Microfluidic MALDI-MS Enables Lipid Profiling in Worms
High-resolution lipid mapping in the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has been achieved for the first time, thanks to a microfluidic approach that combines MALDI mass spectrometry imaging with careful structural preservation.
Ten consecutive slices from each nematode were imaged and stacked to reconstruct organ-specific lipid landscapes along the ~1 mm body length. Oil Red O staining was also used alongside mass spectrometry to confirm neutral fat localization.
The team found that distinct lipids clustered in the pharynx, intestine, and reproductive tissues, including one species linked to cholesterol metabolism that was concentrated in nutrient-absorbing regions. By keeping anatomy intact, the method resolves a key trade-off in lipidomics – capturing both molecular identities and spatial context.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to map lipid distributions in C. elegans with such spatial resolution while preserving internal structures,” said first author Sara Mandic in a press release.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to apply their technique to disease-model worm strains and integrate quantitative lipid analysis. The reproducible workflow, they argue, could become a powerful tool for probing how fats shape metabolism, aging, and disease.
Phytoplankton Bloom Dynamics Linked to Carbon Reservoir Formation
A detailed molecular study has revealed that phytoplankton – the microscopic algae underpinning ocean food webs – contribute directly to long-term carbon storage, overturning long-held assumptions about their fleeting role in the carbon cycle.
Using ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry, researchers at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, analyzed six major phytoplankton groups and showed that more than 10 percent of their carbon output is released as recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon (RDOC). Unlike bioavailable DOC, which is rapidly consumed by microbes, RDOC resists degradation and can persist in ocean waters for centuries, forming a stable reservoir of “stubborn” carbon.
The team also confirmed that phytoplankton are not only indirect contributors via microbial processing but can secrete RDOC directly. To scale their findings globally, the researchers combined their chemical dataset with satellite remote sensing and machine learning models, producing a worldwide map of DOC dynamics. These analyses revealed that phytoplankton blooms in their growth phase produce significantly more RDOC than in decline, linking algal life cycles to long-term carbon storage potential.
“Our dataset and optimized models now allow us to clearly predict how extended phytoplankton blooms or climate-driven shifts in species composition will affect the ocean’s carbon reservoir,” commented first author Lu Zhe. The team plans to apply this framework to track future changes in marine carbon cycling under global warming.
Single-Cell Proteomics Reveals Translational Control in Stem Cells
A new single-cell proteomics approach has shed light on how stem cells differentiate into mature blood cells, offering insights that RNA-based methods alone could not capture.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, the Technical University of Denmark, and Helmholtz Munich applied single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry (scp-MS) to more than 2,500 human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
Unlike single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), which tracks gene transcripts, scp-MS directly measured thousands of proteins inside individual cells, revealing critical differences between early stem cells and more differentiated blood cells. While mature cells showed strong correlations between RNA and protein levels, immature cells did not, pointing to hidden regulatory layers such as altered translation rates or protein stability.
“Not long ago, the idea of measuring thousands of proteins in single human stem cells from the bone marrow felt like science fiction,” said co-senior author Erwin Schoof. “It's a testament to the power of mass spectrometry, protein-level readouts, and data-driven systems biology to transform our understanding of how cells take fate decisions.”
The researchers plan to expand this framework to explore how protein-level regulation influences disease, regeneration, and therapy response.
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Microbial Gene Ratios Reveal Oil Spill Forensics
Gene-ratio profiling provides rapid, cost-effective oil spill assessment with predictive power for bioremediation. Read more.
Rare Flavoalkaloids Found in Cannabis Leaves
Using two-dimensional LC-MS, researchers detect rare phenolic–alkaloid hybrids in cannabis leaves for the first time. Read more.
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