Volume 1, #4, 2008

REVIEWS

The use of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in biochemistryDaniel Breitensteinpp 217-243Abstract:Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is an analytical tool for surface analysis. Applying ToF-SIMS the impact of primary ions leads, among others, to the desorption of secondary ions that are characteristic for the composition of the sample’s surface. Recent progresses in instrumental development now facilitates a more considerable use of this techniques for the analysis of biological samples. Several aspects make ToF-SIMS a beneficial tool for bioanalysis: It just probes the uppermost three monolayers of the sample, offers imaging capabilities with a lateral resolution as good as 300 nm and, recently, a 3D imaging option for biological samples was established. The latter option allows a vertical resolution of 30 nm. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art technology and results on spectrometry, imaging, depth profiling and 3D analysis on biological samples such as cells, tissue sections and Langmuir-Blodgett films in order to give an overview on the chances and limits of this technique.Hypothetical new class of coding RNAs in insect genomesJan Büllesbachpp 245-248Abstract:The recent discovery of a polycistronic mRNA in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum qualifying as a gap gene albeit encompassing only four very short open reading frames offers a great potential for mass specrometric studies specifically targeting at small peptides. Addressing the question if more potential candidate peptides are indeed directly translated into their functional form, those studies might greatly help in investigating this postulated new class of coding RNAs, determining whether they are a rather rare and special occurence, or much more common than previously assumed and just as yet hidden from the routinely applied gene prediction methods due to their unexpected properties.Coupling surface plasmon resonance with mass spectrometry - towards novel protein arraysRafal Marszalekpp 249-259Abstract:Nowadays surface plasmon resonance and mass spectrometry are fully developed technologies for biomolecule characterization. Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to combine these techniques, since SPR and MS provide complementary data – quantitative and qualitative, respectively. An extremely important aspect of SPR experiments is the correct choice of chip surface and surface modification. These factors need to be carefully considered especially when planning the SPR-MS analyses. There are two basic experimental setups for SPR-MS experiments: one of these uses the microrecovery technique, whilst the other is an on-chip-MS based approach. For high-throughput arrays only the second setup has significant value. Both SPR and MS are technologies with developed array solutions. Therefore these techniques may be coupled to create the SPR-MS biomacromolecule array platform.

PAPER

Adduct ions attributed to copper observed after mechanical treatment of MALDI sample plates - A cautionary noteSimone Königpp 261-265Abstract:Adduct ions attributed to copper were observed at low abundance in peptide maps measured with MALDI mass spectrometry on some re-usable stainless steel targets. These ions were enhanced after mechanical treatment of the target using sandpaper. Although the copper source was not satisfactorily elucidated the contaminant adduct ions seemed to be more present with target plates often cleaned. Such ions generated unwanted chemical noise at low intensity. In the examples shown here, peptide adduct ions of considerable abundance were observed. Their appearance can be cause for misinterpretation of the data in protein identification experiments and it should be prevented.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 4TH MÜNSTER CONFERENCE ON SINGLE CELL ANALYSIS 2007, NOV 26-27

pp 267-286INTRODUCTIONSimone KönigSPEAKER ABSTRACTSSingle cell gene expression analysis in human post-mortem brain tissues and animal models of neurodegenerationStephen D. GinsbergFrontiers in nano- and microstructures on microarrays for real time and online bio-monitoring of cellular physiologyAndrea A. RobitzkiMicrofluidic platforms for analysis of living cells and 3D lipid structuresPetra DittrichThe human TOPONOME project: Deciphering the protein network code until 2020Walter SchubertNew insights into molecular mechanisms underlying axon regeneration through cell sortingDietmar FischerSingle cell whole genome amplification: Unleashing a world within a cellMarkus VeitRegulation and force generation of the DNA import motor of Bacillus subtilisBerenike MaierTwo-Focus Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy: A versatile tool for precise measurements of molecular diffusionJörg EnderleinInvestigation of conformation and dynamics of proteins inside living cells by in-cell NMR spectroscopyVolker DötschFrom mass spectrometric peptide profiling of single neurons towards imaging mass spectrometryConnie JimenezFine scale measurement and mapping of cancer biomarkers via laser ablation ICP mass spectrometryJaume SeumaMALDI Synapt HDMS System: Advances in high-efficiency IMS/MSMarten SnelPOSTERSNew biotechnology method for localised analysis of single cellsTanja Ninkovic, Peter Lanigan, Oscar Ces, Mark Neil and David KlugStem cells for therapy of inherited liver diseasesAndree Zibert, Vanessa Sauer, Jörg Haberland, and Hartmut H.-J. SchmidtAre the genomically predicted adipokinetic peptides of Tribolium castaneum present in the corpora cardiaca?Gerd Gäde, Heather G. Marco, Petr Simek, and Robert J. WeaverSATELLITE EVENTSBeing fast and efficient - New technologies for reliable sample preparationNoushin DelmdahlBioMark micro fluidic arrays: A proven method to quantify gene expression within a single cellMartin PieprzykGene expression profiling of SuperAmp(tm)-lified laser capture microdissected samplesKurt SiebernsSex hormones and cardiovascular disease; novel ligands, new hopes and clinical implicationsTheo PelzerLaser-microdissection of single living cells opens new fields of applicationsMonika Stich