Negative Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Research Articles

Characterization of isomeric lipid A species from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 by non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis with positive and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a priority target pathogen for antibiotic research and development because of its high resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. Acquisition of resistance is sometimes associated with modifications of the lipid A component present in the outer membrane of most Gram-negative bacteria. For a deeper understanding of subtle chemical variations of lipid A in relation to biological properties, the structural elucidation of lipid A species within a bacterial strain is of crucial importance. However, the simultaneous presence of monophosphorylated positional isomers in naturally heterogeneous lipid A samples cannot easily be recognized with direct MS measurements or with conventional LC-MS strategies. Herein, we present the application of a non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) method coupled to positive and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation (CID) activation technique for the in-depth analysis of the lipid A isolate of P. aeruginosa PAO1. The main advantage of our NACE strategy is its separation power regarding the site of phosphorylation of the lipid A structures, which makes it a good orthogonal technique to chromatographic characterizations of the bacterial lipid A composition, where the separation is mainly based on acylation differences of the species. Overall, the results of this electrophoretic approach revealed hitherto unreported isomeric monophosphorylated PAO1 lipid A constituents, including both phosphate and acyl chain positional isomers. The parallel fragmentation in the complementary positive and negative ion modes enabled the unequivocal assignment of the phosphorylation site and position of acyl chains in lipid A compounds of three acylation families ranging from tetra- to hexa-acylation. Moreover, C1-monophosphorylated lipid A species have been identified in P. aeruginosa for the first time.

Highly sensitive determination of three kinds of amanitins in urine and plasma by ultra performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry coupled with immunoaffinity column clean-up

建立了超高效液相色谱-三重四极杆质谱高灵敏测定尿液和血浆中α-鹅膏毒肽、β-鹅膏毒肽和γ-鹅膏毒肽的方法。经过免疫亲和柱净化,尿液样品浓缩20倍、血浆样品浓缩10倍,以Kinetex Biphenyl色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm)作为分析柱,甲醇-0.005%(v/v)甲酸水溶液作为流动相进行梯度洗脱分离,电喷雾电离、负离子、多反应监测模式下检测,外标法定量。3种鹅膏毒肽的线性范围为0.1~200 ng/mL,相关系数(r)>0.999。尿液和血浆中3种鹅膏毒肽的基质效应和提取回收率分别为92%~108%和90%~103%,变异系数均小于13%。尿液中3种鹅膏毒肽的准确度为-9.4%~8.0%,重复性和中间精度分别为3.0%~14%和3.5%~18%,当取样量为2.00 mL时,方法的检出限均为0.002 ng/mL;血浆中3种鹅膏毒肽的准确度为-13%~8.0%,重复性和中间精度分别为3.9%~9.7%和5.5%~12%,当取样量为1.00 mL时,方法的检出限均为0.004 ng/mL。该法操作简单、灵敏、准确,已在中毒患者摄入野生蘑菇后138 h的尿液中检出0.0067 ng/mL α-鹅膏毒肽和0.0059 ng/mL β-鹅膏毒肽。该法已成功解决中毒患者尿液和血浆中超痕量鹅膏毒肽的检测难题,对于疑似中毒病人的早诊断、早治疗、降低死亡率都具有非常重要意义,也为今后开展此类毒素毒理作用及机体代谢规律的研究提供了可靠的技术支撑。

Variations in bovine milk oligosaccharides after calving using p-aminobenzoic ethyl ester closed-ring labeling and negative ion electrospray LC/MS/MS.

A strategy was proposed to analyze bovine milk oligosaccharides using p-aminobenzoic ethyl ester (ABEE) closed-ring labeling and C18 capillary liquid chromatography negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Linkage specific fragment ions were used to identify oligosaccharide isomers. By constructing the mass chromatograms using linkage specific fragment ions, isomers were differentiated based on m/z values as well as temporal separation provided by liquid chromatography. In addition to disialyllactose and the single isomer lacto-N-neohexaose, four pairs of linkage isomers including 3'/6'-sialyllactose (3'/6'-SL), 3'/6'-sialyllactosamine (3'/6'-SLN), 3'/6'-sialylgalactosyl-lactose (3'/6'-SGL), and lacto-N-tetraose/lacto-N-neotetraose (LNT/LNnT) in bovine milk were investigated. Variations of bovine milk oligosaccharides in a lactation period of 72 h after calving were studied. Sialylated oligosaccharide was found to be distinctively more abundant in milk of the first 24 h, decreasing in successive milkings. For the first time, the variation of lacto-N-tetraose in bovine milk was reported.

Determination of coriatin and corianin in plasma and urine using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method has been developed for the determination of coriatin and corianin in plasma and urine, which are the biomarkers of poisoning caused by Coriaria sinica Maxim. Plasma and urine samples were extracted and purified using a solid supported liquid/liquid extraction method. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Cortecs C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.6 μm) using a gradient elution of methanol and water. Coriatin and corianin were detected using negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode and quantified via a matrix working standard curve internal standard method; florfenicol was used as the internal standard. The assay was linear in the calibration range of 0.03-5.0 μg/L for coriatin and 0.3-50 μg/L for corianin in plasma, and 0.1-10 μg/L and 1-100 μg/L for coriatin and corianin in urine, respectively. The average recoveries were 86.2%-110% for coriatin and corianin in plasma and urine with relative standard deviations of 5.1%-14.6% (n=6). The limits of detection (S/N=3) for coriatin and corianin were 0.01 μg/L and 0.1 μg/L in plasma, and 0.03 μg/L and 0.3 μg/L in urine, respectively. The method is simple, sensitive and accurate for the determination of coriatin and corianin in plasma and urine for toxicological purposes.

Radical oxidation of methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein in aqueous droplets: Characterization of organosulfates and atmospheric implications

In-cloud processing of volatile organic compounds is one of the significant routes leading to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the lower troposphere. In this study, we demonstrate that two atmospherically relevant α,β-unsaturated carbonyls, i.e., but-3-en-2-on (methyl vinyl ketone, MVK) and 2-methylopropenal (methacrolein, MACR), undergo sulfate radical-induced transformations in dilute aqueous systems under photochemical conditions to form organosulfates previously identified in ambient aerosols and SOA generated in smog chambers. The photooxidation was performed under sun irradiation in unbuffered aqueous solutions containing carbonyl precursors at a concentration of 0.2 mmol and peroxydisulfate as a source of sulfate radicals (SO4–) at a concentration of 0.95 mmol. UV–vis analysis of solutions showed the fast decay of unsaturated carbonyl precursors in the presence of sulfate radicals. The observation confirms the capacity of sulfate radicals to transform the organic compounds into SOA components in atmospheric waters. Detailed interpretation of high-resolution negative ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectra allowed to assign molecular structures to multiple aqueous organosulfate products, including an abundant isoprene-derived organosulfate C4H8SO7 detected at m/z 199. The results highlight the solar aqueous-phase reactions as a potentially significant route for biogenic SOA production in clouds at locations where isoprene oxidation occurs. A recent modelling study suggests that such processes could likely contribute to 20–30 Tg year−1 production of SOA, referred to as aqSOA, which is a non-negligible addition to the still underestimated budget of atmospheric aerosol.

An HPLC–MS/MS method for quantitation of Gly-MCA in mouse plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study

A simple, sensitive and rapid method using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) was developed and validated for quantification of glycine-β-muricholic acid (Gly-MCA) in mouse plasma for the first time. Plasma samples were pretreated with protein precipitation. The analyte and internal standard were separated on a Shimadzu Shim-pack XR-ODS column (4.6×50mm, 2.2μm) using 0.1% formic acid-water-methanol as mobile phase, with a runtime of 5min. Detection was performed using negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan mode. The linear range was 5ng–2μg/ml (correlation coefficient >0.995) for Gly-MCA with a lower limit of quantitation of 5ng/ml. The intra-day and inter-day precision were less than 9.2% for the analyte and accuracy was from 0.4% to 7.0%. This analytical method was then successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of Gly-MCA following oral administration and intraperitoneal injection in mice.

Biomonitoring of fluoroalkylated substances in Antarctica seabird plasma: Development and validation of a fast and rugged method using on-line concentration liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

We report on a fast, accurate and rugged analytical procedure to determine a wide span of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in seabird plasma. The 26 investigated compounds included perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (C5–C14 PFCAs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (C4, C6, C7, C8, C10 PFSAs), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) and N-alkyl derivatives (MeFOSA, EtFOSA), N-alkyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acids (MeFOSAA, EtFOSAA), fluorotelomer sulfonates (4:2 FTSA, 6:2 FTSA, 8:2 FTSA), polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters (diPAPs) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide phosphate diester (diSAmPAP). The method described herein requires a reduced sample amount (25μL) and involves rapid and simple sample preparation (protein precipitation with acetonitrile but without acidification) prior to analysis by on-line solid phase extraction (Oasis HLB sorbent) coupled to high performance liquid chromatography negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The optimization was conducted using experimental designs to account for potential interactions between variables. Out of the 26 target analytes, 23 compounds showed excellent accuracy (±25% of the expected values). Intermediate precision and matrix effects remained acceptable for most analytes thanks to efficient internal standardization. A human serum standard reference material (NIST SRM 1957) was included in the validation scheme to evaluate method trueness, which proved satisfactory (│Z-scores│<2 for most compounds). Notwithstanding the small initial sample intake, limits of detection as low as 0.003–0.1ngg−1 plasma were obtained. This allowed the determination of 11 target PFASs in Antarctic seabird plasma samples. ΣPFASs in Antarctic seabird plasma ranged from 0.37 to 19ngg−1, with a predominance of PFOS (>54% of ΣPFASs on average). The reduced plasma amount required implies that the present method could also be applied to the analysis of PFASs in the plasma of smaller biological models.

Endometriosis is associated with aberrant metabolite profiles in plasma

To identify metabolites that are associated with and predict the presence of endometriosis. Metabolomics study using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry approaches. University hospital and universities. Twenty-five women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis (cases) and 19 women with laparoscopically documented absence of endometriosis (controls). None of the women included in this study had received oral contraception or GnRH agonists for a minimum of 1month before blood collection. Plasma collection. Metabolite profiles were generated and interrogated using multiple mass spectrometry methods, that is, high performance liquid chromatography coupled with negative mode electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, UPLC-MS/MS, and ultra performance liquid chromatography-electroSpray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF). Metabolite groups investigated included phospholipids, glycerophospholipids, ether-phospholipids, cholesterol-esters, triacylglycerol, sphingolipids, free fatty acids, steroids, eicosanoids, and acylcarnitines. A panel of acylcarnitines predicted the presence of endometriosis with 88.9% specificity and 81.5% sensitivity in human plasma, with a positive predictive value of 75%. However, due to data limitations the outcome of the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was not significant. A diagnostic model based on acylcarnitines has the potential to predict the presence and stage of endometriosis.

Antioxidant capacity and identification of the constituents of ethyl acetate fraction from Rhus verniciflua Stokes by HPLC-MS

Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) from Rhus verniciflua Stokes is an important source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was the tentative identification and quantification of phenolic compounds, comparison of the phenolic structure–antioxidant activity relationships. Twelve compounds of EAF belonging to polyphenol types were detected by high performance liquid chromatography and analysed on line with negative ion electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry, which were ethoxy 3-hydroxy benzoic acid, gallic acid (GA), 3,4-dihydroxy amygdalic acid, gallic acid cetyl ester, protocatechuic acid (PA), fustin, ethyl gallate (EG), garbanzol, fisetin, sulfuretin, butin and 3,7-dihydroxyflavanone-4′-rhamnoside. The antioxidant activity were evaluated based on the different types of radical scavenging capacities, i.e. DPPH·, ABTS·+ and OH. The antioxidant capacity of EAF mainly depended on the GA, EG, PA, fisetin, sulfuretin and butin. The phenolics exhibited a dose-dependent behaviour and high antioxidant ability.

Simultaneous determination of 14 active constituents of Shengjiang Xiexin decoction using ultrafast liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

An effective herbal medicinal prescription of Shengjiang Xiexin decoction (SXD) was used in treating the inflammatory bowel disease in clinic. In this study, an ultrafast liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (UFLCMS/MS) method was developed to separate and to simultaneously determine 14 major active ingredients in SXD. Chromatographic separation was successfully accomplished on an Acquity BEH C18 (100mm×2.1mm, 1.7μm) column using gradient elution with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid water (A) and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in methanol (B). Negative and positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect the 14 analytes using its selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. A good linear regression relationship for each analyte was obtained over the range from 3.88ng/mL to 4080ng/mL. The precision was evaluated by intra- and inter-day assays with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 6.25%. The recovery measured at three concentration levels varied from 98.72% to 103.47%. The overall limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 2.05ng/mL to 4.72ng/mL. The method was successfully implemented in the qualitative and quantitative analyses of the 14 chemical constituents in SXD. The results showed that the developed UFLCMS/MS method was linear and accurate. The method could be used reliably as a quality control method for SXD.

Determination of organophosphorus acids by liquid chromatography positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry after chemical derivatization

Negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) is the first choice for detecting and identifying organophosphorus acids such as alkyl methylphosphonic acids, dialkyl phosphates and dialkyl thiophosphates. However, chemical noise in the lower mass regions, ion suppression and poor chromatographic retention of small, highly polar acids render the identification of such acids difficult, especially in complex matrices. To address this difficulty, we evaluated charge- reversal derivatizations of several polar organophosphorus acids with eight commercially- available, mostly pyridine-based reagents, possessing high proton-affinity amines. A simple and generic derivatization procedure of such acids in the presence of potassium carbonate and 18-crown-6 in acetonitrile was developed. After derivatization, the samples were analysed by LC-ESI(+)-MS/MS, and a fragmentation study was carried out. For all derivatizing agents, the resulting acid-derivatives were highly retained by LC and well responded in the ESI⿿MS/MS in the positive-ion mode. However, for several reagents, structural information losses were observed in MS/MS. Interestingly, each derivatizing agent exhibited a different MS/MS behaviour towards the analytes. Some derivatizing agents underwent considerable collision-induced dissociation exclusively at the amine tag portion, while others dissociated at the analyte portion and at the amine portion, depending on the alkyl side chain linked to the oxygen. Only the 3- (bromoacetyl)pyridine derivatives were highly specific and provided rich informative MS/MS spectra. The MS/MS identifications were based on characteristic neutral losses, diagnostic ions for the organophosphorus skeleton, and amine tag-characteristic product ions. This derivatization is beneficial in the identification of target and unknown organophosphorus acids.

Improved specificity of serum phosphatidylcholine detection based on side-chain losses during negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Many current tandem mass spectrometry (MS) methods for measuring phosphatidylcholines (PtdChos) rely only on precursor ion scanning of the common 184 m/z phosphocholine fragment with positive electrospray ionization (+ESI), and thus measure pools of PtdChos rather than specific isoforms. In this paper, we developed and compared an isotope dilution, tandem MS method capable of quantifying PtdChos based on specific fatty acid side-chains to the traditional 184 m/z method. The method is based on the detection of PtdCho ammonium formate (AmF) adduct as parent ions and fatty acid fragment daughter ions under negative electrospray ionization (-ESI). Accuracy, imprecision, and recovery were below 15%, with acceptable linearity (R 2 > 0.99) up to 5μg/mL. We used the method to analyze the distributions of PtdChos with common side-chain combinations among 60 subjects and showed that it was possible for two individuals to have the same PtdCho pool concentration based on detection of the 184 m/z fragment, but up to a fourfold difference in the levels of specific isoforms comprising the pool based on our method. We then compared the results of both methods across 572 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), or no impairment (NI), which showed that statistically significant associations between specific PtdCho isoforms and AD were masked with the 184 m/z method. Our findings demonstrate the importance of isoform specificity for quantifying PtdChos, and suggest caution when interpreting analytical data based on pools of biomarkers.

Simultaneous Quantitation of Estradiol and Estrone in Serum Using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry.

Accurate measurement of the endogenous estrogens, estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2), is important in the clinical diagnosis and monitoring of multiple disorders. Typically, given the efficacy and low cost, radioimmunoassays (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunoassays (EIA) are used to quantify these hormones in biological samples. Unfortunately, at low levels these assays lack the necessary sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of certain disorders in adult and pediatric endocrinology and oncology. In response to this need, we developed a fast and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to measure serum estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) without chemical derivatization. Samples are spiked with a stable isotopic carbon thirteen ((13)C) labeled internal standard and the estrogens are isolated by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with hexane:Methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) (9:1). Following centrifugation and dry down samples are reconstituted with deionized water, and separated on a C18 reverse phase column. The analytes are quantified using a six point calibration curve with a linearity of 2.6-625 pg/ml and with a variability of less than 8 % across analytical range.

Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Wild-Type and Knock-in Q140/Q140 Huntington's Disease Mouse Brains Reveals Changes in Glycerophospholipids Including Alterations in Phosphatidic Acid and Lyso-Phosphatidic Acid.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG expansion in the HD gene, which encodes the protein Huntingtin. Huntingtin associates with membranes and can interact directly with glycerophospholipids in membranes. We analyzed glycerophospholipid profiles from brains of 11 month old wild-type (WT) and Q140/Q140 HD knock-in mice to assess potential changes in glycerophospholipid metabolism. Polar lipids from cerebellum, cortex, and striatum were extracted and analyzed by liquid chromatography and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS). Gene products involved in polar lipid metabolism were studied using western blotting, immuno-electron microscopy and qPCR. Significant changes in numerous species of glycerophosphate (phosphatidic acid, PA) were found in striatum, cerebellum and cortex from Q140/Q140 HD mice compared to WT mice at 11 months. Changes in specific species could also be detected for other glycerophospholipids. Increases in species of lyso-PA (LPA) were measured in striatum of Q140/Q140 HD mice compared to WT. Protein levels for c-terminal binding protein 1 (CtBP1), a regulator of PA biosynthesis, were reduced in striatal synaptosomes from HD mice compared to wild-type at 6 and 12 months. Immunoreactivity for CtBP1 was detected on membranes of synaptic vesicles in striatal axon terminals in the globus pallidus. These novel results identify a potential site of molecular pathology caused by mutant Huntingtin that may impart early changes in HD.

Active site cleft mutants of Os9BGlu31 transglucosidase modify acceptor substrate specificity and allow production of multiple kaempferol glycosides

BackgroundRice Os9BGlu31 is a transglucosidase that can transfer glucose to phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phytohormones. Os9BGlu31 displays a broad specificity with phenolic 1-O-β-d-glucose esters acting as better glucose donors than glucosides, whereas the free phenolic acids of these esters are also excellent acceptor substrates. MethodsBased on homology modeling of this enzyme, we made single point mutations of residues surrounding the acceptor binding region of the Os9BGlu31 active site. Products of the wild type and mutant enzymes in transglycosylation of phenolic acceptors from 4-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside donor were identified and measured by UPLC and negative ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LCMSMS). ResultsThe most active variant produced was W243N, while I172T and L183Q mutations decreased the activity, and other mutations at W243 (A, D, M, N, F and Y) had variable effects, depending on the acceptor substrate. The Os9BGlu31 W243N mutant activity was higher than that of wild type on phenolic acids and kaempferol, a flavonol containing 4 hydroxyl groups, and the wild type Os9BGlu31 produced only a single product from each of these acceptors in significant amounts, while W243 variants produced multiple glucoconjugates. Fragmentation analysis provisionally identified the kaempferol transglycosylation products as kaempferol 3-O, 7-O, and 4'-O glucosides and 3,7-O, 4′,7-O, and 3,4′-O bis-O-glucosides. The Os9BGlu31 W243 mutants were also better able to use kaempferol 3-O-glucoside as a donor substrate. General significanceThe W243 residue was found to be critical to the substrate and product specificity of Os9BGlu31 transglucosidase and mutation of this residue allows production of a range of glucoconjugates.

A platform for the structural characterization of glycans enzymatically released from glycosphingolipids extracted from tissue and cells.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) constitute a highly diverse class of glyco-conjugates which are involved in many aspects of cell membrane function and disease. The isolation, detection and structural characterization of the carbohydrate (glycan) component of GSLs are particularly challenging given their structural heterogeneity and thus rely on the development of sensitive, analytical technologies. Neutral and acidic GSL standards were immobilized onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes and glycans were enzymatically released using endoglycoceramidase II (EGCase II), separated by porous graphitized carbon (PGC) liquid chromatography and structurally characterized by negative ion mode electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (PGC-LC/ESI-MS/MS). This approach was then employed for GSLs isolated from 100 mg of serous and endometrioid cancer tissue and from cell line (10(7) cells) samples. Glycans were released from GSL standards comprising of ganglio-, asialo-ganglio- and the relatively resistant globo-series glycans, using as little as 1 mU of enzyme and 2 µg of GSL. The platform of analysis was then applied to GSLs isolated from tissue and cell line samples and the released isomeric and isobaric glycan structures were chromatographically resolved on PGC and characterized by comparison with the MS(2) fragment ion spectra of the glycan standards and by application of known structural MS(2) fragment ions. This approach identified several (neo-)lacto-, globo- and ganglio-series glycans and facilitated the discrimination of isomeric structures containing Lewis A, H type 1 and type 2 blood group antigens and sialyl-tetraosylceramides. We describe a relatively simple, detergent-free, enzymatic release of glycans from PVDF-immobilized GSLs, followed by the detailed structural analysis afforded by PGC-LC-ESI-MS/MS, to offer a versatile method for the analysis of tumour and cell-derived GSL-glycans. The method uses the potential of MS(2) fragmentation in negative ion ESI mode to characterize, in detail, the biologically relevant glycan structures derived from GSLs.

HPLC-DAD-MS analysis of colorant and resinous components of lac-dye: A comparison between Kerria and Paratachardina genera

A database using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection was created for lac-dye insects (Kerria and Paratachardina genera) in order to identify the red dye used in historical textiles. Lac from Kerria and Paratachardina species was easily distinguished by liquid chromatography coupled to negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Seventy-six historical lac-dye specimens and seven reference insect specimens were analyzed and compared with 41 historical carpet samples. Using this approach, the presence of Kerria spp. was identified in three carpets, pointing to an Iranian provenance and corroborating a 16th/17th-century date for them, obtained previously with C14 analysis.Multivariate data analysis was applied to differentiate sources of Kerria and improve the lac-dye database. PCA indicates that discrimination can be obtained according to composition. Information regarding pigment and resin concentrations is recovered separately in first and second principal components, respectively, which offers a basis of separation for this type of data.The development of this lac-dye database is an important step towards improving research on lac-dye species, which can contribute to more accurate identification of the provenance of historical textiles. This work reinforces the importance of using taxonomically-verified specimens of Kerria, previously submitted to molecular taxonomic studies, to construct a more reliable lac-dye database capable of identifying the lac species present in historical textiles, as well as the provenance of the insect used.

Evidence for an N-methyl transfer reaction in phosphatidylcholines with a terminal aldehyde during negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Lipidomic analysis of the complex mixture of lipids isolated from biological systems can be a challenging process that often involves tandem mass spectrometry and interpretation of both precursor ions and product ions relative to the molecular structure of the lipids. Therefore, detailed understanding of the gas-phase ion chemistry occurring for each class of phospholipids is critically important for an accurate assignment of lipid structure. Some oxidized phosphatidylcholines are known to be biologically active and responsible for pathological events, and are therefore important targets for detection in lipidomic studies. Modification of fatty acyl chains by oxidation may, however, change the behavior of ion formation and decomposition in the mass spectrometer. In this study, we report on the mass-spectrometric behavior of 1-palmitoyl-2-(9'-oxononanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, a bioactive product of phosphatidylcholine oxidation. In addition to [M-15](-) and the acetate adduct [M+59](-), three additional adduct ions, including [M-H](-), were present in significant abundance in the negative ion electrospray mass spectrum. It was found that this unexpected [M-H](-) ion was formed by the transfer of a methyl group from the choline residue on the polar head group to the aldehyde functionality of the sn-2 substituent, resulting in a 14-Da increase in the mass of the resulting sn-2 carboxylate anion formed by collisional activation of this ion. These results suggest additional rules for understanding the gas-phase ion chemistry of aldehydic phosphatidylcholine molecular species.

Microquantification of inorganic and organic phosphate by negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

A new method for inorganic phosphate microquantification is introduced based on negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution by (18)O4-labeled phosphate. Quantification is performed using the non-labeled and (18)O3-labeled [P(18)O3](-) fragment ions at m/z 79 and 85, respectively, formed by dissociation of the [H2PO4](-) ion at m/z 97 and 105, respectively, visible in negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) spectra. Tandem mass spectrometry was selected to remove an overlap with the isobaric [HSO4](-) ion at m/z 97 of sulfate and to establish an optimal sensitivity of the quantification assay. It is demonstrated that the assay can also measure the sum of inorganic and phosphoryl phosphate by prior enzymatic hydrolysis of phosphoryl phosphate. The assay works with phosphate concentrations in the micromolar range and, in combination with nano-ESI, is capable to quantitate absolute amounts of phosphate in the low nanogram range from complex samples.

Determination of 32 sulfonylurea herbicide residues in sweet corns and green soybeans by QuEChERS-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A fast method based on QuEChERS methodology for the simultaneous determination of 32 sulfonylurea herbicide residues in sweet corns and green soybeans was developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The clean-up effects of three dispersive sorbents were evaluated in terms of the residue mass for extracts after evaporation and recoveries. The three sorbents were C18, a mixture of two sorbents--silica coated with zirconium dioxide (Z-Sep) and C18, a bonded C18 zirconia-coated silica (Z-Sep+). As a result, the best effects were obtained from using Z-Sep/C18 sorbents. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile, and salted out with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and sodium chloride. The extracts were cleaned up with dispersive solid phase extraction using Z-Sep/C18 sorbents. Chromatographic analysis was carried out using a CSH C18 column with gradient elution. The pesticides were analyzed by negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry under scheduled multiple reaction monitoring mode. The quantification was achieved using matrix-matched standard calibrations as the external standard. The recoveries at fortification levels of 10, 20, 100 µg/kg in sweet corns and green beans ranged from 80.0% to 108.2% with the relative standard deviations of 1.2%-13.0%. The limits of quantification (S/N ≥ 10) were 0.2-5.0 µg/kg. The method has been proven to be simple, sensitive, environmental, and thus suitable for the determination of the 32 sulfonylurea herbicide residues in sweet corns and green soy- beans.