Development of multielement measurement method for exhaustive study of essential elements in cells

我们开发了一种新的基于等离子体质谱的分析系统，实现了微量元素的单细胞分析。该系统由电感耦合等离子体质谱法及其新的样品导入界面组成，可以直接将细胞导入等离子体。该系统能快速捕捉到等离子体中细胞分解的瞬间，并能同时测量细胞中的多种元素。在单个酵母细胞的多元素分析应用中，可以成功地测量单个酵母细胞中的Mg、P和Zn。

We have developed a new analytical system based on plasma mass spectrometry to realize a single cell analysis of trace elements. The system is constructed of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and its new sample introduction interface that can directly introduce cells into the plasma. The system can get a snap shot of the moment of the decomposition of a cell in the plasma, and can measure multielement in the cell at a time. In the application for multielement analysis of a single yeast cell, Mg, P, and Zn can successfully be measured in single yeast cells.