title: MALDI imaging of neutral cuticular lipids in insects and plants.
abstract: The spatial distribution of neutral lipids and hydrocarbons has been imaged using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry on intact plant and insect surfaces, namely wings and legs of the gray flesh fly (Neobellieria bullata), wings of common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), leaves of thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), and leaves of date palm tree (Phoenix sp.). The distribution of wax esters (WEs) and saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons (HCs) was visualized. The samples were attached on a target and multiply sprayed with lithium or sodium 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate. The deposits were homogenous, consisting of small islands (50-150 microm) of matrix crystals separated by small areas (10 microm) of uncovered cuticle. Samples of N. bullata wings were found to contain HCs and WEs distributed close to their basal parts. The distribution of sodium and potassium ions was visualized on samples prepared by sublimation of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Pheromonal dienes were detected on D. melanogaster female wings. A homogenous distribution of saturated WEs was observed on A. thaliana and Phoenix sp. leaf samples. The optimum number of laser shots per pixel was found to be higher than for polar compounds imaging.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vrkoslav
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muck
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cvacka
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svatos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004175:Diptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005841:Gentisates / Q000737:chemistry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005841:Gentisates; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; C010925:2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid