications, and wide range of physiologically active concentrations make their characterization challenging. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric imaging is well-suited to characterizing and mapping neuropeptides in the central nervous system. Because matrix application can cause peptide migration within tissue samples, application parameters for MALDI typically represent a compromise between attaining the highest signal quality and preserving native spatial distributions. The stretched sample approach minimizes this trade-off by fragmenting the tissue secti

SUBMITTER: Zimmerman TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2837479 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature