Recent Developments in Profiling and Imaging of Molecules from Tissue Sections by MALDI Mass Spectrometry

Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry(MALD MS)for tissue section analysis is a new area in mass spectrometry.Profiling and imaging molecules directly from thin tissue sections by MALDI MS permit sensitive and rapid analysis of compounds including proteins,peptides,drug and metabolic product as well as afford their spatial distribution.This paper reviews the principle of profiling and imaging mass spectrometry,methodology and recent applications.