B-02：Visualization of Food Components by High-Sensitivity Mass Spectrometry Imaging

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＜B-02＞：Food Science, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Life Science sdgs-02 sdgs-03
 

Visualization of Food Components by High-Sensitivity Mass Spectrometry Imaging
― Contributing to Food Safety and Quality Improvement through Mass Spectrometry Imaging ―

Hirofumi Enomoto Professor
Food Science and Technology, Food Science, Division of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences
Keywords Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI), Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI), Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI), Nutritional Functional Components, Bioactive Molecules, Toxic Components
Laboratory URL https://www.laboratory-of-food-science-teikyo-university.com/
Research Overview
● Detailed analysis of food components is essential for understanding food quality
Foods consumed in daily life contain a wide variety of components, and their compositional profiles have a significant impact on food quality. Therefore, detailed analysis of food components is essential.
However, conventional analytical methods such as liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS) can identify the types and quantities of components present in foods, but they do not provide information on what is present, where it is located, or how much is present at specific locations.

● Optimization of measurement methods through original MSI sample preparation techniques
Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) visualizes the distribution and localization of target molecules by performing two-dimensional mass spectrometric analysis of compounds on tissue sections and overlaying the resulting spatial mass information with morphological images obtained by optical microscopy (Fig. 1).
This method does not require probes and enables highly sensitive detection of multiple molecules, including unknown compounds, in a single measurement.
Our laboratory has established MSI methodologies primarily using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), enabling high-accuracy and high-sensitivity visualization of nutritional functional components, bioactive molecules, and toxic components in a wide variety of agricultural products.
 
Potential Applications and Commercialization Prospects

● Efficient intake of nutritional functional components, breeding of high-quality varieties, and assurance of food safety
Through MSI research, we have elucidated the spatial distributions of pigments, organic acids, and sugars in fruits such as strawberries (Fig. 2). In addition, we have revealed the accumulation of plant hormone oxylipins in the seed coats of common beans and edamame.
MSI enables:
①　Exploration of agricultural and livestock resources based on the spatial distribution of nutritional functional components;
②　Studies on the In Vivo Distribution of Nutritional Functional Components Using Animal Models;
③　Development of plants rich in promising components, establishment of efficient extraction and purification methods, and application to food processing with assured safety and quality control; and
④　Evaluation of skin penetration of cosmetic ingredients into skin tissues.

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Fig. 1 Features of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI)
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Fig. 2 Distribution of pigments, organic acids, and sugars in strawberries
Publications ● Enomoto H, Sato K, Miyamoto K, Ohtsuka A, Yamane H. Distribution Analysis of Anthocyanins, Sugars, and Organic Acids in Strawberry Fruits Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Imaging Mass Spectrometry. J Agric Food Chem. 2018 May 16;66(19):4958-4965.
Doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b00853. Epub 2018 May 2. PMID: 29696977.
● Enomoto H, Miyamoto K. Unique localization of jasmonic acid-related compounds in developing Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) seeds revealed through desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging. Phytochemistry. 2021 Aug;188:112812.
Doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112812. Epub 2021 May 18. PMID: 34015625.

Last updated date：October 15, 2026

 

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