Determination of Insulin Content in Pancreatic β Cell Line MIN6 Cells by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The insulin content in mouse insulinoma MIN6 cells was determined using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF/MS). A mass spectrum of cellular insulin was obtained with a cell burst of MIN6 by hypotonic water. Signal intensities of intracellular insulin were proportional to the number of MIN6 cells. The present method was applied to the determination of intracellular insulin content of MIN6 before and after glucose stimulation.