Fast quantitative method for the analysis of carotenoids in transgenic maize

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Jun 5;61(22):5279-85. doi: 10.1021/jf400694z. Epub 2013 May 24.

Abstract

A fast method was developed to determine carotenoid content in transgenic maize seeds. The analysis was carried out using an ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatograph coupled to a photodiode array detector and a mass spectrometer (UHPLC-PDA-MS/MS). Sixteen carotenoid pigments were detected and quantified in <13 min. In addition, it was possible to obtain good resolution of both polar xanthophylls and nonpolar carotenes. The method exhibited (a) a high degree of repeatability (%RSD < 13%), (b) linear calibration curves (R² > 0.9952), (c) satisfactory recoveries for most of the pigments (between 82 and 108%), and (d) low detection (from 0.02 to 0.07 μg/mL) and quantification limits (from 0.05 to 0.20 μg/mL) (LOD and LOQ, respectively). The methodology was applied to the analysis of transgenic maize lines TM1, TM2, and TM3, expressing several carotenogenic genes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carotenoids / analysis*
  • Carotenoids / biosynthesis
  • Carotenoids / chemistry
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Crops, Agricultural / chemistry*
  • Crops, Agricultural / genetics
  • Crops, Agricultural / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nutritive Value
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / chemistry*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Seeds / genetics
  • Seeds / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Zea mays / chemistry*
  • Zea mays / genetics
  • Zea mays / metabolism

Substances

  • Carotenoids