Comprehensive Analysis of Acylcarnitine Species in db/db Mouse Using a Novel Method of High-Resolution Parallel Reaction Monitoring Reveals Widespread Metabolic Dysfunction Induced by Diabetes

Anal Chem. 2017 Oct 3;89(19):10368-10375. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b02283. Epub 2017 Sep 12.

Abstract

Acylcarnitines are exerting a variety of biological functions depending on the differences in lengths, saturation levels, and conjugation groups, which to a great extent contribute to the challenges of acylcarnitines quantifications due to various kinds of isomers. Here, we describe a novel method by using high-resolution parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Both reversed-phase and normal-phase column were used in order to get accurate, reliable, widespread quantification of acylcarnitines, and without tedious sample preparation procedure. The method provided the most comprehensive acylcarnitine profile with high-resolution MS and MS/MS confirmation to date. A total of 117 acylcarnitines were detected from plasma and urine samples. The application of targeted profiling of acylcarnitines in db/m+ control and db/db diabetic mice indicated incomplete amino acid and fatty acid oxidation on diabetic mice. Interestingly, the reduction of medium odd-numbered chain acylcarnitines in urine samples was first observed between db/m+ and db/db mice. The high-resolution PRM method makes it possible to monitor the widespread metabolic changes of the acylcarnitines in response to stimuli. Besides, the accurate MS and MS/MS spectra data of the 117 acylcarnitines could be used as mass spectrometric resources for the identification of acylcarnitines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carnitine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Carnitine / analysis
  • Carnitine / blood
  • Carnitine / urine
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Limit of Detection
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry*

Substances

  • acylcarnitine
  • Carnitine