Lipid characterization of individual porcine oocytes by dual mode DESI-MS and data fusion

[Display omitted] •Repeated analysis by DESI(±)-MS of intact single oocytes for lipid characterization.•Deployment of a data fusion strategy to merge positive and negative ion mode data.•Enhanced interpretation of metabolic changes by more efficient analysis of spectral data.•Discovery of increased fatty acid metabolism and membrane complexity during maturation.•Assistance in the improvement of in vitro embryo production for porcine species. The development of sensitive measurements to analyze individual cells is of relevance to elucidate specialized roles or metabolic functions of each cell under physiological and pathological conditions. Lipids play multiple and critical roles in cellular functions and the application of analytical methods in the lipidomics area is of increasing interest. In this work, in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes was studied. Two independent sources of chemical information (represented by mass spectra in the positive and negative ion modes) from single oocytes (immature oocytes, 24-h and 44-h in vitro matured oocytes) were acquired by using desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS). Low and mid-level data fusion strategies are presented with the aim of better exploring the large amount of chemical information contained in the two mass spectrometric lipid profiles. Data were explored by principal component analysis (PCA) within the two multi-block approaches to include information on free fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol-related molecules, di- and triacylglycerols. After data fusion, clearer differences among immature and in vitro matured porcine oocytes were observed, which provide novel information regarding lipid metabolism throughout oocyte maturation. In particular, changes in TAG composition, as well as increase in fatty acid metabolism and membrane complexity were evidenced during the in vitro maturation process. This information can assist the improvement of in vitro embryo production for porcine species.