An On-Tissue Paternò-Büchi Reaction for Localization of Carbon-Carbon Double Bonds in Phospholipids and Glycolipids by Matrix-Assisted Laser-Desorption-Ionization Mass-Spectrometry Imaging

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) visualizes the distribution of phospho- and glycolipids in tissue sections. However, C=C double-bond (db) positional isomers generally cannot be distinguished. Now an on-tissue Paternò-Büchi (PB) derivatization procedure that exploits benzaldehyde as a MALDI-MSI-compatible reagent is introduced. Laser-induced postionization (MALDI-2) was used to boost the yields of protonated PB products. Collision-induced dissociation of these species generated characteristic ion pairs, indicative of C=C position, for numerous singly and polyunsaturated phospholipids and glycosphingolipids in mouse brain tissue. Several db-positional isomers of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine species were expressed with highly differential levels in the white and gray matter areas of cerebellum. Our PB-MALDI-MS/MS procedure could help to better understand the physiological role of these db-positional isomers.