Titre : ''Invertigating Ganglioside Distribution in Tissue Samples with Imaging Mass Spectrometry ''
Endroit : Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, salle G-415 à 13 h 30
Cette conférence sera prononcée par Monsieur Ethan Yang, candidat au doctorat, étudiant du Professeur Pierre Chaurand, au département de chimie, de l'Université de Montréal.
RÉSUMÉ: Gangliosides represent a family of surface-membrane glycosphingolipids most abundant in neuronal cells. Important in signalling and other biological functions, its dysregulation and bioaccumulation have been implicated in numerous neurological diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Hunter’s) as well as cancers (neuroblastoma, breast cancer). Because of its ability to simultaneously detect multiple gangliosides and distinguish between the same species of gangliosides with different fatty acid chain lengths, imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is an ideal technique for elucidating the role of gangliosides in these diseases and their potential as biomarkers. Unfortunately, method development for ganglioside IMS detection and imaging at cellular length scale are sparse. My project focuses on developing and validating an IMS protocol for the detection of these molecules using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). As of now, different sample preparation and matrix deposition parameters were optimized for a protocol that has demonstrated an improved sensitivity of over 10-fold, and an increase in the number of ganglioside species detected from 5 to 15. This methodology allows for down to 20 μm spatial resolution imaging and has the potential for even higher resolution. The next step is to validate the protocol using disease models to shed light on the biological importance of gangliosides in disease onset and development.
