Volume 34, Issue 9 e8741
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Structural elucidation of hydroxy fatty acids by photodissociation mass spectrometry with photolabile derivatives

Venkateswara R. Narreddula

Venkateswara R. Narreddula

School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Australia

Central Analytical Research Facility, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Australia

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Pawel Sadowski

Pawel Sadowski

Central Analytical Research Facility, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Australia

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Nathan R.B. Boase

Nathan R.B. Boase

School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Australia

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David L. Marshall

David L. Marshall

Central Analytical Research Facility, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Australia

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Berwyck L.J. Poad

Berwyck L.J. Poad

Central Analytical Research Facility, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Australia

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Adam J. Trevitt

Adam J. Trevitt

School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522 Australia

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Todd W. Mitchell

Todd W. Mitchell

School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522 Australia

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, 2522 Australia

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Stephen J. Blanksby

Corresponding Author

Stephen J. Blanksby

School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Australia

Central Analytical Research Facility, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Australia

Correspondence

S. J. Blanksby, School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 03 February 2020
Citations: 13

Abstract

Rationale

Eicosanoids are short-lived bio-responsive lipids produced locally from oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) via a cascade of enzymatic or free radical reactions. Alterations in the composition and concentration of eicosanoids are indicative of inflammation responses and there is strong interest in developing analytical methods for the sensitive and selective detection of these lipids in biological mixtures. Most eicosanoids are hydroxy FAs (HFAs), which present a particular analytical challenge due to the presence of regioisomers arising from differing locations of hydroxylation and unsaturation within their structures.

Methods

In this study, the recently developed derivatization reagent 1-(3-(aminomethyl)-4-iodophenyl)pyridin-1-ium (4-I-AMPP+) was applied to a representative set of HFAs including bioactive eicosanoids. Photodissociation (PD) mass spectra obtained at 266 nm of 4-I-AMPP+-modified HFAs exhibit abundant product ions arising from photolysis of the aryl–iodide bond within the derivative with subsequent migration of the radical to the hydroxyl group promoting fragmentation of the FA chain and facilitating structural assignment.

Results

Representative polyunsaturated HFAs (from the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid families) were derivatized with 4-I-AMPP+ and subjected to a reversed-phase liquid chromatography workflow that afforded chromatographic resolution of isomers in conjunction with structurally diagnostic PD mass spectra.

Conclusions

PD of these complex HFAs was found to be sensitive to the locations of hydroxyl groups and carbon–carbon double bonds, which are structural properties strongly associated with the biosynthetic origins of these lipid mediators.