MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI-MSI): Bridging proteomics and imaging.

The instrument acquired in this project is a matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer capable of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). This technique is especially developed for the identification of biomolecules in a manner that retains cytological and histological patterning. This novel technical process, abbreviated to MALDI-MSI represents an interesting and extremely productive intersection between mass spectrometric and imaging platforms. Therefore, this grant is bridging 3 University of Antwerp CORE facilities (Center for Proteomics, Bio-Imaging lab and the Biomedical Microscopic Imaging Core). Using this MALDI-MSI platform, multiple research groups, brought together by a common interest in investigating molecular damage associated with aberrant aging mechanisms, will be able to identify a diverse range of small molecules (peptides and metabolites) as well as larger proteins directly on tissue slides, preserving the topological, histological and cytological data. This is not possible with routine proteomics and metabolomics technologies nor with advanced imaging techniques.

Keywords:EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Disciplines:Diagnostics, Laboratory medicine, Medicinal products