MALDI imaging and analysis of fossils

化石的 MALDI 成像和分析

• 批准号: 467267648
• 负责人: Privatdozentin Dr. Marianne Engeser
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Units
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/467267648?language=en
• 关键词: MALDI; imaging; analysis; fossils

Modern mass spectrometry in combination with soft ionization techniques is a powerful tool for the characterization of molecular and supramolecular compounds. It not only provides the mass of the molecules, but it can also yield information on their structure and on the sequence and modifications of biopolymers. Currently, there are many well-established mass spectrometric methods and measuring protocols for applications in life sciences, chemistry, pharmacy, forensics etc. that target a broad variety of molecules ranging from proteins and peptides, lipids, sugars, organic molecules, metal complexes to synthetic polymers with extreme sensitivity. It is thus very tempting to use modern mass spectrometry to detect organic remains in fossil samples. Many of the established procedures, however, stem from life sciences and cannot directly be applied to mineralized samples. Demineralization and extraction of powdered samples is a viable way to overcome the obstacle and enable mass spectrometric analysis, but it comes at the high cost of losing information about the spatial distribution of the analytes. On the other hand, established spatially-resolved methods like secondary-ion mass spectrometry often do not sample intact molecules, but rather unspecific fragments. The intention of this project thus is to develop new methods for the spatially-resolved detection of intact organic molecules in fossil samples via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry in close collaboration within the research unit FOR 2685 (fossilization). A major part of the intended work program consists of optimizing sample preparation procedures of experimentally altered ostrich bone as well as of strongly mineralized fossil dinosaur bone. Once a reliable and robust method for MALDI imaging of these samples has been found, collagen and putative remainders thereof will me measured with spatial resolution. Further methods will be developed for MALDI imaging of amber insects and for the detection of preserved color pigments in fossils.

现代质谱与软电离技术相结合是表征分子和超分子化合物的有力工具。它不仅提供分子的质量，还可以提供有关其结构以及生物聚合物的序列和修饰的信息。目前，有许多成熟的质谱方法和测量方案适用于生命科学、化学、制药、法医学等领域，其目标范围广泛，从蛋白质和肽、脂质、糖、有机分子、金属络合物到具有极高灵敏度的合成聚合物。因此，使用现代质谱法来检测化石样本中的有机残留物是非常诱人的。然而，许多既定程序源于生命科学，不能直接应用于矿化样品。粉末样品的脱盐和提取是克服障碍并实现质谱分析的可行方法，但代价高昂，会丢失有关分析物空间分布的信息。另一方面，二次离子质谱等已建立的空间分辨方法通常不会对完整的分子进行采样，而是对非特异性片段进行采样。因此，该项目的目的是与 FOR 2685（化石）研究单位密切合作，通过基质辅助激光解吸/电离 (MALDI) 质谱法开发空间分辨检测化石样品中完整有机分子的新方法。预期工作计划的主要部分包括优化实验改变的鸵鸟骨以及强矿化恐龙骨化石的样品制备程序。一旦找到了对这些样品进行 MALDI 成像的可靠且稳健的方法，胶原蛋白及其假定的剩余物将通过空间分辨率进行测量。将开发进一步的方法用于琥珀昆虫的 MALDI 成像和检测化石中保存的彩色颜料。