Single embryo and oocyte lipid fingerprinting by mass spectrometry

Abstract

Methods used for lipid analysis in embryos and oocytes usually involve selective lipid extraction from a pool of many samples followed by chemical manipulation, separation and characterization of individual components by chromatographic techniques. Herein we report direct analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) of single and intact embryos or oocytes from various species. Biological samples were simply moisturized with the matrix solution and characteristic lipid (represented by phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins and triacylglycerols) profi les were obtained via MALDI-MS. As representative examples, human, bovine, sheep and fi sh oocytes, as well as bovine and insect embryos were analyzed. MALDI-MS is shown to be capable of providing characteristic lipid profi les of gametes and embryos and also to respond to modifi cations due to developmental stages and in vitro culture conditions of bovine embryos. Investigation in developmental biology of the biological roles of structural and reserve lipids in embryos and oocytes should therefore benefi t from these rapid MALDI-MS profi les from single and intact species. -Ferreira, C. R., S. A. Saraiva, R. R. Catharino, J. S. Garcia, F. C. Gozzo, G. B. Sanvido, L. F. A. Santos, E. G. Lo Turco, J. H. F. Pontes, A. C. Basso, R. P. Bertolla, R. Sartori, M. M. Guardieiro, F. Perecin, F. V. Meirelles, J. R. Sangalli, and M. N. Eberlin. Single embryo and oocyte lipid fi ngerprinting by mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2010 by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.