Mass spectrometry isolation technique

In the previous chapters we have discussed the different classes of phenolic compounds, their chemical properties, and their biosynthesis. The characterization of phenolic compounds relied on the ability to isolate them from plant tissues. In this chapter we will discuss methods to isolate and characterize phenolic compounds, and methods to visualize them in planta. Chapter 5 focuses on techniques for the identification and characterization of some of these compounds using recently developed mass-spectrometry-based techniques. 

Although the determination of HA or HB selectivity is relatively straightforward the techniques for isolation of pyridine nucleotides from the reaction mixtures are tedious and time consuming. Two more recent techniques use either proton magnetic resonance or electron impact and field desorption mass spectrometry. The technique of Kaplan and colleagues requires a 220 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer interfaced with a Fourier transform system [104], It allows the elimination of extensive purification of the pyridine nucleotide, is able to monitor the precise oxidoreduction site at position 4, can be used with crude extracts, and can be scaled down to /nmole quantities of coenzyme. The method can distinguish between [4-2H]NAD+ (no resonance at 8.95 8) and NAD+ (resonance at 8.95—which is preferred) or between [4A-2H]NADH (resonance at 2.67 8, 75 4B = 3.8 Hz) and [4B-2H]NADH (resonance at 2.77 8, J5 4A = 3.1 Hz). 

The detection and identification of phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids, have also been simph-fied using mass spectrometry (MS) techniques on-hne, coupled to the HPLC equipment. The electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interfaces dominate the analysis of phenohcs in herbs, fmits, vegetables, peels, seeds, and other plants. In some cases, HPLC, with different sensitivity detectors (UV, electrochemical, fluorescence), and HPLC-MS are simultaneously used for the identification and determination of phenolic acids in natural plants and related food products.In some papers, other spectroscopic instmmental techniques (IR, H NMR, and C NMR) have also been apphed for the identification of isolated phenolic compounds. 

Analytical Approaches. Different analytical techniques have been appHed to each fraction to determine its molecular composition. As the molecular weight increases, complexity increasingly shifts the level of analytical detail from quantification of most individual species in the naphtha to average molecular descriptions in the vacuum residuum. For the naphtha, classical techniques allow the isolation and identification of individual compounds by physical properties. Gas chromatographic (gc) resolution allows almost every compound having less than eight carbon atoms to be measured separately. The combination of gc with mass spectrometry (gc/ms) can be used for quantitation purposes when compounds are not well-resolved by gc. 

As was suggested in the preceding discussion, most of the arene complexes isolated by metal-atom techniques are benzene derivatives. However, heterocyclic ligands are also known to act as 5- or 6-electron donors in transition-metal 7r-complexes (79), and it has proved possible to isolate heterocyclic complexes via the metal-atom route. Bis(2,6-di-methylpyridine)Cr(O) was prepared by cocondensation of Cr atoms with the ligand at 77 K (79). The red-brown product was isolated in only 2% yield the stoichiometry was confirmed by mass spectrometry, and the structure determined by X-ray crystal-structure analysis, which supported a sandwich formulation. 

In the first chapter, I have discussed the limitations of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry when used in isolation and how the combination of the two allows these to be overcome. In this chapter, the effect of combining the two techniques with regard to the individual performance characteristics are explored. 

The need for a more definitive identification of HPLC eluates than that provided by retention times alone has been discussed previously, as have the incompatibilities between the operating characteristics of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The combination of the two techniques was originally achieved by the physical isolation of fractions as they eluted from an HPLC column, followed by the removal of the mobile phase, usually by evaporation, and transfer of the analyte(s) into the mass spectrometer by using an appropriate probe. 

MS-MS is a term that covers a number of techniques in which two stages of mass spectrometry are used to investigate the relationship between ions found in a mass spectrum. In particular, the product-ion scan is used to derive structural information from a molecular ion generated by a soft ionization technique such as electrospray and, as such, is an alternative to CVF. The advantage of the product-ion scan over CVF is that it allows a specific ion to be selected and its fragmentation to be studied in isolation, while CVF bring about the fragmentation of all species in the ion source and this may hinder interpretation of the data obtained. 

All previous discussion has focused on sample preparation, i.e., removal of the targeted analyte(s) from the sample matrix, isolation of the analyte(s) from other co-extracted, undesirable sample components, and transfer of the analytes into a solvent suitable for final analysis. Over the years, numerous types of analytical instruments have been employed for this final analysis step as noted in the preceding text and Tables 3 and 4. Overall, GC and LC are the most often used analytical techniques, and modern GC and LC instrumentation coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection systems are currently the analytical techniques of choice. Methods relying on spectrophotometric detection and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) are now rarely employed, except perhaps for qualitative purposes. 

Specifically for triazines in water, multi-residue methods incorporating SPE and LC/MS/MS will soon be available that are capable of measuring numerous parent compounds and all their relevant degradates (including the hydroxytriazines) in one analysis. Continued increases in liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/API-MS/MS) sensitivity will lead to methods requiring no aqueous sample preparation at all, and portions of water samples will be injected directly into the LC column. The use of SPE and GC or LC coupled with MS and MS/MS systems will also be applied routinely to the analysis of more complex sample matrices such as soil and crop and animal tissues. However, the analyte(s) must first be removed from the sample matrix, and additional research is needed to develop more efficient extraction procedures. Increased selectivity during extraction also simplifies the sample purification requirements prior to injection. Certainly, miniaturization of all aspects of the analysis (sample extraction, purification, and instrumentation) will continue, and some of this may involve SEE, subcritical and microwave extraction, sonication, others or even combinations of these techniques for the initial isolation of the analyte(s) from the bulk of the sample matrix. 

The focus of this chapter is the development of a technique often called wholecell matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) or whole-cell MALDI-TOF MS. Some groups prefer to use terms such as intact or unprocessed rather than whole, but the intended meaning is the same regardless of which word is used. As noted in the first chapter of this book, there are many different methods for the analysis of bacteria. However, for the analysis of intact or unprocessed bacteria, whole-cell MALDI-TOF MS is the most commonly used approach. This method is very rapid. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of whole cells takes only minutes because the samples can be analyzed directly after collection from a bacterial culture suspension. Direct MALDI MS analysis of fungi or viruses is similar in approach1,2 but is not covered in this chapter. MALDI-TOF MS of whole cells was developed with very rapid identification or differentiation of bacteria in mind. The name (whole cell) should not be taken to imply that the cells are literally intact or whole. Rather, it should be taken to mean that the cells that have not been treated or processed in any way specifically for the removal or isolation of any cellular components from any others. In whole-cell analysis the cells have been manipulated only as necessary to... 

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