Matrix-suppressed laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry and its suitability for metabolome analyses

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry was investigated for the simultaneous detection of several metabolites, as applicable to global metabolite analysis (metabolomics). The commonly employed organic matrices alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, in both the crystalline and ionic liquid forms, were investigated. The employment of a low matrix-to-analyte molar ratio suppressed matrix peaks and was effective in detecting all the metabolites with a unique mass in a 30-metabolite synthetic cocktail, albeit to varying degrees. These matrix-suppressed laser desorption/ionisation (MSLDI) analyses were performed in the positive ion mode, and metabolites were detected as the protonated M+H]+, sodiated M+Na]+ or potassiated M+K]+ species. The spectral signals were dominated by basic metabolites. It was possible to detect components of a synthetic cocktail when it was spiked quantitatively into a microbial extract, demonstrating the feasibility of using the technique for detecting metabolite signals in a complex biological matrix. However, analyte suppression effects were noted when the relative proportion of one analyte was allowed to increasingly dominate the others in a mixture. The implications of the findings with respect to applications in metabolomic investigations are discussed.