Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology (MALDI-TOF MS) is an innovative tool that has been shown to be effective for the identification of numerous arthropod groups including mosquitoes. A critical step in the implementation of MALDI-TOF MS identification is the creation of spectra databases (DB) for the species of interest. Mosquito legs were the body part most frequently used to create identification DB. However, legs are one of the most fragile mosquito compartments, which can put identification at risk. Here, we assessed whether mosquito thoraxes could also be used as a relevant body part for mosquito species identification using a MALDI-TOF MS biotyping strategy; we propose a double DB query strategy to reinforce identification success. Thoraxes and legs from 91 mosquito specimens belonging to seven mosquito species collected in six localities from Guadeloupe, and two laboratory strains, Aedes aegypti BORA and Aedes albopictus Marseille, were dissected and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. Molecular identification using cox1 gene sequencing was also conducted on representative specimens to confirm their identification. MS profiles obtained with both thoraxes and legs were highly compartment-specific, species-specific and species-reproducible, allowing high identification scores (log-score values, LSVs) when queried against the in-house MS reference spectra DB (thorax LSVs range: 2.260–2.783, leg LSVs range: 2.132–2.753). Both thoraxes and legs could be used for a double DB query in order to reinforce the success and accuracy of MALDI-TOF MS identification.

Sea anemones are a remarkable source of active principles due to a decentralized venom system. New blood vessel growth or angiogenesis is a very promising target against cancer, but the few available antiangiogenic compounds have limited efficacy. In this study, a protein fraction, purified from tentacles of Anemonia viridis, was able to limit endothelial cells proliferation and angiogenesis at low concentration (14 nM). Protein sequences were determined with Edman degradation and mass spectrometry in source decay and revealed homologies with Blood Depressing Substance (BDS) sea anemones. The presence of a two-turn alpha helix observed with circular dichroism and a trypsin activity inhibition suggested that the active principle could be a Kunitz-type inhibitor, which may interact with an integrin due to an Arginine Glycin Aspartate (RGD) motif. Molecular modeling showed that this RGD motif was well exposed to solvent. This active principle could improve antiangiogenic therapy from existing antiangiogenic compounds binding on the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).

In glioblastomas, apoptosis inhibitor proteins (IAPs) are involved in apoptotic and non-apoptotic processes. Here we used GDC-0152, a small molecule IAP inhibitor, to explore how IAPs participate in glioblastoma stem-like cell maintenance and fate under both hypoxic and normoxic environments. In hypoxia, IAPs inhibition triggered stem-like cells apoptosis and decreased proliferation in four human glioblastoma cell lines, whereas in normoxia it induced a loss of stemness and differentiation. In addition, we characterized a 3D glioblastoma spheroid model. By using MALDI images we validated that GDC-0152 penetrates in the entire sphere. TOF-SIMS analyses revealed an oxygen gradient correlated with spatial cellular heterogeneity with proliferative and apoptotic cells located close to the hypoxic core and GFAP ⁺ cells at the periphery. Notably, Serine-Threonine Kinases activation analysis revealed that oxygen level affects signaling pathways activated by GDC-0152. In hypoxia, IAPs inhibition activated ATR whereas in normoxia it activated NF-κB. Our data brings new mechanistic insights revealing the dual role of IAPs inhibitors like GDC-0152 that are relevant to their therapeutic application in tumors like glioblastomas.