What’s New in Mass Spec?

Research Roundup

Solving the maize 
 

Researchers from Stanford University and University of California San Diego have developed a new understanding of essential root chemicals that are responsible for plant growth. The team, which included Richard Zare – a Power List regular going back to the inaugural 2013 List – used DESI-MSI to profile where key small molecules are distributed along stem cells of maize plant roots and how their placement factors into the plant’s maturation. “Having more information about how roots grow could be useful in conservation as we think about protecting our plants in natural environments and making them more sustainable, especially in agriculture,” said co-author Alexandra Dickinson.

MSI: from plants to ants…
 

Another highlight for imaging enthusiasts: researchers have used a combination of high-resolution MSI and micro-computed tomography to map the three-dimensional distribution of neuropeptides in the brains of two ant species. “These findings have the potential to fundamentally alter the way we study complex neurobiological processes,” said co-lead author Benedikt Geier. “Our method opens up new perspectives when it comes to observing the brains of social insects more closely and better understanding the functioning of nervous systems where chemistry and anatomy are fully attuned.”

A beginner’s guide to mass spec proteomics
 

How does mass spectrometry proteomics work? How do I perform a proteomic experiment? Where can I learn more? If you’re a beginner to the field and these are the questions you dare not ask, Steven R. Shuken, postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School, has you covered. Shuken’s tutorial – which is free to access for the next six months – is intended to be an accessible illustrated guide to the technical details of a relatively simple quantitative proteomic experiment.

An AI approach to polymer sequencing
 

The National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan has developed an AI-based mass spectrometric technique that can determine the monomeric sequence of a polymer. Despite the random fragmentation of copolymers, this technique identifies and quantifies the unique patterns associated with the length and number of monomer components. With this discovery, scientists have a better understanding of copolymers and can develop innovative polymer materials through sequence engineering.

Robinson’s membrane mastery

Carol Robinson was awarded the John B. Fenn Award at ASMS for her contributions to the mass spec field. Over the past three decades, Robinson has transformed our understanding of the structures and interactions of complex biological molecules, including membrane proteins – which continues. Last week, Robinson and colleagues published a paper on the characterization of membrane protein complexes using top-down MS. The team were able to overcome the energy limits with top-down MS using a modified Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid mass spectrometer coupled to an infrared laser within a high-pressure linear ion trap.