Chemical and biological differentiation of three human breast cancer cell types using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.
We use time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) to image and classify individual cells on the basis of their characteristic mass spectra. Using statistical data reduction on the large data sets generated during TOF-SIMS analysis, similar biological materials can be differentiated on the basis of a combination of small changes in protein expression, metabolic activity and cell structure. We apply this powerful technique to image and differentiate three carcinoma-derived human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231). In homogenized cells, we show the ability to differentiate the cell types as well as cellular compartments (cytosol, nuclear, and membrane). These studies illustrate the capacity of TOF-SIMS to characterize individual cells by chemical composition, which could ultimately be applied to detect and identify single aberrant cells within a normal cell population. Ultimately, we anticipate characterizing rare chemical changes that may provide clues to single cell progression within carcinogenic and metastatic pathways.
Kulp
Kristen S
KS
Biosciences Directorate and Chemistry and Material Sciences Directorate, P.O. Box 808, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA. kulp2@llnl.gov
Berman
Elena S F
ES
Knize
Mark G
MG
Shattuck
David L
DL
Nelson
Erik J
EJ
Wu
Ligang
L
Montgomery
Jennifer L
JL
Felton
James S
JS
Wu
Kuang Jen
KJ
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D018629:Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
D000596:Amino Acids; D011506:Proteins