An unparalleled approach for MALDI mass spectrometry imaging of metabolites in FFPE tissue

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples possess great potential to provide metabolic insights into physiologically normal, predisposed and pathological processes. Building on established protocols and applications expertise in mass spectrometry imaging of metabolites in FFPE tissues, multiple biomolecules can be analyzed label-free with high spatial resolution in the context of tissue morphology. Theratype’s molecular imaging approach permits reliable high-throughput in situ metabolomics-based biomarker discovery and validation for research purposes and clinical application using prospective and retrospective FFPE sample collections.

Application note: MALDI mass spectrometry imaging of metabolites in FFPE tissue

SPACiAL: A new method for immunophenotype-guided imaging mass spectrometry

Prade, V. M. and Kunzke, T. et al. (2020). De novo discovery of metabolic heterogeneity with immunophenotype-guided imaging mass spectrometry. Molecular Metabolism, DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.01.017.

A new method for immunophenotype-guided imaging mass spectrometry allows accurate, objective and time-efficient annotation of specific cell types within a tissue section. This automatic pipeline represents an important step towards the analysis of large-scale clinical cohort studies for artificial intelligence guided diagnostics, biomarker discovery or therapy prediction.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has a substantial influence on amino acid metabolism in cachectic skeletal muscles

Kunzke, T. et al. (2019). Derangements of amino acids in cachectic skeletal muscle are caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle, doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12498 .

Cachexia is a major cause for cancer-associated deaths. This study investigates the amino acid metabolism in cachectic muscles with in situ-omics techniques. Concentrations of amino acids, proteins, as well as energy and other cellular metabolites are determined and analyzed with MALDI mass spectrometry imaging.