Investigation of Metabolites, Signaling Molecules, Peptides, and Proteins in Mammalian Cells Using Capillary Electrophoresis-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

摘要

Characterization of the chemical profile of the brain and its constituents provides insights into normal brain function, as well as mechanisms of its functioning under neurological diseases. Most metabolomics, peptidomics, and proteomics studies survey brain regions and often ascribe the detected compounds to neurons. However, most cells in the brain are not neurons; by using specialized samples (lacking specific cell types) or fractionating the brain, the constituents of two major brain cell types, mast cells and glia, are able to be profiled. Coupling of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) has the required analytical figures of merit for such studies. The chemical constituents of both mammalian purified astrocytes and hippocampal samples, with and without mast cells, are presented.