Regio- and stereospecific analysis of glycerolipids

Chiral high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of mono-, di-, and triacylglycerols with amylose- and cellulose-phenylcarbamate-based stationary phases

The ever-increasing technological advancement in the (ultra)high-performance liquid chromatography tandem (high-resolution) mass spectrometry platforms have largely contributed to steeply intensify the interest towards lipidomics research. However, mass spectrometers alone are unable to distinguish between enantiomers. This obstacle is especially evident in the case of glycerolipids analysis due the prochiral nature of glycerol. Until a couple of decades ago, the stereoselective analysis of triacylglycerols (TAGs) was performed on the end products generated either from their enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis, namely on mono- or diacyl-sn-glycerols (MAGs and DAGs, respectively). These were then mostly analyzed with Pirkle-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs) after dedicated multi-step derivatization procedures. One of the most significant drawbacks of these traditional methods for enantioselective TAGs analysis (actually of the produced MAGs and DAGs, often investigated as target species per se) was the difficulty to totally abolish the migration of fatty acyls between glycerol positions. This made difficult to control and keep unaltered the stereochemistry of the original molecules. Over the last two decades, it has been widely demonstrated that the enantioselective analysis of intact TAGs as well as of non-derivatized MAGs and DAGs can be efficiently obtained using polysaccharide-based CSPs incorporating either amylose- or cellulose-phenylcarbamate derivatives chiral selectors. In this paper, the enantioselective methods developed with these CSPs for the enantioselective direct LC analysis of MAGs, DAGs and TAGs embedding different types of fatty acid residues are comprehensively reviewed.

Direct Chiral Supercritical Fluid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Monoacylglycerol and Diacylglycerol Isomers for the Study of Lipase-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Triacylglycerols

The fast and selective separation method of intact monoacylglycerol (MG) and diacylglycerol (DG) isomers using chiral supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SFC-MS) was developed and employed to study lipase selectivity in the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols (TGs). The synthesis of 28 enantiomerically pure MG and DG isomers was performed in the first stage using the most commonly occurring fatty acids in biological samples such as palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acids. To develop the SFC separation method, different chromatographic conditions such as column chemistry, mobile phase composition and gradient, flow rate, backpressure, and temperature were carefully assessed. Our SFC-MS method used a chiral column based on a tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) derivative of amylose and neat methanol as a mobile phase modifier, which provides baseline separation of all the tested enantiomers in 5 min. This method was used to evaluate hydrolysis selectivity of lipases from porcine pancreas (PPL) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL) using nine TGs differing in acyl chain length (14-22 carbon atoms) and number of double bonds (0-6) and three DG regioisomer/enantiomers as hydrolysis intermediate products. PFL exhibited preference of the fatty acyl hydrolysis from the sn-1 position of TG more pronounced for the substrates with long polyunsaturated acyls, while PPL did not show considerable stereoselectivity to TGs. Conversely, PPL preferred hydrolysis from the sn-1 position of prochiral sn-1,3-DG regioisomer, whereas PFL exhibited no preference. Both lipases showed selectivity for the hydrolysis of outer positions of DG enantiomers. The results show complex reaction kinetics of lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis given by different stereoselectivities for substrates.

Lipase and Its Unique Selectivity: A Mini-Review

Contrary to other solid catalysts, enzymes facilitate more sophisticated chemical reactions because most enzymes specifically interact with substrates and release selective products. Lipases (triacylglycerol hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3), which can catalyze the cleavage and formation of various acyl compounds, are one of the best examples of enzymes with a unique substrate selectivity. There are already several commercialized lipases that have become important tools for various lipid-related studies, although there is still a need to discover novel lipases with unique substrate selectivity to facilitate more innovative reactions in human applications such as household care, cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. In this mini-review, we focus on concisely demonstrating not only the general information of lipases but also their substate selectivities: typoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity. We highlight the essential studies on selective lipases in terms of enzymology. Furthermore, we introduce several examples of analysis methodology and experimental requirements to determine each selectivity of lipases. This work would stress the importance of integrating our understanding of lipase chemistry to make further advances in the relevant fields.

Regio- and Stereospecific Analysis of Triacylglycerols—A Brief Overview of the Challenges and the Achievements

The efforts to reveal, in detail, the molecular and intramolecular structures of one of the main lipid classes, namely, triacyl-sn-glycerols, which are now known to affect their specific and important role in all living organisms, are briefly overviewed. Some milestones of significance in the gradual but continuous development and improvement of the analytical methodology to identify the triacylglycerol regio- and stereoisomers in complex lipid samples are traced throughout the years: the use of chromatography based on different separation principles; the improvements in the chromatographic technique; the development and use of different detection techniques; the attempts to simplify and automatize the analysis without losing the accuracy of identification. The spectacular recent achievements of two- and multidimensional methods used as tools in lipidomics are presented.

TAILOR-MS, a Python Package that Deciphers Complex Triacylglycerol Fatty Acyl Structures: Applications for Bovine Milk and Infant Formulas

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and other mass spectrometric technologies have been widely applied for triacylglycerol profiling. One challenge for targeted identification of fatty acyl moieties that constitute triacylglycerol species in biological samples is the numerous combinations of 3 fatty acyl groups that can form a triacylglycerol molecule. Manual determination of triacylglycerol structures based on peak intensities and retention time can be highly inefficient and error-prone. To resolve this, we have developed TAILOR-MS, a Python (programming language) package that aims at assisting: (1) the generation of targeted LC/MS methods for triacylglycerol detection and (2) automating triacylglycerol structural determination and prediction. To assess the performance of TAILOR-MS, we conducted LC/MS triacylglycerol profiling of bovine milk and two infant formulas. Our results confirmed dissimilarities between bovine milk and infant formula triacylglycerol composition. Furthermore, we identified 247 triacylglycerol species and predicted the possible existence of another 317 in the bovine milk sample, representing one of the most comprehensive reports on the triacylglycerol composition of bovine milk thus far. Likewise, we presented here a complete infant formula triacylglycerol profile and reported >200 triacylglycerol species. TAILOR-MS dramatically shortened the time required for triacylglycerol structural identification from hours to seconds and performed decent structural predictions in the absence of some triacylglycerol constituent peaks. Taken together, TAILOR-MS is a valuable tool that can greatly save time and improve accuracy for targeted LC/MS triacylglycerol profiling.

Separation and identification of diacylglycerols containing branched chain fatty acids by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A combination of two chromatographic and two enzymatic methods was used for the analysis of molecular species of lipids from Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Kocuria. Gram-positive bacteria contain a majority of branched fatty acids (FAs), especially iso- and/or anteiso-FAs. Two strains K. rhizophila were cultivated at three different temperatures (20, 28, and 37°C) and the majority phospholipid, i.e., the mixture of molecular species of phosphatidylglycerols (PGs) was separated by means of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). After enzymatic hydrolysis of PGs by phospholipase C and derivatization of the free OH group, the sn-1,2-diacyl-3-acetyl triacylglycerols (AcTAGs) were separated by reversed phase HPLC. Molecular species such as i-15:0/i-15:0/2:0, ai-15:0/ai-15:0/2:0, and 15:0/15:0/2:0 (straight chains) were identified by liquid chromatography-positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The tandem mass spectra of both standards and natural compounds containing iso, anteiso and straight chain FAs with the same carbons were identical. Therefore, for identification of the ratio of two regioisomers, i.e. i-15:0/ai-15:0/2:0 vs. ai-15:0/i-15:0/2:0, they were cleavage by pancreatic lipase. The mixture of free fatty acids (FFAs) and 2-monoacylglycerols (2-MAGs) was obtained. After their separation by TLC and esterification and/or transesterification, the fatty acid methyl esters were quantified by GC-MS and thus the ratio of regioisomers was determined. It has been shown that the ratio of PG (containing as majority i-15: 0 / i-15: 0, i-15: 0 / ai-15: 0 and / or ai-15: 0 / i-15: 0 and ai-15: 0 / ai-15: 0 molecular species) significantly affected the membrane flow of bacterial cells cultured at different temperatures.

Broad Separation of Isomeric Lipids by High-Resolution Differential Ion Mobility Spectrometry with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Maturation of metabolomics has brought a deeper appreciation for the importance of isomeric identity of lipids to their biological role, mirroring that for proteoforms in proteomics. However, full characterization of the lipid isomerism has been thwarted by paucity of rapid and effective analytical tools. A novel approach is ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and particularly differential or field asymmetric waveform IMS (FAIMS) at high electric fields, which is more orthogonal to mass spectrometry. Here we broadly explore the power of FAIMS to separate lipid isomers, and find a ~75% success rate across the four major types of glycero- and phospho- lipids (sn, chain length, double bond position, and cis/trans). The resolved isomers were identified using standards, and (for the first two types) tandem mass spectrometry. These results demonstrate the general merit of incorporating high-resolution FAIMS into lipidomic analyses. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Accurate Mass GC/LC-Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Fatty Acids and Triacylglycerols of Spicy Fruits from the Apiaceae Family

The triacylglycerol (TAG) structure and the regio-stereospecific distribution of fatty acids (FA) of seed oils from most of the Apiaceae family are not well documented. The TAG structure ultimately determines the final physical properties of the oils and the position of FAs in the TAG molecule affects the digestion; absorption and metabolism; and physical and technological properties of TAGs. Fixed oils from the fruits of dill (Anethum graveolens), caraway (Carum carvi), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), anise (Pimpinella anisum), carrot (Daucus carota), celery (Apium graveolens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and Khella (Ammi visnaga), all from the Apiaceae family, were extracted at room temperature in chloroform/methanol (2:1 v/v) using percolators. Crude lipids were fractionated by solid phase extraction to separate neutral triacylglycerols (TAGs) from other lipids components. Neutral TAGs were subjected to transesterification process to convert them to their corresponding fatty acids methyl esters (FAMES) using 1% boron trifluoride (BF₃) in methanol. FAMES were analyzed by gas chromatography-quadrupole time of flight (GC-QTOF) mass spectrometry. Triglycerides were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight (LC-QTOF) mass spectrometry. Petroselinic acid was the major fatty acid in all samples ranging from 57% of the total fatty acids in caraway up to 82% in fennel. All samples contained palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (C16:1n-9), stearic (C18:0), petroselinic (C18:1n-12), linoleic (C18:2n-6), linolinic (18:3n-3), and arachidic (C20:0) acids. TAG were analyzed using LC-QTOF for accurate mass identification and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) techniques for regiospesific elucidation of the identified TAGs. Five major TAGs were detected in all samples but with different relative concentrations in all of the tested samples. Several other TAGs were detected as minor components and were present in some samples and absence in the others. Regiospecific analysis showed a non-random fatty acids distribution. Petroselinic acid was predominantly located at the sn-1 and sn-3 positions.

Stereochemical analysis of glycerophospholipids by vibrational circular dichroism

The stereochemistry of glycerophospholipids (GPLs) has been of interest for its roles in the evolution of life and in their biological activity. However, because of their structural complexity, no convenient method to determine their configuration has been reported. In this work, through the first systematic application of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy to various diacylated GPLs, we have revealed that their chirality can be assigned by the sign of a VCD exciton couplet generated by the interaction of two carbonyl groups. This paper also presents spectroscopic evidence for the stereochemistry of GPLs isolated from bacteria, eukaryotes, and mitochondria.

Efficient Separation and Analysis of Triacylglycerols: Quantitation of β-Palmitate (OPO) in Oils and Infant Formulas

A high-efficiency, convenient, and reliable method for the separation of structurally similar triacylglycerols is detailed and applied in the quantitative analysis of 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OPO) in infant formulas and OPO oils. OPO is an important lipid component in "humanized" infant formula. A fast preparative isolation of an OPO-containing fraction from the crude complex mixture, by nonaqueous reversed phase HPLC, followed by Ag(+)-HPLC with detection at 205 nm allowed fine separation and detection of the desired fraction. OPO was quantitated independently of its regioisomer 1,2-dioleoyl-3-palmitoylglycerol (OOP) and isomers of stearoyl-linoleoyl-palmitoyl glycerol that might be present in infant formulas. For samples with low OPO content, an evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD) was more preferable than UV detection, with a calculated LOD of 0.1 μg of OPO injected and LOQ of 0.3 μg. The method, which showed high reproducibility (RSD < 5%), was suitable for both high OPO content oils and low OPO products such as unenriched infant formula. A number of possible interference issues were considered and dealt with.

Advances in silver ion chromatography for the analysis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols-2001 to 2011

An effort is made to critically present the achievements in silver ion chromatography during the last decade. Novelties in columns, mobile-phase compositions and detectors are described. Recent applications of silver ion chromatography in the analysis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols are presented while stressing novel analytical strategies or new objects. The tendencies in the application of the method in complementary ways with reversed-phase chromatography, chiral chromatography and, especially, mass detection are outlined.

Effect of starvation on the distribution of positional isomers and enantiomers of triacylglycerol in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum was cultivated in a standard medium and under sulfur, silicon, nitrogen and phosphorus starvation and its triacylglycerols (TAGs) were analyzed by RP-HPLC/MS-APCI. Nearly 100 molecular species of polyunsaturated TAGs were identified. RP-HPLC was used to isolate positional isomers of TAGs, which were further separated by chiral HPLC. First eluted were those TAGs that have an eicosapentaenoic acid moiety in the sn-1 position. The ratios of symmetrical to asymmetrical TAGs in P. tricornutum were affected under sulfur-, nitrogen-, phosphorus- and silica-starvation, i.e. in cultivations involving cells in nutrient stress. The ratios of positional TAGs and also the proportions of enantiomers were changed. The ratios of symmetrical to asymmetrical TAGs in the control and under N- and P-starvation were very close. In the control, the ratio of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-eicosapentaenoyl-rac-glycerol to 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-eicosapentaenoyl-rac-glycerol was 3:1 and the ratio of 1,2-dieicosapentaenoyl-3-palmitoyl-rac-glycerol to 1,3-dieicosapentaenoyl-2-palmitoyl-rac-glycerol was 9:1. Under N-starvation the ratios were reversed irrespective of the presence or absence of silicate in the medium. A similar pattern was found in P- and S-starvation.

Analysis of Diacylglycerol Molecular Species in Cellular Lipid Extracts by Normal-Phase LC-Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

The quantitative determination of 48 molecular species of regioisomeric diacylglycerols has been made in a single analysis of an extract of bone marrow derived macrophages. The analytical procedure involves solvent extraction of neutral lipids, including diacylglycerols, derivatization of free hydroxyl moieties as 2,4-difluorophenyl urethane, and analysis by normal phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The derivatization step not only prevents fatty acyl group migration, thus allowing determination of both 1,2- and 1,3-diacylglycerols, but also yields species that are sensitively and uniquely determined by constant neutral loss mass spectrometry. The method also detected monoacylglycerols, which were characterized by unique retention time and collisional spectra, and were present in mouse bone marrow derived macrophage extracts.

Modifier-concept of colorectal carcinogenesis: Lipidomics as a technical tool in pathway analysis

In the modifier concept of intestinal carcinogenesis, lipids have been established as important variables and one focus is given to long-chain fatty acids. Increased consumption of long-chain fatty acids is in discussion to modify the development of colorectal carcinoma in humans. Saturated long-chain fatty acids, in particular, are assumed to promote carcinogenesis, whereas polyunsaturated forms are likely to act in the opposite way. At present, the molecular mechanisms behind these effects are not well understood. Recently, it has been demonstrated by lipidomics and associated molecular techniques, that activation and metabolic channeling of long-chain fatty acids are important mechanisms to modify colorectal carcinogenesis. In this Editorial, an overview about the present concept of long-chain fatty acids and its derivatives in colorectal carcinogenesis as well as technical algorithms in lipid analysis is given.

Occurrence of phosphatidyl-D-serine in the rat cerebrum

Phosphatidylserine (PS), a relatively abundant component of mammalian cell membranes, plays important roles in biological processes including apoptosis and cell signaling. It is believed that phosphatidyl-L-serine is the only naturally occurring PS. Here, we describe for the first time the occurrence of phosphatidyl-D-serine (D-PS) in rat cerebrum. Quantitative HPLC analysis of the derivatives of serine liberated from PS by hydrolysis revealed that the amount of D-PS was approximately 1% of the total PS in the cerebrum. Enzymatic cleavage of cerebrum PS with phospholipase D and phospholipase C resulted in the release of both isomers of serine and phosphoserine, respectively, providing additional evidence for the existence of D-PS. Free D-serine was incorporated into PS in an in vitro system using a cerebrum extract, and this activity was inhibited by EDTA, suggesting the occurrence of a divalent cation-dependent enzyme that synthesizes D-PS by a base-exchange reaction.

Lipidomic analysis of phospholipids and related structures by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Lipids are highly dynamic molecules with many different roles ranging from structural to signaling. Alterations in particular lipid levels change cellular behavior. In humans, inappropriate changes may manifest as diseases such as Alzheimer's, atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, and even cancer. This has led to a great interest in monitoring lipid changes both during normal cellular processes and in disease situations. With the advent of rapid mass spectrometry, it has become possible to analyze many lipids within a single sample with unsurpassed sensitivity and detail. Coupling this with liquid chromatography potentially enables the complete profiling of all the phospholipids, both major and minor, from a single sample within a single analysis run.

Direct separation of regioisomers and enantiomers of monoacylglycerols by tandem column high-performance liquid chromatography

An HPLC-based method for direct separation of the regioisomers and enantiomers of monoacylglycerols (MAGs), i.e. sn-1-MAG, sn-2-MAG and sn-3-MAG, has been established. The method employs a tandem column system, in which two different columns (a conventional silica gel column and an enantioselective column) are connected in series. Three isomers of monooleoylglycerols (MOGs) and monolinoleoylglycerols (MLGs) were resolved on the system with resolution factor (R(s)) of more than 1.1 between adjacent peaks. In addition, all types of oleoylglycerols, i.e. trioleoylglycerol (TOG), sn-1,2-dioleoylglycerol (DOG), sn-2,3-DOG, sn-1,3-DOG, sn-1-MOG, sn-3-MOG and sn-2-MOG, were successfully separated on the tandem column system, although baseline separation of the enantiomers was not achieved. By means of the established analytical method, the reaction course of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB)-mediated esterification of glycerol with oleic acid was monitored. It was found that sn-1-MOG and sn-2,3-DOG were preferably generated over sn-3-MOG and sn-1,2-DOG, respectively, in the early stage of the reaction, and the maximal enantiomer excess (%ee) of sn-1-MOG and sn-2,3-DOG were 32 and 53%, respectively, at 2 h. The enantiomeric purities of these chiral acylglycerols decreased after prolonged reaction. The mechanisms for the formation of these chiral acylglycerols are discussed.

The CDP-ethanolamine pathway and phosphatidylserine decarboxylation generate different phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species

In mammalian cells, phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) is mainly synthesized via the CDP-ethanolamine (Kennedy) pathway and by decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer). However, the extent to which these two pathways contribute to overall PtdEtn synthesis both quantitatively and qualitatively is still not clear. To assess their contributions, PtdEtn species synthesized by the two routes were labeled with pathway-specific stable isotope precursors, d(3)-serine and d(4)-ethanolamine, and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major conclusions from this study are that (i) in both McA-RH7777 and Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells, the CDP-ethanolamine pathway was favored over PtdSer decarboxylation, and (ii) both pathways for PtdEtn synthesis are able to produce all diacyl-PtdEtn species, but most of these species were preferentially made by one pathway. For example, the CDP-ethanolamine pathway preferentially synthesized phospholipids with mono- or di-unsaturated fatty acids on the sn-2 position (e.g. (16:0-18:2)PtdEtn and (18:1-18:2)PtdEtn), whereas PtdSer decarboxylation generated species with mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids on the sn-2 position (e.g. (18:0-20:4)PtdEtn and (18:0-20:5)PtdEtn in McArdle and (18: 0-20:4)PtdEtn and (18:0-22:6)PtdEtn in Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells). (iii) The main PtdEtn species newly synthesized from the Kennedy pathway in the microsomal fraction appeared to equilibrate rapidly between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. (iv) Newly synthesized PtdEtn species preferably formed in the mitochondria, which is at least in part due to the substrate specificity of the phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, seemed to be retained in this organelle. Our data suggest a potentially essential role of the PtdSer decarboxylation pathway in mitochondrial functioning.

Regioselective separation of isomeric triacylglycerols by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography: Stationary phase and mobile phase effects

Complete regioselective separation of five pairs of isomeric dipalmitoyl polyalkenoyl glycerols with two to six double bonds in the unsaturated acyl residues has been achieved by RP-HPLC on a single ODS column. Four ODS columns with stationary phases containing different percentages of free silanol groups have been tested. Binary mobile phases of ACN admixed with dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, ethanol, or acetone have been examined. The choice of modifier depended on the nature of the stationary phase. The more polar solvents were better suited for stationary phases with higher percentage of free silanol groups. Isomeric species were eluted according to chain length, number of double bonds, and the position of the unsaturated acyl chain in the glycerol molecule. Retention increases in the order 20:5 < 22:6 < 18:3 < 20:4 << 18:2. Within each isomeric pair, the species with unsaturated acyl chain occupying either the sn-1- or the 3-position were retained preferentially. Complete simultaneous regioselective separation of 10 isomeric triacylglycerols in a single isocratic run on a single ODS column was demonstrated.