Objective:

To enhance single-cell metabolomics by integrating ion mobility separation with mass cytometry for improved metabolite detection and coverage.

Key Findings:

• Detected several thousand metabolic features per cell.
• Annotated around 800 metabolites across large single-cell datasets.
• Revealed metabolic variation within hepatocytes related to age.

Interpretation:

The integration of ion mobility with selective ion accumulation and tailored computational analysis significantly enhances the resolution and comprehensiveness of single-cell metabolite profiling.

Limitations:

• Potential technical variability inherent in single-cell metabolomics.
• Dependence on the specific ion mobility-based mass spectrometry platform.

Conclusion:

This method offers a practical approach for comprehensive single-cell metabolite profiling, with potential applications in studying cellular metabolism across various biological contexts.