Application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for monitoring the digestion of phosphatidylcholine by pancreatic phospholipase A(2)

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry in enzyme activity assays and its position in the context of other available methods

Activity assays are indispensable for studying biochemical properties of enzymes. The purposes of measuring activity are wide ranging from a simple detection of the presence of an enzyme to kinetic experiments evaluating the substrate specificity, reaction mechanisms, and susceptibility to inhibitors. Common activity assay methods include spectroscopy, electrochemical sensors, or liquid chromatography coupled with various detection techniques. This review focuses on the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as a growing and modern alternative, which offers high speed of analysis, sensitivity, versatility, possibility of automation, and cost-effectiveness. It may reveal reaction intermediates, side products or measure more enzymes at once. The addition of an internal standard or calculating the ratios of the substrate and product peak intensities and areas overcome the inherent inhomogeneous distribution of analyte and matrix in the sample spot, which otherwise results in a poor reproducibility. Examples of the application of MALDI-TOF MS for assaying hydrolases (including peptidases and β-lactamases for antibiotic resistance tests) and other enzymes are provided. Concluding remarks summarize advantages and challenges coming from the present experience, and draw future perspectives such as a screening of large libraries of chemical compounds for their substrate or inhibitory properties towards enzymes.

MALDI-TOF MS to monitor the kinetics of phospholipase A2-digestion of oxidized phospholipids

Free fatty acids (FFA) are released through phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which cleaves the fatty acyl residue at the sn-2 position of phospholipids (PL). During inflammatory diseases, reactive oxygen species (such as HOCl) lead to the formation of oxidatively modified PL (e.g., chlorohydrin generation). It is still widely unknown to which extent the oxidation of PL influences their digestibility by PLA2. Additionally, investigations on the impact of the position of the unsaturated fatty acyl residue (sn-1 versus sn-2 position) and modifications of the headgroup (for instance phosphatidylcholine (PC) versus phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)) are also lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study is the investigation of these aspects using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry to elucidate the PL/lysophospholipid (LPL) ratios as measures of the PLA2 digestibility. We will show that oxidative modifications of PL by HOCl have a considerable impact on the PLA2 digestibility, i.e., oxidation of the unsaturated fatty acyl residues leads to a reduced digestibility of both PC and PE. Besides, it will be shown that MALDI MS is a convenient and reliable tool to investigate the related changes.

A fast method for the determination of the PC/LPC ratio in intact serum by MALDI-TOF MS: an easy-to-follow lipid biomarker of inflammation

The PC/LPC ratio of blood serum is increasingly considered to represent an important clinical parameter that reflects various kinds of diseases. Here, a simple and fast method of lipid analyses of "intact" blood serum (i.e. without extraction) by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is described. The novel procedure allows the accurate determination of the PC/LPC ratio, utilizing only a tiny amount of blood. The serum is diluted with distilled water and directly applied onto the MALDI target and, after drying, covered by a thin layer of the matrix solution (either 9-aminoacridine or 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid). Positive ion mass spectra acquired by using this procedure give similar peak patterns as the spectra of the lipid extracts of horse blood serum. Blood serum from fourteen different horses was used to set up and validate the new method of lipid analysis. The PC/LPC ratios determined with the fast "intact" method were compared with those obtained with classical MALDI-TOF MS and (31)P NMR analyses of the corresponding lipid extracts. As comparable data were obtained, this is a clear indication that extraction is not an absolute necessity.

MALDI mass spectrometric imaging of cardiac tissue following myocardial infarction in a rat coronary artery ligation model

Although acute myocardial infarction (MI) is consistently among the top causes of death in the United States, the spatial distribution of lipids and metabolites following MI remains to be elucidated. This work presents the investigation of an in vivo rat model of MI using mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) and multivariate data analysis. MSI was conducted on cardiac tissue following a 24-h left anterior descending coronary artery ligation to analyze multiple compound classes. First, the spatial distribution of a small metabolite, creatine, was used to identify areas of infarcted myocardium. Second, multivariate data analysis and tandem mass spectrometry were used to identify phospholipid (PL) markers of MI. A number of lysophospholipids demonstrated increased ion signal in areas of infarction. In contrast, select intact PLs demonstrated decreased ion signal in the area of infarction. The complementary nature of these two lipid classes suggests increased activity of phospholipase A(2), an enzyme that has been implicated in coronary heart disease and inflammation.

Phospholipase A(2)-susceptible liposomes of anticancer double lipid-prodrugs

A novel approach to anticancer drug delivery is presented based on lipid-like liposome-forming anticancer prodrugs that are susceptible to secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) that is overexpressed in several cancer types. The approach provides a selective unloading of anticancer drugs at the target tissues, as well as circumvents the necessity for "conventional" drug loading. In our attempts to improve the performance of the liposomes in vivo, several PEGylated and non-PEGylated liposomal formulations composed of a retinoid prodrug premixed with the sPLA(2)-hydrolyzable DPPC (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) were prepared. Besides favorably modifying the physicochemical properties of the liposomes, the incorporation of DPPC and PEG-lipids in the liposomes should substantially enhance the enzymatic activity, as concluded from literature. In addition, one can reap benefits from the presumed permeability enhancing effect of the liberated fatty acids and lysolipids. The size distribution of the prepared liposomes as well as their phase behavior, enzymatic hydrolysis, and cytotoxicity, in the presence and absence of sPLA(2), were determined. The liposomes were around 100nm in diameter and in the gel/fluid coexistence region at 37°C. The enzymatic hydrolysis of the prodrug was pronouncedly accelerated upon the premixing with DPPC, and the hydrolysis was further enhanced by PEGylation. Interestingly, the faster hydrolysis of the prodrug and the released fatty acids and lysolipids from DPPC did not improve the cytotoxicity of the mixture; the effect of combining the prodrug with DPPC was additive and not synergistic. The data presented here question the significance of the permeability enhancing effects claimed for fatty acids and lysolipids at the target cell membrane, and whether these effects can be achieved using physiologically achievable concentrations of fatty acids and lysolipids.

Inhibitory effect of platinum and ruthenium bipyridyl complexes on porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2

Pancreatic phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) plays an important role in cellular homeostasis as well as in the process of carcinogenesis. Effects of metallo-drugs used as chemotherapeutics on the activity of this enzyme are unknown. In this work, the interaction between porcine pancreatic PLA(2) and two selected transition metal complexes--tetrachloro(bipyridine) platinum(IV) ([PtCl(4)(bipy)]) and dichloro (bipyridine) ruthenium(III)chloride ([RuCl(2)(bipy)(2)]Cl)--was studied. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and fluorescence spectroscopy have been used to analyse the enzyme activity in the absence and presence of metal complexes and to verify potential binding of these drugs to the enzyme. The tested metal complexes decreased the activity of phospholipase A(2) in an uncompetitive inhibition mode. A binding of the ruthenium complex near the active site of the enzyme could be evidenced and possible modes of interaction are discussed.

Parameters affecting the accuracy of the MALDI-TOF MS determination of the phosphatidylcholine/lysophosphatidylcholine (PC/LPC) ratio as potential marker of spermatozoa quality

Matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is increasingly used to characterize (phospho)lipids. However, quantitative MALDI data are often questioned because ion suppression may occur if mixtures are analyzed. Therefore, relative (but no absolute) data are normally derived from the MALDI mass spectra of lipid mixtures. We are particularly interested in the phosphatidylcholine/lysophosphatidylcholine (PC/LPC) ratio because it seems to represent a suitable measure of the inflammatory activity. In this study, different parameters affecting the achievable accuracy of the MALDI-TOF MS determination of the PC/LPC ratio are compared. It will be shown that particularly the applied laser fluence as well as the used solvents influence the accuracies. Using artificial lipid mixtures it will be demonstrated that the PC/LPC ratio can be determined with an accuracy of about ±10% making the MALDI assay comparable to established methods. Finally, it will be shown that the optimized conditions are also useful to determine the PC/LPC ratios in human seminal plasma.

Myristate is selectively incorporated into surfactant and decreases dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine without functional impairment

Lung surfactant mainly comprises phosphatidylcholines (PC), together with phosphatidylglycerols and surfactant proteins SP-A to SP-D. Dipalmitoyl-PC (PC16:0/16:0), palmitoylmyristoyl-PC (PC16:0/14:0), and palmitoylpalmitoleoyl-PC (PC16:0/16:1) together comprise 75–80% of surfactant PC. During alveolarization, which occurs postnatally in the rat, PC16:0/14:0 reversibly increases at the expense of PC16:0/16:0. As lipoproteins modify surfactant metabolism, we postulated an extrapulmonary origin of PC16:0/14:0 enrichment in surfactant. We, therefore, fed rats (d19–26) with trilaurin (C12:03), trimyristin (C14:03), tripalmitin (C16:03), triolein (C18:13) or trilinolein (C18:23) vs. carbohydrate diet to assess their effects on surfactant PC composition and surface tension function using a captive bubble surfactometer. Metabolism was assessed with deuterated C12:0 (ω-d3-C12:0) and ω-d3-C14:0. C14:03 increased PC16:0/14:0 in surfactant from 12 ± 1 to 45 ± 3% and decreased PC16:0/16:0 from 47 ± 1 to 29 ± 2%, with no impairment of surface tension function. Combined phospholipase A2 assay and mass spectrometry revealed that 50% of the PC16:0/14:0 peak comprised its isomer 1-myristoyl-2-palmitoyl-PC (PC14:0/16:0). While C12:03 was excluded from incorporation into PC, it increased PC16:0/14:0 as well. C16:03, C18:13, and C18:23 had no significant effect on PC16:0/16:0 or PC16:0/14:0. d3-C14:0 was enriched in lung PC, either via direct supply or via d3-C12:0 elongation. Enrichment of d3-C14:0 in surfactant PC contrasted its rapid turnover in plasma and liver PC, where its elongation product d3-C16:0 surmounted d3-C14:0. In summary, high surfactant PC16:0/14:0 during lung development correlates with C14:0 and C12:0 supply via specific C14:0 enrichment into lung PC. Surfactant that is high in PC16:0/14:0 but low in PC16:0/16:0 is compatible with normal respiration and surfactant function in vitro.

Apoptosis-induced changes in mitochondrial lipids

Apoptosis is an active and tightly regulated form of cell death, which can also be considered a stress-induced process of cellular communication. Recent studies reveal that the lipid network within cells is involved in the regulation and propagation of death signalling. Despite the vast growth of our current knowledge on apoptosis, little is known of the specific role played by lipid molecules in the central event of apoptosis-the piercing of mitochondrial membranes. Here we review the information regarding changes in mitochondrial lipids that are associated with apoptosis and discuss whether they may be involved in the permeabilization of mitochondria to release their apoptogenic factors, or just lie downstream of this permeabilization leading to the amplification of caspase activation. We focus on the earliest changes that physiological apoptosis induces in mitochondrial membranes, which may derive from an upstream alteration of phospholipid metabolism that reverberates on the mitochondrial re-modelling of their characteristic lipid, cardiolipin. Hopefully, this review will lead to an increased understanding of the role of mitochondrial lipids in apoptosis and also help revealing new stress sensing mechanisms in cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Mitochondria: the deadly organelle.

Direct profiling of phospholipids and lysophospholipids in rat brain sections after ischemic stroke

Stroke, a deleterious cerebrovascular event, is caused by a critical reduction in the blood flow to the brain parenchyma that leads to brain injury and loss of brain functions. The inflammatory responses following ischemia often aggravate the neurological damage. Several pro-inflammatory mediators released after stroke are closely related to the metabolism of phospholipids. In this study we directly profiled the changes in phospholipids in the infarcted rat cerebral cortex 24 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Several phosphatidylcholine (PC) species and sphingomyelin (SM) were significantly decreased after infarction. The cationization pattern of the remaining PCs showed a prominent shift from a mostly potassiated or protonated form to a predominantly sodiated pattern. Stroke also elevated the lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and heme in tissue. The isobaric pairs in PC and LPC classes were resolved by masses through their respective alkali metal adducts in the presence of CsCl. The major fatty acyl LPC species were also structurally confirmed by MALDI-MS/MS. Overall, the results described the changes in PC and LPC species in the infarcted rat cortex. The elevated tissue levels of LPCs and heme signify the ongoing pathological lipid breakdown and the state of parenchymal inflammation. The elevated LPC level in tissue suggests a means of intervention through lysophospholipid metabolism that could potentially benefit the management of stroke and other acute neurological injuries.

Reevaluation of the phospholipid composition in membranes of adult human lenses by (31)P NMR and MALDI MS

The phospholipid composition of adult human lens membranes differs dramatically from that of any other mammalian membrane. Due to minimal cell turnover, cells in the nucleus of the human lens may be considered as the longest lived cells in our body. This work reassesses previous assignments of phospholipid (31)P NMR resonances in adult human lenses. The new assignments are based not only on chemical shifts but also on temperature coefficients. By addition of known phospholipids and examination by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, several misassigned resonances have been corrected. The revised composition reveals the possible presence of ceramide-1-phosphate and dihydroceramide-1-phosphate. Among glycerophospholipids, the most abundant one does not correspond to phosphatidylglycerol but may be due to the lysoform of alkyl-acyl analogs of phosphatidylethanolamine. Besides sphingophospholipids, adult human lens membranes contain significant amounts of ether (1-O-alkyl) glycerophospholipids and their corresponding lysoforms.

Metabolism and atherogenic disease association of lysophosphatidylcholine

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is a major plasma lipid that has been recognized as an important cell signalling molecule produced under physiological conditions by the action of phospholipase A(2) on phosphatidylcholine. LPC transports glycerophospholipid components such as fatty acids, phosphatidylglycerol and choline between tissues. LPC is a ligand for specific G protein-coupled signalling receptors and activates several second messengers. LPC is also a major phospholipid component of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (Ox-LDL) and is implicated as a critical factor in the atherogenic activity of Ox-LDL. Hence, LPC plays an important role in atherosclerosis and acute and chronic inflammation. In this review we focus in some detail on LPC function, biochemical pathways, sources and signal-transduction system. Moreover, we outline the detection of LPC by mass spectrometry which is currently the best method for accurate and simultaneous analysis of each individual LPC species and reveal the pathophysiological implication of LPC which makes it an interesting target for biomarker and drug development regarding atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders.

Influence of temperature on 31P NMR chemical shifts of phospholipids and their metabolites I. In chloroform-methanol-water

Spectral overlap of (31)P NMR resonances and the lack of reproducibility in chemical shifts corresponding to phospholipids in organic solvents challenge the accuracy of band assignments and quantification. To alleviate these problems, the use of temperature coefficients is proposed. Changes in temperature enable the resolution of overlapped resonances and provide a facile approach for the computation of temperature coefficients. The coefficients were evaluated for various glycero- and sphingo-phospholipids. Their values suggest that differences in H-bonding between the phosphate and the head groups are responsible for the changes of chemical shift with temperature. Among parent phospholipids, and in addition to sphingomyelin, the smallest temperature coefficient values (closest to zero) were observed for phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, dihydrosphingomyelin, and cardiolipin. The highest values were exhibited by phospholipids with protonated head groups, such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The lowest and, in fact, negative values were measured for phospholipids with an exposed phosphate group: phosphatidic acid, ceramide-1-phosphate, and dihydroceramide-1-phosphate. Diacyl, alkyl-acyl, and alkenyl-acyl phospholipids with the same head group exhibited comparable coefficients but differed slightly in chemical shifts. Compared to their parent glycerophospholipids, all lyso analogs had greater temperature coefficients, possibly due to the presence of an extra OH capable of forming a H-bond with the phosphate group.

MALDI-TOF MS analysis of lipids from cells, tissues and body fluids

Many diseases as atherosclerosis and metabolic dysfunctions are known to correlate with changes of the lipid profile of tissues and body fluids. Therefore, the importance of reliable methods of lipid analysis is obvious. Although matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was so far primarily used for protein analysis, this method has itself proven to be very useful in lipid analysis, too. This review provides an overview of applications of MALDI-TOF MS in lipid analysis and summarizes the specific advantages and drawbacks of this modern soft-ionization method. The focus will be on the analysis of body fluids and cells as well as the diagnostic potential of the method in the lipid field. It will be shown that MALDI-TOF mass spectra can be recorded in a very short time and provide important information on the lipid as well as the fatty acyl composition of the lipids of an unknown sample. However, it will also be shown that only selected lipid classes (in particular those with quaternary ammonia groups as phosphatidylcholine) are detected if crude mixtures are analyzed as they are more sensitively detectable than other ones. This review ends with a short outlook emphasizing current methodological developments.

Lyso-phosphatidylcholine is a signal in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis represents the most widely distributed mutualistic root symbiosis. We report that root extracts of mycorrhizal plants contain a lipophilic signal capable of inducing the phosphate transporter genes StPT3 and StPT4 of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), genes that are specifically induced in roots colonized by AM fungi. The same signal caused rapid extracellular alkalinization in suspension-cultured tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cells and induction of the mycorrhiza-specific phosphate transporter gene LePT4 in these cells. The active principle was characterized as the lysolipid lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC) via a combination of gene expression studies, alkalinization assays in cell cultures, and chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses. Our results highlight the importance of lysophospholipids as signals in plants and in particular in the AM symbiosis.

Destabilization of the acrosome results in release of phospholipase A2 from human spermatozoa and subsequent formation of lysophospholipids

Phospholipase A(2) controls the phospholipid composition in spermatozoal membranes and is released from the acrosome of human spermatozoa. The extracellular phospholipase A(2) activity of human spermatozoa was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry after destabilization of acrosome by the calcium-ionophore calcimycin. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry allowed the monitoring of changes in both substrate and products of spermatozoal phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) without the use of labelled phospholipids. The spermatozoal PLA(2) was characterized as a secretory one (sPLA(2)). Secretory PLA(2) exhibited a high substrate specificity for 1-palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PDPC), the most abundant spermatozoal phospholipid. A time- and cell number-dependent formation of the lysophospholipid PDPC was observed following incubation of extracellular medium of calcimycin-treated spermatozoa (CTS) with PDPC. Antibodies against sPLA(2), specific inhibitors of sPLA(2) and Ca(2+)-chelators could inhibit its generation. An antibody against lysophospholipase enhanced the lysoproduct concentration in the extracellular medium of CTS containing sPLA(2) because further metabolization of these products was blocked. The results demonstrated that destabilization of the acrosome is able to induce a release of secretory phospholipase A(2) from human spermatozoa with subsequent generation of lysophosphocholine in the surrounding of spermatozoa.

The phosphatidylcholine/lysophosphatidylcholine ratio in human plasma is an indicator of the severity of rheumatoid arthritis: investigations by 31P NMR and MALDI-TOF MS

OBJECTIVES

Lipid second messengers, e.g. lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, for instance, rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Unfortunately, the analysis of LPC in complex mixtures as present in body fluids is still challenging.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was applied for phospholipid (PL) analysis of organic extracts of synovial fluids from patients with RA as well as the corresponding plasma. These data were compared with results obtained by high resolution 31P NMR spectroscopy.

RESULTS

Synovial fluids may be replaced by plasma since the analysis of both body fluids gives very similar results. Patients undergoing treatment with TNF-alpha inhibitors (ADALIMUMAB (HUMIRA)) were examined in order to investigate whether the clinically-significant attenuation of disease activity is accompanied by changes of the PL composition of plasma. It will be shown that especially the PC/LPC ratios of plasma represent a reliable measure of inflammation and increase upon therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Since plasma samples are readily available, our approach might be useful to draw conclusions before puncture of the affected joints is necessary and the PC/LPC ratio detected in plasma may serve as an indicator of RA in early stages.

Monitoring enzymatic conversions by mass spectrometry: a critical review

This review highlights recent advances in the application of electrospray ionisation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MS) to study enzymatic reactions. Several assay schemes for different fields of application are presented. The employment of MS as a means of detection in pre-steady-state kinetic studies by rapid-mixing direct analysis and rapid-mixing quench flow techniques is discussed. Several steady-state kinetic studies of a broad range of different enzymatic systems are presented as well as enzyme inhibition studies for various target enzymes. As a promising new development multiplex assays, which monitor the conversion of several substrates simultaneously in one experiment, are described. This assay type has been used for competition studies, enzymatic activity screenings and for diagnostic purposes in clinical chemistry. Generally, it can be concluded that mass spectrometry offers an intriguing alternative as detection methodology in enzymatic bioassays. Its applicability for the monitoring the conversion of naturally occurring substrates and its overall versatility make MS an especially promising tool for the study of enzyme-catalysed processes.

Cholesterol esterase action on human high density lipoproteins and inhibition studies: detection by MALDI-TOF MS

The modification of lipoproteins by lipolytic enzymes such as cholesterol esterase (CEase) is assumed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, details of the activation and inhibition of CEase are still unknown. In this study, matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to investigate the extracts of human lipoproteins after treatment with CEase and to monitor the effects of the inhibitor 2-(diethylamino)-6,7-dihydro-4H,5H-cyclopenta[4,5] thieno[2,3-d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (DOT-3). This approach has the advantage that all lipid classes can be independently detected; therefore, conclusions on the mechanism of the applied enzyme are possible. Besides the expected decrease of cholesteryl esters (CEs) in HDL, a significantly enhanced content of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) was also detected, confirming the broad substrate specificity of CEase. It was also demonstrated that DOT-3 significantly inhibited the CEase-catalyzed cleavage of CEs in HDL. Phospholipid (PL) vesicles prepared from phosphatidylcholine (PC) or PC and cholesteryl linoleate were treated with CEase, and the changes in lipid composition were investigated. From the analysis of the generated LPC species in HDL and in the isolated lipid mixtures, it is evident that CEase catalyzes the cleavage of the fatty acid residues in both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of the PLs. These effects are obvious in the absence as well as in the presence of detergents.

Radiation-induced free-radical transformation of phospholipids: MALDI-TOF MS study

Under the action of free-radical reaction initiators on membrane phospholipids, complex processes are taking place in both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts of the phospholipids. Realization of these processes results in a mixture consisting of the initial lipids and their peroxidation and fragmentation products. Identification of compounds in such mixtures requires analytical methods of high sensitivity, reproducibility and accuracy to be applied. These properties are characteristic of the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) method. In the studies of radiation-induced free-radical transformations of phosphatidylglycerol, the MALDI-TOF MS in combination with thin layer chromatography (TLC) has been shown to be able to detect and identify products of free-radical transformations taking place in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts of the phospholipid. Thus, the MALDI-TOF MS can serve as a suitable analytical tool to investigate free-radical transformations of lipids.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry in lipid and phospholipid research

The interest in the analysis of lipids and phospholipids is continuously increasing due to the importance of these molecules in biochemistry (e.g. in the context of biomembranes and lipid second messengers) as well as in industry. Unfortunately, commonly used methods of lipid analysis are often time-consuming and tedious because they include previous separation and/or derivatization steps. With the development of "soft-ionization techniques" like electrospray ionization (ESI) or matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), mass spectrometry became also applicable to lipid analysis. The aim of this review is to summarize so far available experiences in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis of lipids. It will be shown that MALDI-TOF MS can be applied to all known lipid classes and the characteristics of individual lipids will be discussed. Additionally, some selected applications in medicine and biology, e.g. mixture analysis, cell and tissue analysis and the determination of enzyme activities will be described. Advantages and disadvantages of MALDI-TOF MS in comparison to other established lipid analysis methods will be also discussed.

Quantitative matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for the determination of enzyme activities

Quantitative matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometry (MS) was applied for the determination of concentrations of low-molecular-weight (< 400Da) substrates and products of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Isotope-labeled and fluorinated internal standards were used for the quantification. Automated quantitative MALDI-ToF MS analysis of quenched samples allowed the direct and simultaneous observation of time-dependent decrease of substrate concentration and increase of product concentration without any need for prepurification or desalting steps. The results showed good agreement with established but more elaborate analytical methods. MALDI-ToF MS thus is an interesting alternative tool for the determination of enzyme activities. Due to automated and miniaturized measurement it is especially suitable for the screening of biocatalysts.