Database-dependent metabolite profiling focused on steroid and fatty acid derivatives using high-temperature gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
BACKGROUND
A database-dependent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based approach was developed for non-targeted metabolite profiling, focusing on 232 steroids, 24 fatty acids, 10 eicosanoids, 10 cannabinoids and 22 steroid-fatty acid esters in biological specimens.


METHODS
This method, used to search for potent biomarkers in lipid metabolism, included MS based analysis combined with high-temperature gas chromatographic (HTGC) separation of biological metabolites, statistical clustering and an in-house database (DB) searching.


RESULTS
The HTGC technique showed better detectability of high lipophilic compounds, particularly steroid-fatty acid esters, which generally have poor chromatographic properties on a conventional GC column. The in-house DB search consisted of the retention index and mass spectrum corresponding to each compound selected. The method was applied to tissue samples obtained from cardiac hypertrophy-induced mice. Increased levels of palmitic, linoleic, oleic, and stearic acids and cholesterol were detected and identified.


CONCLUSIONS
This data-dependent non-targeted metabolite profiling technique could be more effective in biomarker studies associated with the steroid and lipid metabolism than commercially available DBs.
Jung
Hyun-Jin
HJ
Life/Health Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Won-Yong
WY
Yoo
Young Sook
YS
Chung
Bong Chul
BC
Choi
Man Ho
MH
D000818:Animals; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D013256:Steroids