Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yiwei Ma, Zhaoyu Zheng, Sihang Xu, Athula Attygalle, Isaac Yi Kim, Henry Du
Summary: Researchers have proposed a new technique to monitor untargeted urine metabolites for evaluating prostate cancer aggressiveness and treatment outcome. By directly chemically profiling urine and analyzing mass spectroscopy data, they can reveal urinary metabolic alterations associated with prostate cancer recurrence.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yonghui Dong, Nir Shachaf, Liron Feldberg, Ilana Rogachev, Uwe Heinig, Asaph Aharoni
Summary: PICA is an efficient approach to increase confidence in metabolite identification in MALDI imaging by utilizing ISF. It extracts and associates in-source fragments with precursor ions to generate pseudo-MS/MS spectra for identification. PICA accurately identifies co-localized ions as in-source fragments and provides rich information for precursor ion identification. It also allows for the identification of unknown metabolites through known ones.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Vishnu Shankar, Robert Tibshirani, Richard N. Zare
Summary: DESI-MSI has been increasingly used for detecting metabolites and lipids from human tissues and biofluids, but accurate computational and statistical methods are necessary to identify significant differences. MassExplorer is a flexible tool that helps researchers preprocess data, visualize structures, and select statistically significant metabolites.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
G. Asher Newsome, Kathleen M. Martin
Summary: This study examines selected Native American woven woodsplint basketry created between 1870 and 1983 to recover traditional knowledge on their manufacture by identifying dyes or colorants. An ambient mass spectrometry system is used to non-invasively sample from intact objects, with no cutting or exposure to liquid. The analysis process involves thermal desorption, gas phase analysis, and photoionization for real-time identification of dye molecules.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Lanaia Itala Louzeiro Maciel, Ricardo Alves Bernardo, Rafael Oliveira Martins, Almir Custodio Batista Jr, Joao Victor Ataide Oliveira, Andrea Rodrigues Chaves, Boniek Gontijo Vaz
Summary: The imaging of biological tissues using mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) techniques allows for the visualization of the distribution of various metabolites, drugs, lipids, and glycans in complex samples. MSI methods like DESI-MSI and MALDI-MSI provide high sensitivity and the ability to evaluate/visualize multiple analytes in a single sample, overcoming limitations of classical microscopy techniques. This review discusses the application of DESI-MSI and MALDI-MSI in evaluating exogenous and endogenous molecules in biological samples, providing technical insights and recent research findings.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sangwon Cha, Gyouwoong Jun, Yougyeong Park, Sung Jun An, Donghoon Lee
Summary: Nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) was used to analyze the metabolite fingerprints on Hypericum leaves. The intensity changes of key metabolites over time were observed through full mass scan experiments and monitored using selected ion monitoring and pseudo-selected reaction monitoring experiments. The correlation between the time-dependent changes in the metabolite fingerprints and depth-wise metabolite distribution was examined by removing the surface layers of the leaves multiple times.
Article
Oncology
Daniela D. Weber, Sepideh Aminzadeh-Gohari, Maheshwor Thapa, Anna-Sophia Redtenbacher, Luca Catalano, Tania Capeloa, Thibaut Vazeille, Michael Emberger, Thomas K. Felder, Rene G. Feichtinger, Peter Koelblinger, Guido Dallmann, Pierre Sonveaux, Roland Lang, Barbara Kofler
Summary: The study demonstrates that ketogenic diets have significant inhibitory effects on tumor growth and metastasis, regardless of the tumor's genetic background, metabolic characteristics, and host immune status. Ketogenic diets create an unfavorable environment for melanoma cell proliferation by affecting multiple metabolic pathways.
CANCER & METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Hsiao-Wei Liao, Yu-Wen Cheng, Sung-Chun Tang, Ching-Hua Kuo
Summary: Metabolomics is a technique used to study the changes in metabolites in biological systems. The accurate observation of metabolite levels is crucial for both targeted and untargeted analysis. This study identified the bias caused by incomplete metabolite extraction and matrix effect in the commonly used methanol extraction method for human plasma sample preparation. The proposed metabolite extraction evaluation method has the potential to benefit clinical and biological metabolomics studies.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Fengjian Chu, Gaosheng Zhao, Wangyu Li, Wei Wei, Weiwei Chen, Zihan Ma, Zhan Gao, Nazifi Sani Shuaibu, Jikui Luo, Bingwen Yu, Hongru Feng, Yuanjiang Pan, Xiaozhi Wang
Summary: A microwave plasma torch-based ion/molecular reactor (MPTIR) has been developed for creating and monitoring rapid oxidation reactions without the addition of external oxidants or catalysts. The oxidation products from the MPTIR match those of the long-term environmental oxidative process, and two unreported environmental compounds were identified in actual water samples using this device.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Christopher Papandreou, Christos Papagiannopoulos, Myrto Koutsonida, Afroditi Kanellopoulou, Georgios Markozannes, Georgios Polychronidis, Andreas G. Tzakos, Georgios A. Fragkiadakis, Evangelos Evangelou, Evangelia Ntzani, Ioanna Tzoulaki, Eleni Aretouli, Konstantinos K. Tsilidis
Summary: This study aimed to generate a metabolite profile for adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and evaluate its association with cognitive performance. The study found that in a middle-aged Mediterranean population, the metabolite profile related to adherence to the MedDiet was not associated with cognitive test results.
CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Lidia Molina-Millan, Aljoscha Koerber, Bryn Flinders, Berta Cillero-Pastor, Eva Cuypers, Ron M. A. Heeren
Summary: Synthetic polymers, when improperly disposed of, accumulate in the environment and pose potential health risks by degrading into micro- and nanoparticles (MNPs). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) can be used to study biological or toxicological changes in organisms exposed to MNPs. MALDI-2 has been found to enhance the sensitivity of polymer analysis, making it a promising tool for studying the distribution of polymers in biological systems.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nina Miljanovic, Roelof Maarten van Dijk, Verena Buchecker, Heidrun Potschka
Summary: Metabolic alterations in a Dravet mouse model were analyzed using untargeted metabolomics, showing changes in energy metabolism and impact on the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle. In addition, reductions in hippocampal levels of noradrenaline, corticosterone, and two bile acids were observed.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Alena N. Joignant, Hongxia Bai, Jacob P. Guymon, Kenneth P. Garrard, Mark Pankow, David C. Muddiman
Summary: This article presents the development and characterization of the NextGen infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) instrument, including the development of a new analysis geometry. The study demonstrates comparable results between vertically oriented transmission mode (tm)-IR-MALDESI and reflection mode (rm)-IR-MALDESI on mouse tissue. It also examines the use of glycerol as an alternative matrix, which shows little improvement in ion abundances for tm-IR-MALDESI.
RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Juha-Pekka Hieta, Nina Sipari, Heikki Raikkonen, Markku Keinanen, Risto Kostiainen
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of infrared laser ablation atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (LAAPPI-MS) in analyzing the substructures of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and its application in depth profiling analysis. The results show that LAAPPI-MS can detect variations in the distribution of various metabolites among different substructures of A. thaliana leaves.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Christoph H. Weinert, Frederike Sonntag, Bjoern Egert, Elke Pawelzik, Sabine E. Kulling, Inga Smit
Summary: The study investigated the impact of potassium fertilization on the metabolite profile of tomato fruits through an outdoor pot experiment, finding that increased potassium supply mainly led to higher levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, changes in the mobile nitrogen pool and minor sugars, as well as elevated levels of some secondary metabolites in the fruits. The response to potassium fertilization varied among different tomato cultivars, with cultivar-specific effects observed. Future studies need to consider the differences between cultivars more carefully.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad Mofidfar, Xiaowei Song, John T. T. Kelly, Mitchell H. H. Rubenstein, Richard N. N. Zare
Summary: Using silicone wristband electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SWESI-MS), the internal surface of a wristband can be exposed to sweat metabolites and the external surface can be exposed to environmental factors. A small amount of a water:methanol solution can effectively extract metabolites and chemicals from various sources. This method allows for onsite sampling, simple testing, and automatic data searching, making it suitable for monitoring hazardous chemical contamination and sweat-secreted metabolites.
ISRAEL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yifan Meng, Elumalai Gnanamani, Richard N. Zare
Summary: In this study, hydroxyl radicals generated in situ were used for an organic transformation to synthesize anilines from aryl acids and ammonia/primary or secondary amines via decarboxylation. This one-step reaction occurred at room temperature without the need for metal catalysts or organic solvents. The scope of this transformation includes various types of amines and aromatic acids, enabling the synthesis of aniline and N-substituted anilines in a single step.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Summer Ramsay-Burrough, Daniel P. Marron, Keith C. Armstrong, Trevor J. Del Castillo, Richard N. Zare, Robert M. Waymouth
Summary: The strategy of improving catalyst performance is achieved by replacing ligands. Experimental results show that using 7,7'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-biquinoline (L3) as the ligand can enhance the catalyst's effectiveness. Furthermore, changes in ligand structure can also modulate the regioselectivity of the substrate.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaowei Song, Chanbasha Basheer, Richard N. Zare
Summary: Water microdroplets containing ammonia are synthesized in a gas-liquid-solid heterogeneous catalytic system without the need for electric potential or irradiation. The conversion rate reaches 32.9 ± 1.38 nmol s(-1) cm(-2) at room temperature. This eco-friendly and low-cost one-step nitrogen-fixation strategy converts widely available starting materials into a value-added product.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tao Zhang, Sarah E. Noll, Jesus T. Peng, Amman Klair, Abigail Tripka, Nathan Stutzman, Casey Cheng, Richard N. Zare, Alexandra J. Dickinson
Summary: Understanding the principles of plant growth is essential for agriculture and multicellular development research. Using DESI-MSI, we mapped the chemical distribution in developing maize roots and discovered various small molecule patterns across the stem cell differentiation gradient. Through the analysis of TCA cycle metabolites in Arabidopsis and maize, we found that these metabolites are enriched in developmentally opposing regions and control root development in distinct ways. These findings shed light on plant development and offer practical methods for regulating plant growth.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yifan Dai, Christian F. Chamberlayne, Marco S. Messina, Christopher J. Chang, Richard N. Zare, Lingchong You, Ashutosh Chilkoti
Summary: Biomolecular condensates play a crucial role in various cellular processes. This study reveals that the interface of condensates establishes an electric potential gradient, leading to spontaneous redox reactions in vitro and in living cells. These findings highlight the importance of the condensate interface in modulating biochemical activities.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wanbo Li, Chiu-wing Chan, Zeyu Li, Sin -Yung Siu, Siyu Chen, Han Sun, Zeyu Liu, Yisu Wang, Chong Hu, Nicola Maria Pugno, Richard N. Zare, Hongkai Wu, Kangning Ren
Summary: Developing versatile and robust surfaces that mimic the skins of living beings to regulate matter is crucial for bioinspired applications. This study presents a novel strategy of preparing a stable and monolithic surface for efficient matter regulation. The key to achieving superwettability and durability lies in the geometric-material mechanics design. The surface demonstrates versatility in manufacturing feasibility, multiple-use modes, and long-term air trapping in deep water, as well as multilevel durability needed for real-world applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yifan Meng, Richard N. Zare, Elumalai Gnanamani
Summary: Benzoic acid dissolved in water is electrosprayed to form microdroplets, which undergo decarboxylation to produce phenol. This ecofriendly method does not require any catalyst or added reagents, and the transformation mechanism was characterized using mass spectrometry and labeling techniques.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xuke Chen, Yu Xia, Zhenyuan Zhang, Lei Hua, Xiuquan Jia, Feng Wang, Richard N. Zare
Summary: Contact between water and oil can result in new chemical reactions, producing CO2, H·, H2, and short-chain hydrocarbons. This reaction is caused by contact electrification at the water-oil microdroplet interface, generating reactive oxygen species.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sason Shaik, David Danovich, Richard N. Zare
Summary: This paper describes the nature of hydrogen bond using valence bond theory. The analysis shows that polarization and charge transfer are the most important interactions in hydrogen bonds, and their sum is identical for different energy decomposition analysis methods. The total covalent-ionic resonance energy of the hydrogen bond is linearly correlated with the dissociation energy of the bond. The contributions of ionic structures to the hydrogen bond increase the positive charge on the hydrogen and contribute to catalytic reactions.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Yifan Meng, Wei Hang, Richard N. Zare
Summary: Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) allows for the chemical mapping of molecules and elements in a high-throughput manner without the need for labeling. A microlensed fiber, made from grinding an optical fiber, is used to achieve subcellular spatial resolution. This universal and economical technique can be adapted to various laser-based mass spectrometry methods.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yu Xia, Juan Li, Yuanzheng Zhang, Yongguang Yin, Bolei Chen, Yong Liang, Guibin Jiang, Richard N. Zare
Summary: Spontaneous generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurs when water vapor contacts hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl groups on a silicate surface, which is confirmed by time-resolved FT-IR spectroscopy. The involvement of water vapor in ROS generation is further supported by studying the reaction of D2O vapor and hydroxyl groups on a silicate surface. It is proposed that the change of the hydrogen-bonding network and electron transfer onto the silicate surface during water vapor-solid contact process contribute to ROS production.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yifan Meng, Richard N. Zare, Elumalai Gnanamani
Summary: In this study, a catalyst-free and reagent-free method for converting benzoic acid to phenol in water solution using electrospray technique was reported. The conversion mechanism was characterized using mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, and oxygen isotope labeling, revealing the direct decarboxylation of benzoic acid to phenol in microdroplets. This environmentally friendly approach provides a new route for the synthesis of phenol and related aromatic alcohols.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaowei Song, Chanbasha Basheer, Yu Xia, Juan Li, Ismail Abdulazeez, Abdulaziz Al-Saadi, Mohammad Mofidfar, Mohammed Altahir Suliman, Richard Zare
Summary: This study develops a new catalytic system that utilizes a graphite mesh covered with a CuBi2O4 coating and a mixture of N-2 and CO2 as the nebulizing gas to synthesize urea in water microdroplets. The reaction converts greenhouse gases into a value-added product in an ecofriendly process.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Fabio Bigini, Soo Hyeon Lee, Young Joo Sun, Yang Sun, Vinit B. Mahajan
Summary: Gene therapy is a rapidly advancing field with the potential to transform the treatment of genetic diseases. The development of novel CRISPR systems, such as Cas12 and Cas13, has overcome limitations of previous systems and offers unique advantages. In ocular gene therapy applications, Cas12 and Cas13 have the potential to treat inflammation and cell death, as well as target various disease mechanisms. Their ability to target multiple genes simultaneously holds promise for treating ocular disorders, but further refinement is needed to ensure safety and efficacy.