微米级蛋白质组学成像新技术研发成功

Core Insights - The iPEX technology developed by the teams from Westlake University and Kiryl D. Piatkevich enables scientists to visualize the spatial distribution of hundreds to thousands of proteins within biological tissues, providing a new tool for biomedical research and disease mechanism exploration [1][2] Group 1: Technology Overview - iPEX technology integrates three core techniques: protein anchoring in hydrogel, tissue expansion, and mass spectrometry imaging, addressing the limitations of existing spatial proteomics technologies [1] - The sensitivity of iPEX is reported to be 10 to 100 times higher than traditional spatial proteomics methods, with effective pixel sizes ranging from 1 to 5 micrometers, allowing detection of 600 to 1500 proteins per sample [1][2] Group 2: Methodology - The iPEX process involves four main steps: 1. Anchoring proteins in a hydrogel network to prevent diffusion and remove interfering substances 2. Linear expansion of tissues by 3 to 7 times while maintaining structural integrity 3. Performing in situ enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry imaging 4. Utilizing a self-developed computational workflow to analyze data and automatically identify tissue structures and specific proteins [2] Group 3: Applications and Future Prospects - The iPEX technology has been validated in various tissues, organoids, and disease models, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness in reconstructing clear tissue layers and identifying specific proteins in mouse retina studies [2] - Future applications of iPEX may include aiding scientists in directly observing protein distribution in fine tissues and providing new pathways for early diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's [2]