MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Metabolites in Cereal Grains and Legumes: Repurposing for Industrial Applications

• Published in: Food reviews international Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 1200 - 1221
• Main Authors: Lau, Darren, Donnellan, Leigh, Briggs, Matthew, Klingler-Hoffmann, Manuela, Hoffmann, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 19.05.2025; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Acrylamide; acrylamides; desorption; diet; Food; Food analysis; Food contamination; Food processing; Food production; food quality; food regulations; Grain; Health promotion; Industrial applications; industry; Legumes; MALDI mass spectrometry imaging; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry; metabolite distribution analysis; Metabolites; Mycotoxins; Nutrients; Pesticides; physiology; plant biology; Plant tissues; Sample preparation; Scientific imaging; seed crops; Spatial data; Spatial distribution; Workflow
• ISSN: 8755-9129; 1525-6103; 1525-6103
• DOI: 10.1080/87559129.2024.2444402

Cereal grains and legumes are major sources of health-promoting nutrients in our daily diet and key ingredients in food production. However, they are also subjected to contamination by foreign substances such as mycotoxins, pesticides, and acrylamide. Analytical techniques and methods for detecting and quantifying metabolites in plants such as mass spectrometry are well-established, but disregard spatial information. In contrast, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a powerful technique to study the spatial distribution of molecules within plant tissues, providing valuable insights into plant biology and physiology. To date, the translation of this technology into industrial applications is seldom explored. This review article introduces how MALDI-MSI can revolutionise traditional approaches to study the distribution of metabolites in cereal grains and legumes. The principles in a typical MALDI-MSI workflow, particularly sample preparation of plant tissues, were discussed. This review article also explores previous implementations of MALDI-MSI in ag-food research, and the opportunities it presents for seed crop industrial applications. This can open the gates for technological advances to improve food analysis, processing and regulatory systems in the grain and legume industry.