title: Comparison of three GC/MS methodologies for the analysis of fatty acids in Sinorhizobium meliloti: development of a micro-scale, one-vial method.
abstract: Three protocols for fatty acid analysis in Sinorhizobium meliloti were improved by the addition of a number of standards/controls and a silylation step which allowed the determination of recoveries, extents of conversion of lipids to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and extents of side reactions. Basic hydrolysis followed by acid-catalyzed methylation and transmethylation with sodium methoxide, were the best for the analysis of 3-hydroxy- and cyclopropane fatty acids, respectively. A micro-scale, one-vial method that employed sodium methoxide/methanol was equally efficient and on a 1000-fold smaller scale than standard methods. Because this method avoids aqueous extractions, 3-hydroxybutanoic acid was detected as its trimethylsilyloxy methyl ester along with FAMEs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, West Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Libia Saborido
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Basconcillo
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: McCarry
mesh_terms: D004952:Esters / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008745:Methylation; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000379:methods; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids