Single-cell lipidomic analysis of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) using MALDI-MSI

ABSTRACT:

EMT is a metastasis-promoting process whose heterogeneity has been extensively studied at a gene expression level. EMT also involves reprogramming of lipid metabolism, however there has been little focus on heterogeneity on the lipid level. Here, we use MALDI-MSI to determine the levels of various glycerophospholipids at the single cell level during EGF-induced EMT in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. Cells undergoing EMT had reduced levels of PA, PS, PE and PI-species, as well as increased levels of PG-species and LPI (18:0). Applying multivariate analysis on the spatially resolved MALDI-data, we found that the metabolic response was heterogeneous, with varying degrees of alteration of lipid-levels after EMT.  Cell organization also  affected lipid regulation, as dispersed cells were more “EMT-like” than cohesive cells.  The fraction of dispersed cells increased substantially during EMT, indicating that pathways which regulate adhesion and motility also regulate lipid metabolism.

INSTRUMENT(S): MS Imaging -

PROVIDER: MTBLS12650 | MetaboLights | 2026-04-15

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights