title: Evaluation of matrix effects in metabolite profiling based on capillary liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: The coupling of liquid chromatography to electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry can be a powerful tool for metabolomics, i.e., the comprehensive detection of low molecular weight compounds in biological systems. There have, however, been doubts about the feasibility and reliability of this approach, because LC-MS--especially with electrospray ionization--can be subject to matrix effects. We evaluated matrix effects for our metabolomics platform in three ways: (i) postextraction addition of a set of reference compounds to different complex biological matrixes to determine absolute and relative matrix effects, (ii) postcolumn infusion of two reference compounds, and (iii) mixing of two complex matrixes. Our data demonstrate that there are indeed significant absolute matrix effects when comparing highly divergent samples. However, relative matrix effects are negligible--unless extremely divergent matrixes are compared--and do not compromise the relative quantification that is aimed for in nontargeted metabolomics studies. In conclusion, employing LC-coupled ESI-QTOF-MS for metabolomics studies is feasible yet rigorous validation is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.forename: Edda V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Roepenack-Lahaye
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Willscher
authors.forename: Dierk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scheel
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clemens
mesh_terms: D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000032:analysis; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000737:chemistry; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D019833:Genistein / Q000032:analysis; D062425:Hydroxybenzoate Ethers; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis; D007701:Kinetin / Q000032:analysis; D010666:Phenylpropionates / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012431:Rutin / Q000032:analysis; D012459:Salicylates / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: C518704:3-indolylacetonitrile; D000097:Acetonitriles; D062425:Hydroxybenzoate Ethers; D007211:Indoles; C518703:N-(3-indolylacetyl)valine; D010666:Phenylpropionates; D012459:Salicylates; C081914:2-methoxybenzoic acid; D012431:Rutin; C008851:alpha-phenylglycidate; D019833:Genistein; D014633:Valine; D007701:Kinetin; C004541:biochanin A