The Chemical Composition of Animal Cells and Their Intracellular Compartments Reconstructed from 3D Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A peek inside: A C60+ sputter ion source integrated into a time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometer was used to dissect animal cells in a layer-by-layer fashion and analyze the spatial distribution of endogenous molecules. Repeated cycles of sputter erosion and SIMS analysis provided molecular information from the inside of the cells (see picture; red: amino acids, green: phospholipids, blue: glass substrate).