Services
Sample Preparation
Sample preparation is highly important to obtain high quality mass spectrometry imaging data. Sections that are free from artifacts such as folds and tears are necessary to accurate map the location of biomolecules. Matrices and/or enzymes are necessary to desorb and ionize molecules from the tissue surface and must be applied in a way that provides adequate extraction without inducing delocalization.
- Epredia NX50 Cryostat: For sectioning of frozen tissue prior to enzyme and/or matrix application
- HTX M5 Robotic Reagent Sprayer: The sprayer allows for finely-controlled, highly reproducible application of proteolytic enzymes and matrices to tissue sections, ensuring consistent results across entire sample cohorts. The heated nozzle and sample tray facilitate formation of ultrafine crystals with minimal delocalization for high resolution imaging.
Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Traditional omics techniques involve homogenization of tissue, resulting in the loss of cellular neighborhood relationships. Mass spectrometry imaging analyzes biomolecules in situ, preserving this important interaction information.
- Bruker timsTOF fleX MALDI2 Mass Spectrometer: Spatial mapping of molecules up to m/z 5000 from tissue sections. The instrument is equipped with a 10 kHz Nd:YAG laser for collection of up to 50 pixels per second
- IonPath MIBI TOF Mass Spectrometer: Being operated as a SIMS instrument for subcellar spatial mapping of small metabolites.
Data Analysis
Data mining is important for uncovering molecular insights. The facility provides basic statistical analysis tools and capabilities to export data in other formats for work with informaticians.
- SCiLS Lab: Bruker's data analysis platform that allows for visualization of ion maps, basic statistical testing, segmentation/clustering, ROI generation and export to other data formats.
- MetaboScape: Database software that integrates directly with SCiLS Lab to provide identification of biomolecules detected in imaging experiments. Custom libraries can be generated from parallel proteomics and metabolomics experiments to increase MSI identifications.
Other Services
- Histology: H&E staining of serial tissue sections or the same tissue section as used for MSI data collection.
- Section Digitization: Digital brightfield microscopy imaging of stained tissue sections.
- MALDI-IHC: The use of antibodies with photo-cleavable peptide reporter tags to label cells in tissue sections. This approach can be highly multiplexed, labeling over 100 proteins in a single experiment.
- Computational Analysis Training: High powered workstation available for use of SCiLS and MetaboScape.