Matrix-assisted ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry for the analysis of lipids

by Liyanage, R.; Gidden, J.; Wilkins, C. L.; Lay, J. O.

Rationale Assessing the utility of vacuum matrix-assisted ionization (MAI) for the direct and rapid analysis of lipids in complex samples with emphasis on bacterial taxonomy. Methods Matrix-assisted ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MAI-FTMS) was used to characterize polar and non-polar lipids in mixtures. Results For non-polar lipid triacylglycerols (TAGs), MAI-FTMS produced lipid-specific ions for eight different edible oils and allowed these oils to be identified based on their MAI-FTMS profiles. For polar lipids from bacteria, MAI-FTMS of crude lipid extracts allowed taxonomic identification of eight blind-coded samples based on taxonomy-specific phospholipid profiles. MAI produced results comparable and complementary to benchmark MALDI and ESI methods currently used for characterization of polar and non-polar lipids in the same mixtures. Conclusions The newly developed MAI technique is a rapid, simple and complementary method for the characterization of polar and non-polar lipids in complex mixtures.

Journal
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
Volume
35
Issue
S1
Year
2021
URL
https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8349
ISBN/ISSN
1097-0231; 0951-4198
DOI
10.1002/rcm.8349