Steryl glucoside and acyl steryl glucoside analysis of Arabidopsis seeds by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Lipids. 2012 Feb;47(2):185-93. doi: 10.1007/s11745-011-3602-9. Epub 2011 Aug 10.

Abstract

Establishment of sensitive methods for the detection of cellular sterols and their derivatives is a critical step in developing comprehensive lipidomics technology. We demonstrate that electrospray ionization tandem (triple quadrupole) mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) is an efficient method for monitoring steryl glucosides (SG) and acyl steryl glucosides (ASG). Comparison of analysis of SG and ASG by ESI-MS/MS with analysis by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) shows that the two methods yield similar molar compositions. These data demonstrate that ESI-MS/MS response per molar amount of sterol conjugate is similar among various molecular species of SG and ASG. Application of ESI-MS/MS to seed samples from wild-type Arabidopsis and a mutant deficient in two UDP-glucose:sterol glucosyltransferases, UGT80A2 and UGT80B1, revealed new details on the composition of sitosteryl, campesteryl and stigmasteryl glucosides and ASG. SG were decreased by 86% in the ugt80A2,B1 double mutant, compared to the wild-type, while ASG were reduced 96%. The results indicate that these glucosyltransferases account for much of the accumulation of the sterol conjugates in wild-type Arabidopsis seeds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / chemistry
  • Glucosyltransferases / chemistry*
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Seeds / enzymology
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods
  • Sterols / analysis*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Sterols
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • UGT80A2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • UGT80B1 protein, Arabidopsis