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Systematic fragmentation patterns of archaeal intact polar lipids by high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion‐trap mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Yoshinaga Marcos Y.,
Kellermann Matthias Y.,
Rossel Pamela E.,
Schubotz Florence,
Lipp Julius S.,
Hinrichs KaiUwe
Publication year - 2011
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.5251
Subject(s) - chemistry , electrospray ionization , mass spectrometry , archaea , fragmentation (computing) , chromatography , lipidomics , high performance liquid chromatography , electrospray , ion trap , biochemistry , ecology , biology , gene
Archaea are ubiquitous and abundant microorganisms on Earth that mediate key global biogeochemical cycles. The headgroup attached to the sn ‐1 position of the glycerol backbone and the ether‐linked isoprenoid lipids are among the diagnostic traits that distinguish Archaea from Bacteria and Eukarya. Over the last 30 years, numerous archaeal lipids have been purified and described in pure cultures. Coupled high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) ion‐trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) now enables the detection and rapid identification of intact polar lipids in relatively small and complex samples, revealing a wide range of archaeal lipids in natural environments. Although major structural groups have been identified, the lack of a systematic evaluation of MS/MS fragmentation patterns has hindered the characterization of several atypical components that are therefore considered as unknowns. Here, we examined mass spectra resulting from lipid analysis of natural microbial communities using HPLC/electrospray ionization (ESI)‐ITMS n , and depicted the systematics in MS 2 fragmentation of intact archaeal lipids. This report will be particularly useful for environmental scientists interested in a rapid and straightforward characterization of intact archaeal membrane lipids. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.