iprm-PASEF Workflow for Spatial Metabolomics

This document is a technical report that details the iprm-PASEF workflow developed by Bruker for annotating natural products from microbial co-cultures. The workflow integrates trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) with MS2 acquisition, allowing for rapid and high-confidence molecular annotation directly from complex biological samples. The report outlines the challenges faced in microbial imaging, such as sample complexity and low ion abundance, and describes how the iprm-PASEF approach addresses these issues. The study presents the application of this workflow in investigating microbial metabolite production from a co-culture of Glutamicibacter arilaitensis and Penicillium solitum. It highlights the efficiency of the process, which enables complete analysis in under three hours, significantly reducing the time and resources required compared to traditional methods. The report emphasizes the potential of iprm-PASEF to transform untargeted spatial metabolomics and accelerate natural product discovery in microbial systems.