title: Identification of Microalgae by Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Multiple Nanomatrices.
abstract: In this study, we demonstrate a simple method to identify microalgae by surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) using three different substrates: HgSe, HgTe, and HgTeSe nanostructures. The fragmentation/ionization processes of complex molecules in algae varied according to the heat absorption and transfer efficiency of the nanostructured matrices (NMs). Therefore, the mass spectra obtained for microalgae showed different patterns of m/z values for different NMs. The spectra contained both significant and nonsignificant peaks. Constructing a Venn diagram with the significant peaks obtained for algae when using HgSe, HgTe, and HgTeSe NMs in m/z ratio range 100-1000, a unique relationship among the three sets of values was obtained. This unique relationship of sets is different for each species of microalgae. Therefore, by observing the particular relationship of sets, we successfully identified different algae such as Isochrysis galbana, Emiliania huxleyi, Thalassiosira weissflogii, Nannochloris sp., Skeletonema cf. costatum, and Tetraselmis chui. This simple and cost-effective SALDI-MS analysis method coupled with multi-nanomaterials as substrates may be extended to identify other microalgae and microorganisms in real samples. Graphical Abstract Identification of microalgae by surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry coupled with three different mercury-based nanosubstrates.
authors: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2, Pei-Ning Road, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan.
authors: Lung-Hsiang
authors: LH
authors: Peng
authors: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2, Pei-Ning Road, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan.
authors: Binesh
authors: B
authors: Unnikrishnan
authors: Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors: Chi-Yu
authors: CY
authors: Shih
authors: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2, Pei-Ning Road, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan.
authors: Tung-Ming
authors: TM
authors: Hsiung
authors: Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.|Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.|Institute of Marine Environmental Chemistry and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors: Jeng
authors: J
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2, Pei-Ning Road, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan.
authors: Pang-Hung
authors: PH
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Applied Science, National Taitung University, 369, Sec. 2, University Rd., Taitung, 95092, Taiwan. tcchiu@nttu.edu.tw.
authors: Tai-Chia
authors: TC
authors: Chiu
authors: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2, Pei-Ning Road, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan. huanging@ntou.edu.tw.|Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan. huanging@ntou.edu.tw.|School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. huanging@ntou.edu.tw.
authors: Chih-Ching
authors: CC
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D006358:Hot Temperature; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008970:Molecular Weight; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010802:Phylogeny; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D017669:Mercury Compounds; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: Identification; Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry; Matrices; Microalgae; Nanostructures