Premium
Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry determination of endogenous plasma acetyl and palmitoyl carnitines as potential biomarkers of β ‐oxidation in mice
Author(s) -
Liu Zhi,
Mutlib Abdul E.,
Wang Jianyao,
Talaat Rasmy E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.3755
Subject(s) - chemistry , chromatography , carnitine , mass spectrometry , electrospray ionization , high performance liquid chromatography , hydrophilic interaction chromatography , biochemistry
Abstract A robust bioanalytical method capable of measuring acetyl and palmitoyl carnitines was developed and validated. Application of hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) enabled retention of these highly polar and difficult to analyze compounds on a silica HPLC column. The chromatography was conducted with a high percentage of an organic component in the mobile phase, allowing high sensitivity for the pre‐existing positively charged quaternary ammonium ions by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Successful application of the method to reliably quantify naturally occurring acyl carnitines in mouse plasma depended on the use of corresponding deuterated analogues. The specificity of the method, achieved through the use of stable isotope labeled compounds in combination with a mass spectral multiple reaction monitoring technique, permitted a non‐invasive assessment of the overall change in the levels of these acyl carnitines in the plasma of intact animals administered peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) agents. These acyl carnitines, as carriers of the corresponding long‐chain fatty acids for transport into mitochondria, can be employed as potential biomarkers for significant alteration in the β ‐oxidation process in an intact animal. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.