High resolution mass spectrometry provides novel insights into the ganglioside pattern of brain cavernous hemangioma

• Published in: Analytical biochemistry 2020-11, Vol.609, p.113976-113976, Article 113976
• Main Authors: Ica, Raluca, Simulescu, Anca, Sarbu, Mirela, Munteanu, Cristian V.A., Vukelić, Željka, Zamfir, Alina D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarker discovery; Biomarkers - analysis; Brain - metabolism; Central Nervous System Neoplasms - metabolism; Ceramides - chemistry; Gangliosides; Gangliosides - analysis; Gangliosides - chemistry; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System - diagnosis; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System - metabolism; High resolution mass spectrometry; Human hemangioma; Humans; Nanotechnology; Screening; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization - methods; Structural analysis
• ISSN: 0003-2697; 1096-0309
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113976

In this study we have optimized nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) high resolution mass spectrometry (HR MS) performed on Orbitrap instrument in the negative ion mode for the determination of the composition and structure of gangliosides extracted from human brain cavernous hemangioma. The optimized HR MS platform, allowed the discrimination of 62 ions, corresponding to 52 different ganglioside species, which represents roughly twice the number of species existing in the current inventory of human brain hemangioma-associated gangliosides. The experiments revealed a ganglioside pattern dominated by GD-type of structures as well as an elevated incidence of species characterized by a low degree of sialylation and short glycan chains, including asialo GA1 (d18:1/18:0), which offer a new perspective upon the ganglioside composition in this benign tumor. Many of the structures are characteristic for this type of tumor only and are to be considered in further investigations for their potential use in early brain hemangioma diagnosis based on molecular markers. The detailed fragmentation analysis performed by collision-induced dissociation (CID) tandem MS provided information of structural elements related to the glycan core and ceramide moiety, which confirmed the molecular configuration of GD3 (d18:1/24:1) and GD3 (d18:1/24:2) species with potential biomarker role. [Display omitted] •HR MS was applied to a native human brain cavernous hemangioma ganglioside mixture.•HR MS experiments revealed a ganglioside pattern dominated by GD-type structures.•HR MS platform allowed the discrimination of 52 different ganglioside species.•CID MS/MS confirmed the structure of GD3 (d18:1/24:1) and GD3 (d18:1/24:2).