Single Cell and Subcellular Analysis by Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

化学测量和成像（CMI）计划的这一奖项支持了乔治华盛顿大学Akos Vertes教授的工作，该大学致力于开发一个分析平台，用于研究单细胞和亚细胞区域的代谢变化。该项目旨在扩大基于激光的采样技术的范围，使单个动物和人类细胞的质谱分析能够用于调查大量生物学问题。实现这一目标的先决条件包括激光辐射充分聚焦和传递到感兴趣的区域，提高方法的整体灵敏度，扩大细胞中存在的代谢物和脂质的覆盖范围，确定采样离子的化学完整性和数量，以及实现高通量单细胞分析。PI还旨在通过将显微操作和显微切割与激光取样和质谱法相结合，探索较大细胞内亚细胞结构域的原位分析。这些目标的成功实现将把单细胞质谱的能力提升到一个新的水平。从更广泛的意义上说，PI和他的团队开发了新的单细胞和亚细胞分析工具和方法，使化学和生命科学相关的各种生化过程的研究成为可能。由于他们创造的工具能够解决各种未解决的问题，研究本身具有造福社会的巨大潜力。该项目的研究和教育的整合与K-12，本科生和研究生直接参与科学探究过程密切相关。基于他们现有的和计划与行业的合作，学生也将有机会沉浸在新的研究成果转化为方法和设备，适用于与社会相关的各个领域，包括生物医学，能源和国土安全。为了广泛传播他的研究，PI计划让媒体接触公众，并以易于理解的格式解释他们的结果。

This award by the Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI) program supports work by Professor Akos Vertes at George Washington University - endowed to develop an analytical platform for investigating metabolism changes in single cells and in subcellular regions. This project aims to extend the reach of laser-based sampling techniques to enable the mass spectrometric analysis of single animal and human cells for the investigation of a vast array of biological problems. Prerequisites for this goal include the sufficient focusing and delivery of the laser radiation to the region of interest, improving the overall sensitivity of the method, extending the coverage of metabolites and lipids present in the cell, determining the chemical integrity and quantity of the sampled ions, and enabling high throughput single cell analysis. The PI also aims to explore the in situ analysis of subcellular domains within larger cells by combining micromanipulation and microdissection with laser sampling and mass spectrometry. Successful accomplishment of these goals will bring the capabilities of single cell mass spectrometry to a new level.In a broader sense, the PI and his group develop new single cell and subcellular analysis tools and methods that enable the study of diverse biochemical processes relevant for chemistry and the life sciences. Due to the ability of the tools they are creating to address various unresolved problems, the research itself has a significant potential to benefit society. Integration of research and education in the project is closely tied to the direct involvement of K-12, undergraduate and graduate students in the process of scientific inquiry. Based on their existing and planned collaborations with industry, the students will also have an opportunity to be immersed in the conversion of new research results into methods and devices that are applicable in various fields relevant to society, including biomedicine, energy and homeland security. To broadly disseminate his research, the PI plans to engage the media to reach the general public and explain their results in an easily digestible format.