Development of a novel technique for direct analysis of single lipid droplets in mammalian cells by nanoESI-MS

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K14247
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 34020:Analytical chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Zhao Yaoyao 北海道大学, 保健科学研究院, 助教 (50800702)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: Lipid droplet / Mass spectrometry / Microextraction

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The analysis of lipid droplets (LDs) by mass spectrometry (MS) at the single LD level is still an analytical challenge. In this work, we developed a novel technique termed in-tip solvent microextraction mass spectrometry for the separation and pro-filing of phosphatidylcholines and triglycerides within a single LD. This method has been successfully used to analyze LDs in mammalian cells and to compare the profiles of triglycerides and phosphatidylcholines in LDs induced at different condi-tions. Our method has the potential to be applied to such fields as fundamental lipid biology, to further our understanding on the mechanisms of lipid production, lipid packaging, and their pathophysiological roles.

Free Research Field

Analytical Chemistry

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

新しい脂質評価法を開発し、人類の健康増進に貢献する。単一のLDレベルでの質量分析による脂肪滴の分析は、脂質生産のメカニズム、脂質パッケージング、およびそれらの病態生理学的役割についての理解を深めるために、基礎的な脂質生物学などの分野に適用される可能性があります。本研究成果は、このような生命システムを脂質分子種から網羅的に捉えることを可能とし、代謝異常が病態の背後に潜む疾患の分子メカニズムの解明に貢献できると考えられます。