3D-surface MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for visualising

What this paper is about

Mass spectrometry imaging maps where a chemical sits in a tissue, but plant surfaces are irregular and most methods assume a flat plane.

The authors used a 3D-surface technique to map cardiac glycosides across tropical milkweed at micrometre resolution, showing where in the plant the defences are concentrated.

Summarised here from the abstract below. Not the authors’ words.

Abstract

Mass spectrometry-based imaging (MSI) has emerged as a promising method for spatial metabolomics in plant science. Several ionisation techniques have shown great potential for the spatially resolved analysis of metabolites in plant tissue. However, limitations in technology and methodology limited the molecular information for irregular 3D surfaces with resolutions on the micrometre scale. Here, we used atmospheric-pressure 3D-surface matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (3D-surface MALDI MSI) to investigate plant chemical defence at the topographic molecular level for the model system Asclepias curassavica. Upon mechanical damage (simulating herbivore attacks) of native A. curassavica leaves, the surface of the leaves varies up to 700 μm, and cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) and other defence metabolites were exclusively detected in damaged leaf tissue but not in different regions of the same leaf. Our results indicated an increased latex flow rate towards the point of damage leading to an accumulation of defence substances in the affected area. While the concentration of cardiac glycosides showed no differences between 10 and 300 min after wounding, cardiac glycosides decreased after 24 h. The employed autofocusing AP-SMALDI MSI system provides a significant technological advancement for the visualisation of individual molecule species on irregular 3D surfaces such as native plant leaves. Our study demonstrates the enormous potential of this method in the field of plant science including primary metabolism and molecular mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic and biotic stress and symbiotic relationships.

Abstract reproduced from the published paper, which is licensed CC BY. Copyright remains with the authors.

Key terms

Cardiac GlycosidesMass Spectrometry ImagingAsclepias Curassavica3D-surface AnalysisPlant Chemical Defence

Milkweeds in this paper

Tropical Milkweed Asclepias curassavica

Find the paper

Cite this page

This page is licensed CC BY 4.0. Quote it, adapt it and reuse it, including commercially, as long as you credit Milkweed USA and link back.

APA

Milkweed USA. (2026). 3D-surface MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for visualising plant defensive cardiac glycosides in Asclepias curassavica (listing). Retrieved DATE, from https://milkweedusa.com/research/3d-surface-maldi-mass-spectrometry-imaging-for-visualising-plant-2021/

MLA

"3D-surface MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for visualising plant defensive cardiac glycosides in Asclepias curassavica (listing)." Milkweed USA, 2026, https://milkweedusa.com/research/3d-surface-maldi-mass-spectrometry-imaging-for-visualising-plant-2021/. Accessed DATE.

Chicago

Milkweed USA. "3D-surface MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for visualising plant defensive cardiac glycosides in Asclepias curassavica (listing)." Last modified 2026-08-01. Accessed DATE. https://milkweedusa.com/research/3d-surface-maldi-mass-spectrometry-imaging-for-visualising-plant-2021/.

BibTeX

@misc{milkweedusa_research3dsurfacemaldimasssp,
  title  = {3D-surface MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for visualising plant defensive cardiac glycosides in Asclepias curassavica (listing)},
  author = {{Milkweed USA}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://milkweedusa.com/research/3d-surface-maldi-mass-spectrometry-imaging-for-visualising-plant-2021/},
  note   = {Accessed DATE}
}

3D-surface MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for visualising plant defensive cardiac glycosides in Asclepias curassavica