LipidON: A reference lipidomic dataset of the mouse optic nerve

The optic nerve is a myelin-rich structure of the central nervous system with a highly complex and lipid-dense composition. Despite its critical role in visual signal transmission and its involvement in various neurodegenerative processes, its lipidome has been poorly characterized. To address this gap, we present LipidON (a reference lipidomic dataset of the mouse optic nerve), the first manually curated lipidomic resource focused on the mouse optic nerve under normal physiological conditions. Using reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a Q Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization (RP-UHPLC-ESI-QExactive-MS), we annotated 1139 lipid species spanning 47 subclasses across six major categories: glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, glycerolipids, fatty acyls, sterol lipids, and prenol lipids. Lipid annotation followed rigorous quality control procedures, including MS/MS fragmentation spectrum validation, assessment of adduct formation, and analysis of retention time behavior within lipid subclasses. As a proof of concept, the approach facilitated accurate identification of complex lipid subclasses, such as gangliosides. LipidON is expected to reduce data redundancy, and serve as a valuable reference for lipidomic studies in the optic nerve and, more broadly, within the central nervous system.