Characterization of cis-9 trans-11 trans-15 C18:3 in milk fat by GC and covalent adduct chemical ionization tandem MS

Pilar Gómez-Cortés,Cynthia Tyburczy,J Thomas Brenna,Manuela Juárez,Miguel Angel De La Fuente

doi:10.1194/jlr.m800662-jlr200

Abstract

Rumen biohydrogenation of dietary alpha-linolenic acid gives rise in ruminants to accumulation of fatty acid intermediates, some of which may be transferred into milk. Rumelenic acid [cis-9 trans-11 cis-15 C18:3 (RLnA)] has recently been characterized, but other C18:3 minor isomers are still unknown. The objective of this work was to identify a new isomer of octatridecenoic acid present in milk fat from ewes fed different sources of alpha-linolenic acid. Structural characterization of this fatty acid was achieved by GC-MS. Analysis of dimethyloxazoline and picolinyl ester derivatives allowed for location of the double bond positions. Covalent adduct chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry confirmed the positional structure 9-11-15, identical to RLnA, and helped to establish double bond geometry (cis-trans-trans). This new C18:3 isomer could be formed by isomerization of cis-15 bond of RLnA and subsequently converted by hydrogenation to trans-11 trans-15 C18:2, an octadecadienoic acid also detected in this study.

Highlights

Rumen biohydrogenation of dietary ␣-linolenic acid gives rise in ruminants to accumulation of fatty acid intermediates, some of which may be transferred into milk
Structural characterization of this fatty acid was achieved by GC-MS
Analysis of dimethyloxazoline and picolinyl ester derivatives allowed for location of the double bond positions

Summary

Introduction

Rumen biohydrogenation of dietary ␣-linolenic acid gives rise in ruminants to accumulation of fatty acid intermediates, some of which may be transferred into milk. The objective of this work was to identify a new isomer of octatridecenoic acid present in milk fat from ewes fed different sources of ␣-linolenic acid. Structural characterization of this fatty acid was achieved by GC-MS. Covalent adduct chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry confirmed the positional structure 9-11-15, identical to RLnA, and helped to establish double bond geometry (cis-trans-trans). This new C18:3 isomer could be formed by isomerization of cis-15 bond of RLnA and subsequently converted by hydrogenation to trans-11 trans-15 C18:2, an octadecadienoic acid detected in this study.— Gómez-Cortés P., C.

Objectives

Methods

Results