Enhanced Throughput Single-Cell Capillary Electrophoresis Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS) has allowed for the analysis of small molecules and metabolites with high specificity and sensitivity. Capillary Electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS) is an ultrasensitive analytical technique to process amount-limited samples. Robust high-throughput ultrasensitive CE-MS methods and technologies are needed to be developed to comprehensively study the metabolome or proteome of a sample with a limited amount of material. In this study, we developed an enhanced-throughput multi field amplified sample stacking (M-FASS) method. The resulting approach has a sample processing throughput of 5–10 times that of conventional CE methods. FASS voltage duration and strength were optimized for peak area and peak resolution. The M-FASS CE-MS method was then applied for single cell analysis (SCA) of metabolic differences and gradients in the developing embryo of Xenopus Laevis. The statistical analysis: PCA and Fuzzy-c means clustering analysis revealed cell-to-cell differences among D11, V11, D12, and V12 cells and uncovered 6 distinct metabolite gradients between the four cells in X. Laevis 16-cell embryos. The findings showcase inherent metabolic gradients in the developing embryo.