Electron-transfer MALDI MS methodology for microalgae/phytoplankton pigments analysis

Luis M Díaz-Sánchez; Cristian Blanco-Tirado; Marianny Y Combariza

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2023.102140

Electron-transfer MALDI MS methodology for microalgae/phytoplankton pigments analysis

MethodsX. 2023 Mar 20:10:102140. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102140. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Luis M Díaz-Sánchez¹, Cristian Blanco-Tirado¹, Marianny Y Combariza¹

Affiliation

¹ Escuela de Química, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Santander 680002, Colombia.

Abstract

The method describes pigment analysis from microalgae/phytoplankton extracts using electron-transfer Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ET MALDI MS). Current microalgae/phytoplankton pigment analysis requires resource- and time-intensive chromatographic methods due to the broad polarity range of the target analytes. On the other hand, traditional MALDI MS chlorophyll analysis, using proton-transfer matrices such as 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) or α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), results in central metal loss and phytol-ester cleavage. ET MALDI MS is an alternative for the rapid screening and detection of pigments in microalgae extracts.•MALDI matrices with ionization energies above 8.0 eV guarantee electron-transfer processes from photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments whose ionization energies lay below 7.5 eV.•ET MALDI MS pigment analysis agrees with data gathered from conventional chromatographic techniques (HPLC) and optical microscopy for pigment extracts from C. vulgaris cultures and freshwater phytoplankton samples.•The ET MALDI MS method allows fast and reliable detection of pigments in microalgae cultures and freshwater phytoplankton samples.

Keywords: Carotenoids; Chlorophylls; Electron transfer ionization; Electron-transfer MALDI MS methodology for microalgae pigments analysis; MALDI; Mass Spectrometry; Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization; Microalgae; Photoprotective pigments; Photosynthetic pigments.