Computer-assisted interpretation of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectra of triacylglycerols

Current lipidomics approaches require simple and rapid algorithms enabling the interpretation of mass spectra of lipids. Most lipids are complex mixtures of related components in which the composition of the aliphatic fatty acid chains varies from one molecule to the next. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are an example of such a lipid class. Fatty acid chains are the only parts of the molecule to change from one species to another. Fatty acids, and consequently also TAGs, can be characterized by two parameters; the number of carbon atoms and the number of double bonds. All calculations reflecting relations among ions in the spectra can be easily made using these parameters. An algorithm for the automated interpretation of TAGs from atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectra (TriglyAPCI) is presented in this paper. The algorithm first identifies diacylglycerol fragments and molecular adducts. In the next step, relations among the ions are searched and possible TAG structures are suggested. Individual features of the algorithm are described in detail and the software performance is demonstrated for the liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric (LC/MS) analysis of TAGs isolated from the termite Prorhinotermes canalifrons.     

Direct Analysis of Triacylglycerols from Crude Lipid Mixtures by Gold Nanoparticle-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Triacylglycerols (TAGs), essential energy storage lipids, are easily detected by conventional MALDI MS when occurring on their own. However, their signals are easily overwhelmed by other lipids, mainly phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and, therefore, require purification. In order to profile TAGs from crude lipid mixtures without prefractionation, we investigated alternative matrixes that can suppress phospholipid ion signals and enhance cationization of TAGs. We found that an aqueous solution of citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with a diameter of 12 nm is a superior matrix for the laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI MS) of TAGs in crude lipid mixtures. The AuNP matrix effectively suppressed other lipid signals such as phospholipids and also provided 100 times lower detection limit for TAGs than 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), the best conventional MALDI matrix for TAGs. The AuNP-assisted LDI MS enabled us to obtain detailed TAG profiles including minor species directly from crude beef lipid extracts without phospholipid interference. In addition, we could detect TAGs at a trace level from a total brain lipid extract.

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography x gas chromatography: evaluation of the applicability for the analysis of edible oils and fats

Edible fats and oils are complex mixtures containing a wide range of (classes of) compounds. The most important group of compounds are the triglycerides (triacylglycerides, TAGs). Because of the large number of possible fatty acid combinations, an enormous number of TAGs is possible. In the present feasibility study, the applicability of different modes of comprehensive two-dimensional LCXGC for detailed oil and fat analysis is evaluated. Comprehensive LCXGC was found to be an extremely powerful analytical method for the analysis of complex TAG samples. Using the new comprehensive set-ups, TAGs can be separated according to two independent parameters: carbon number vs. number of double bonds, or fatty acid composition vs. number of double bonds. The information content of comprehensive separations by far exceeds that of the current generation of analytical methods. The quantitative results of the separations show a good agreement with data obtained from standard analytical methods. The comprehensive methods studied can also be used for fingerprinting of oil samples, as well as for the analysis of target compounds or compound groups. Highly detailed separations of olive oil samples were obtained. Zooming in on one region of the chromatogram allowed reliable analysis of wax esters without interferences of sterol esters.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography×gas chromatography: evaluation of the applicability for the analysis of edible oils and fats

Edible fats and oils are complex mixtures containing a wide range of (classes of) compounds. The most important group of compounds are the triglycerides (triacylglycerides, TAGs). Because of the large number of possible fatty acid combinations, an enormous number of TAGs is possible. In the present feasibility study, the applicability of different modes of comprehensive two-dimensional LC×GC for detailed oil and fat analysis is evaluated. Comprehensive LC×GC was found to be an extremely powerful analytical method for the analysis of complex TAG samples. Using the new comprehensive set-ups, TAGs can be separated according to two independent parameters: carbon number vs. number of double bonds, or fatty acid composition vs. number of double bonds. The information content of comprehensive separations by far exceeds that of the current generation of analytical methods. The quantitative results of the separations show a good agreement with data obtained from standard analytical methods. The comprehensive methods studied can also be used for fingerprinting of oil samples, as well as for the analysis of target compounds or compound groups. Highly detailed separations of olive oil samples were obtained. Zooming in on one region of the chromatogram allowed reliable analysis of wax esters without interferences of sterol esters.     

Direct qualitative analysis of triacylglycerols by electrospray mass spectrometry using a linear ion trap

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) isolated from a biological sample provide a challenge for mass spectrometric analysis because of the complexity of naturally occurring TAGs, which may contain different fatty acyl substituents resulting in a large number of molecular species having the identical elemental composition. We have investigated the use of mass spectrometry to obtain unambiguous information as to the individual TAG molecular species present in a complex mixture of triacylglycerols using a linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Ammonium adducts of TAGs, [M+NH4]+, were generated by electrospray ionization, which permitted the molecular weight of each TAG molecular species to be determined. The mechanisms involved in the decomposition of the [M+NH4]+ and subsequent fragment ions were investigated using deuterium labeling, MS/MS, and MS3 experiments. Collision induced decomposition of [M+NH4]+ ions resulted in the neutral loss of NH3 and an acyl side-chain (as a carboxylic acid) to generate a diacyl product ion. MS/MS data were used to identify each acyl group present for a given [M+NH4]+ ion, and this information could be combined with molecular weight data to identify possible TAG molecular species present in a biological extract. Subsequent MS3 experiments on the resultant diacyl product ions, which gave rise to acylium (RCO+) and related ions, enabled unambiguous TAG molecular assignments. These strategies of MS, MS/MS, and MS3 experiments were applied to identify components within a complex mixture of neutral lipids extracted from RAW 264.7 cells.     

Software (MSPECTRA) for automatic interpretation of triacylglycerol molecular mass distribution spectra and collision induced dissociation product ion spectra obtained by ammonia negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Rapid analysis of molecular mass distributions of triacylglycerol (TAG) mixtures and regioisomeric structures of selected molecular mass species is possible using ammonia negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry utilizing sample introduction by direct exposure probe. However, interpretation of spectra and calculation of results is time consuming, thus lengthening the total analysis time. To facilitate result calculation a software package (MSPECTRA 1.3) was developed and applied to automatic processing of triacylglycerol molecular mass distribution spectra and collision induced dissociation (CID) product ion spectra. The program is capable of identifying triacylglycerol molecular mass species possessing different ACN:DB (acyl carbon number:number of double bonds) ratios on the basis of m/z values of [M - H](-) ions. In addition to such identification the program also corrects spectra for abundances of naturally occurring (13)C isotopes and calculates relative proportions of triacylglycerol molecular species in the analyzed samples. If several replicate spectra are processed simultaneously the program automatically calculates an average and standard deviation of relative proportions of molecular species. In the case of CID spectra the program identifies fatty acid fragment ions [RCO(2)](-) and the corresponding [M - H - RCO(2)H - 100](-) ions, and calculates the relative proportions of ions in both groups. These proportions are then used automatically to calculate the fatty acid combinations comprising the parent triacylglycerol molecule and the regiospecific positions of fatty acids. Processing of several replicate product ion spectra simultaneously produces averaged proportions of regioisomers comprising the parent triacylglycerol molecular species and the standard deviation of the analysis. The performance of the program was tested by analyzing triacylglycerol samples of human milk, human milk substitutes, human chylomicron and cocoa butter, and by comparing results obtained by automated processing of the data with manually calculated results.     

Identification of triacylglycerols containing two short-chain fatty acids at sn-2 and sn-3 positions from bovine udder by fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry

Several triacylglycerol (TAG) molecular species, that contain two short-chain fatty acids (C4 to C8) at the sn-2 and sn-3 positions of the glycerol backbone, were isolated from bovine udder by using solvent extraction and silica gel column chromatography. Their structures were identified by fast atom bombardment (FAB) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), based on the information obtained from collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of sodium-adducted molecules ([M + Na](+)) of model TAG compounds which had been synthesized from glycerol and appropriate fatty acids. For each species, the relative positions of the three fatty acids on the glycerol backbone, as well as fatty acid composition and double-bond position in the fatty acyl group, were determined. A majority of sodium-adducted molecules observed in the FAB mass spectrum were mixtures of at least two components that have different fatty acid composition but the same molecular mass. In addition, all the components present in mixtures of all the species contain a long-chain fatty acid (C12 to C18) at the sn-1 position, a short-chain fatty acid (C4 to C8) at the sn-2 position, and a butyric acid uniquely at the sn-3 position.     

Simple complementary liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry approaches for the characterization of triacylglycerols in Pinus koraiensis seed oil

A new simple strategy to identify triacylglycerols (TAGs) in oils and fats was performed using on line coupling of non aqueous reversed phase chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (NARP-LC-ESI-MS(2)) with silver nitrate (AgNO(3)) as post-column additive, and chromatographic data (partition number information and both the graphs of log k vs. number of double bond (DBN) and carbon number (CN)). NARP liquid chromatography permitted to separate TAGs composed of Δ5 and Δ9 but not from Δ11 double bond location on alkyl chain of fatty acid residues. Silver cationization improved the sensitivity by a factor one hundred. MS(2) information gave unambiguously the nature of three fatty acid residues bonded to glyceryl backbone of TAGs while log k against DBN and CN curves discriminated between the same molecular mass TAG isomers (whose constitutive fatty acid residues are double bond position and configuration isomers). Combination of structural information given by MS with chromatographic retention laws led to the development of a general methodology for determination of the structure of TAGs in lipids. This methodology was applied to Pinus koraiensis seed oil for which some uncommon TAGs are present. It permitted the identification of 58 TAGs in this oil. The experimental proof of 29 uncommon TAGs as component of this oil is demonstrated. Among them 26 were minor constituents.     

Thermal and structural properties of binary mixtures of 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (SOS) and 1,2-dioleoyl-3-stearoyl-sn-glycerol (sn-OOS)

We have conducted thermal and X-ray diffraction experiments on binary mixtures of symmetric stearic-oleic mixed-acid triacylglycerol (TAG) (1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol: SOS) and asymmetric stearic-oleic mixed-acid TAG (1,2-dioleoyl-3-stearoyl-sn-glycerol: OOS), in which optically active sn-OOS was employed. We found that SOS–OOS mixtures exhibited immiscible monotectic or peritectic mixing behavior. This result was consistent with previous study on binary mixtures of 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (POP) and 1,2-dioleoyl-3-palmitoyl-rac-glycerol (OOP), in which racemic rac-OOP molecules were employed. The differences between the SOS–OOS and POP–OOP mixtures were in the polymorphic behavior of the fractions of POP and SOS. No effect was found from using an optically active (sn-OOS) or racemic mixture (rac-OOP) as an asymmetric oleic–oleic-saturated acid TAG. From the two results, we may conclude that an immiscible phase was formed in the binary mixtures of symmetric saturated-oleic-saturated TAGs and asymmetric oleic–oleic-saturated TAGs, of both racemic and optically active types. This result stands in contrast to mixtures of SOS–OSO (1,3-dioleoyl-2-stearoyl-glycerol), SOS–SSO (1,2-distearoyl-3-oleoyl-rac-glycerol), POP–OPO (1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol), and POP–PPO (1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-oleoyl-rac-glycerol), all of which exhibited molecular-compound-forming behavior with molecular compound crystals at an equal ratio of the binary mixtures. Molecular-level mechanisms to explain this difference are discussed, based on possible roles of glycerol groups acting during the mixing processes of saturated–unsaturated mixed-acid TAGs.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of fat crystallization

Naturally occurring fats are multi-component mixtures of triacylglycerols (TAGs), which are triesters of fatty acids with glycerol, and of which there are many chemically distinct compounds. Due to the importance of fats to the food and consumer products industries, fat crystallization has been studied for many years and many intricate features of TAG interactions, complicated by polymorphism, have been identified. The melting and crystallization properties of triacylglycerols are very sensitive to even small differences in fatty acid composition and position within the TAG molecule which cause steric hindrance. Differences of fatty acid chain length within a TAG lead to packing imperfections, and differences in chain lengths between different TAG molecules lead to a loss of intersolubility in the solid phase. The degree of saturation is hugely important as the presence of a double bond in a fatty acid chain causes rigid kinks in the fatty acid chains that produce huge disruption to packing structures with the result that TAGs containing double bonds have much lower melting points than completely saturated TAGs. All of these effects are more pronounced in the most stable polymorphic forms, which require the most efficient molecular packing. The crystallization of fats is complicated not just by polymorphism, but also because it usually occurs from a multi-component melt rather than from a solvent which is more common in other industrial crystallizations. This renders the conventional treatment of crystallization as a result of supersaturation somewhat meaningless. Most studies in the literature consequently quantify crystallization driving forces using the concept of supercooling below a distinct melting point. However whilst this is theoretically valid for a single component system, it can only at best represent a rough approximation for natural fat systems, which display a range of melting points. This paper reviews the latest attempts to describe the sometimes complex phase equilibria of fats using fundamental relationships for chemical potential that have so far been applied to individual species in melts of unary, binary and ternary systems. These can then be used to provide a framework for quantifying the true crystallization driving forces of individual components within a multi-component melt. These are directly related to nucleation and growth rates, and are also important in the prediction of polymorphic occurrence, crystal morphology and surface roughness. The methods currently used to evaluate induction time, nucleation rate and overall crystallization rate data are also briefly described. However, mechanistic explanations for much of the observed crystallization behaviour of TAG mixtures remain unresolved.     

Enantiomeric separation of asymmetric triacylglycerol by recycle high-performance liquid chromatography with chiral column

In our previous studies, we employed recycle HPLC for the separation of triacylglycerol (TAG)-positional isomers (PIs). In this study, a recycle HPLC system equipped with a polysaccharide-based chiral column was applied to the enantiomeric separation of some asymmetric TAGs having straight-chain C16-C18 acyl residues. As a result, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-oleoyl-rac-glycerol (rac-PPO), 1,2-dioleoyl-3-palmitoyl-rac-glycerol (rac-OOP), and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-linoleoyl-rac-glycerol (rac-PPL) were resolved into their respective enantiomers. However, neither 1,2-dioleoyl-3-linoleoyl-rac-glycerol (rac-OOL), consisting of only unsaturated fatty acids, nor 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-stearoyl-rac-glycerol (rac-PPS), consisting of only saturated fatty acids, was resolved. These results suggest that the asymmetric TAGs, used in this study, having both a palmitic acid moiety and an oleic acid (or a linoleic acid) moiety at the sn-1 or sn-3 positions are resolved by the chiral column. This new chiral separation method can be used in combination with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry to determine the sn-OOP/sn-POO ratio in palm oil. This method is applicable for the chiral separation of asymmetric TAGs in palm oil.     

Determination of beef tallow in lard through a multidimensional off-line non-aqueous reversed phase-argentation LC method coupled to mass spectrometry

The presence of tallow in lard is not easy to determine, due to the similarity of the composition of these two animal fats, which differ mainly in the distribution of fatty acids (FA) in the three positions of the glycerol molecule. The determination of the composition of the triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction of lard, tallow, and their mixtures was investigated by HPLC in combination with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). The presence of tallow in lard was determined through the study of the sn-POP/sn-PPO ratio by multidimensional HPLC. The off-line bidimensional system was attained through the coupling of non-aqueous reversed phase (NARP)-HPLC and silver ion (Ag)-HPLC. The primary column eluate was fractionated and the fraction containing POP/PPO isomers was injected onto the secondary column, allowing the separation of positional isomers, unresolved in the first dimension. Peak assignment was carried out by combining retention data with APCI-MS spectral information. The fatty acid distribution along the glycerol backbone, determined by Ag-HPLC, was confirmed through diglyceride ion ratios derived from APCI-MS analysis. Method validation was carried out in preliminary applications on standard TAGs. The analytical results obtained show that even a 5% addition of tallow to lard modifies the distribution of positional isomers.     

Lipid fingerprinting of gram-positive lactobacilli by intact--matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using a proton sponge based matrix

A method of direct lipid analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) in intact membranes, without prior extraction/separation steps, is described. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of a strong base, 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (DMAN; proton sponge), as a novel matrix for MALDI-time-of-flight (TOF) MS analysis of whole cell bacteria. Initially, individual acidic low-molecular-weight analytes such as standard free fatty acids and phospholipids were analyzed using DMAN as matrix. Clear negative-mode MALDI-TOF MS spectra of all analytes show only deprotonated analyte signals at a low picomole limit of detection with the complete absence of matrix-related signals. These results indicate that DMAN represents a suitable matrix for MALDI-TOF MS analysis of mixtures of complex lipids as the intact membranes of microorganisms. DMAN was successfully applied to the analysis of Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis and L. plantarum microorganisms. Different components were sensitively detected in a single spot, including 16:0, 18:2, 18:3, and 21:0 free acids, glycolipids, phosphatidylglycerols (PGs) and cardiolipins. This method might be of general application, offering the advantage of quickly gaining information about lipid components of other gram-positive bacterial membranes.     

Predicting vapor–liquid equilibria of fatty systems

In the present work, a group contribution method is proposed for the estimation of the vapor pressure of fatty compounds. For the major components involved in the vegetable oil industry, such as fatty acids, esters and alcohols, triacylglycerols (TAGs) and partial acylglycerols, the optimized parameters are reported. The method is shown to be accurate when it is used together with the UNIFAC model for estimating vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE) of binary and multicomponent fatty mixtures comprised in industrial processes such as stripping of hexane, deodorization and physical refining. The results achieved show that the group contribution approach is a valuable tool for the design of distillation and stripping units since it permits to take into account all the complexity of the mixtures involved. This is particularly important for the evaluation of the loss of distillative neutral oil that occurs during the processing of edible oils.The combination of the vapor pressure model suggested in the present work with the UNIFAC equation gives results similar to those already reported in the literature for fatty acid mixtures and oil–hexane mixtures. However, it is a better tool for predicting vapor–liquid equilibria of a large range of fatty systems, also involving unsaturated compounds, fatty esters and acylglycerols, not contemplated by other methodologies. The approach suggested in this work generates more realistic results concerning vapor–liquid equilibria of systems encountered in the edible oil industry.     

Lipid profiling using catalytic pyrolysis/metal oxide laser ionization-mass spectrometry

A procedure for lipid analysis using catalytic pyrolysis metal oxide laser ionization mass spectrometry (CP-MOLI MS) is described. When surface activated CaO is mixed with a lipid sample and analyzed using CP-MOLI MS, cleavage of lipids occurs by a reaction that resembles thermal hydrolysis methylation. CP-MOLI MS of monoacylglycerides (MAG), diacylglycerides (DAG), triacylglycerides (TAG), varied fatty acids on DAGs and TAGs, phospholipids, algae, and bacteria produced Ca adducts of fatty acid constituents from the respective molecular species without matrix background interference. CP-MOLI MS offers increased speed and a streamlined analysis in which intact lipids as well as their representative fatty acid constituents can be profiled on the same instrument.     

High-resolution triacylglycerol mixture analysis using high-temperature gas chromatography / mass spectrometry with a polarizable stationary phase,negative ion chemical ionization,and mass-resolved chromatography

High-temperature gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HT-GC/MS) has been employed to study the behavior of mixtures of triacylglycerol molecular species on a polarizable stationary phase (immobilized 65% phenyl methyl silicone). The use of negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) at an ion source block temperature of 300 °C overcomes problems with interpretation of electron ionization (EI) mass spectra produced during the HT-GC/MS. The NICI spectra of triacylglycerols produced under these conditions contain abundant [RCO₂]^?, [RCO₂ ? 18]^?, and [RCO₂ ? 19]^? ions, believed to be produced by nucleophilic gas-phase ammonolysis, that are used to identify the individual fatty acid moieties associated with peaks in triacylglycerol total ion chromatograms. The polarizable stationary phase produces significantly enhanced resolution of triacylglycerol molecular species compared to hightemperature stable apolar stationary phases, such as immobilized dimethyl polysiloxanes. The resolution of complex natural mixtures of triacylglycerols can be further improved by use of the Biller-Biemann enhancement technique to produce mass-resolved chromatograms. Investigation of the mass-resolved chromatograms provides important information with regard to the factors that affect elution orders of individual triacylglycerol molecular species. The analysis of mixtures of authentic triacylglycerols by HT-GC/MS via NICI provides data that relate to the analytical limits of the technique for the analysis of triacylglycerols that bear both saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acyl moieties.     

Examining the collision-induced decomposition spectra of ammoniated triglycerides. III. The linoleate and arachidonate series

A series of positionally pure triglycerides (TAGs) of the form LXL, YLY, AXA, and YAY was synthesized and analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. L and A represent the linoleate and arachidate moieties, respectively, and X and Y represent large arrays of fatty acid moieties of various chain lengths, degree of unsaturations, double-bond positions, and cis/trans configurations. The abundances of the collision-induced decomposition (CID) products of ammoniated TAGs were examined as a function of these parameters. The major CID products, the diglyceride (DAG) product ions and the MH(+) ions, are plotted as functions of chain length for the saturated and monounsaturated series of X and Y. The following trends are observed in the data. TAGs with higher degrees of unsaturation tend to show greater relative abundances of MH(+) in the CID spectra of their ammoniated precursor ions. The position of the fatty acid constituents along the glycerol backbone also seems to influence the abundances of the MH(+) ion in the CID spectra of the ammoniated precursor ions. A fatty acid constituent with double bonds along the fatty acid chain positioned close to the carbonyl promotes the formation of the DAG product ion that corresponds to its loss upon CID of the ammoniated precursor ion. Linoleic acid substituents also seem to promote the formation of DAG product ions, but to a lesser extent. Data for the YAY TAGs are used to predict the abundances of the product ions in the CID spectra of ammoniated YAX TAGs. These data are discussed in context of a broader project to develop and validate software algorithims to support a platform for comprehensive analysis of complex mixtures of TAGs.     

Visualization of dynamic change in contraction-induced lipid composition in mouse skeletal muscle by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry

Lipids in skeletal muscle play a fundamental role both in normal muscle metabolism and in disease states. Skeletal muscle lipid accumulation is associated with several chronic metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. However, it is poorly understood whether the lipid composition of skeletal muscle changes by contraction, due to the complexity of lipid molecular species. In this study, we used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) to investigate changes in skeletal muscle lipid composition induced by contraction. We successfully observed the reduction of diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol, which are generally associated with muscle contraction. Interestingly, we found the accumulation of some saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acids and poly-unsaturated fatty acids containing phosphatidylcholine in contracted muscles. Moreover, the distributions of several types of lipid were changed by contraction. Our results show that changes in the lipid amount, lipid composition, and energy metabolic activity can be evaluated in each local spot of cells and tissues at the same time using MALDI-IMS. In conclusion, MALDI-IMS is a powerful tool for studying lipid changes associated with contractions.     

Comparative study of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and gas chromatography for quantitative determination of cocoa butter and cocoa butter equivalent triacylglycerol composition

The triacylglycerol (TAG) composition study of cocoa butter (CB) and cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) has been performed by gas chromatography (GC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). These two techniques provided comparable results. The advantage of the MALDI technique was the detection of each compound comprising the triacylglycerol classes (Cn). Moreover, comparison of the data obtained by these two techniques indicated that TAG relative percentages could be obtained quantitatively with the MALDI technique. These techniques have been applied for the composition determination of CB + CBE mixtures. Encouraging results showed that it is possible to quantify an admixture containing as little as 4% of CBE.     

Distinct hepatic lipid profile of hypertriglyceridemic mice determined by easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry

Easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) was used to interrogate the hepatic lipid profiles of hypertriglyceridemic and control normotriglyceridemic mice. The analyses of ex vivo complex lipid mixtures were made directly with EASI-MS without accompanying separation steps. Intense ions for phosphatidylcholines and triacylglycerols were observed in the positive ion mode whereas the spectra in the negative ion mode provided profiles of phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylinositol. EASI-MS was coupled to high-performance thin-layer chromatography for analysis of free fatty acids. Fourier transform–ion cyclotron resonance–mass spectrometry was also employed to confirm the identity of the detected lipids. We demonstrated higher incorporation of oleic acid in phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol composition, higher relative abundance of arachidonic acid containing phosphatidylinositol, and overall distinct free fatty acid profile in the livers of genetic hypertriglyceridemic mice. We propose that these alterations in liver lipid composition are related to the higher tissue and body metabolic rates described in these hypertriglyceridemic mice.