Molecular insights into symbiosis-mapping sterols in a marine flatworm-algae-system using high spatial resolution MALDI-2-MS imaging with ion mobility separation.

Molecular insights into symbiosis-mapping sterols in a marine flatworm-algae-system using high spatial resolution MALDI-2-MS imaging with ion mobility separation. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2020 Dec 03;: Authors: Bien T, Hambleton EA, Dreisewerd K, Soltwisch J Abstract Waminoa sp. acoel flatworms hosting Symbiodiniaceae and the related Amphidinium dinoflagellate algae are an interesting model system for symbiosis in marine environments. While the host provides a microhabitat and safety, the algae power the system by photosynthesis and supply the worm with nutrients. Among these nutrients are sterols, including cholesterol and numerous phytosterols. While it is widely accepted that these compounds are produced by the symbiotic dinoflagellates, their transfer to and fate within the sterol-auxotrophic Waminoa worm host as well as their role in its metabolism are unknown. Here we used matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging combined with laser-induced post-ionization and trapped ion mobility spectrometry (MALDI-2-TIMS-MSI) to map the spatial distribution of over 30 different sterol species in sections of the symbiotic system. The use of laser post-ionization crucially increased ion yields and allowed the recording of images with a pixel size of 5 μm. Trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) helped with the tentative assignment of over 30 sterol species. Correlation with anatomical features of the worm, rev...
Source: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Anal Bioanal Chem Source Type: research