title: Non-targeted metabolomic profile of Fagus sylvatica L. leaves using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fagus sylvatica L. is one of the most widely distributed broad-leaved tree species in central and western Europe, important to the forest sector and an accurate biomarker of climate change.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To profile the beech leaf metabolome for future studies in order to investigate deeper into the characterisation of its metabolic response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leaf extracts were analysed using LC-MS by electrospray ionisation in negative mode from m/z 100-1700 and GC-MS by electron ionisation in scan mode from m/z 35-800.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LC-MS profile resulted in 56 compounds, of which 43 were identified and/or structurally characterised, including hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins, and flavonols. From a second analysis based on GC-MS, a total of 111 compounds were identified, including carbohydrates, polyalcohols, amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, sterols and other related compounds. Many of the compounds identified were primary metabolites involved in major plant metabolic pathways, however, some secondary metabolites were also detected. Some of them play roles as tolerance-response osmoregulators and osmoprotectors in abiotic stress, or as anti-oxidants that reduce the effect of reactive oxygen species and promote many protective functions in plants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a broad and relevant insight into the metabolic status of F. sylvatica leaves, and serves as a base for future studies on physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in biotic or abiotic stress.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Forestal (CIFOR), Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Apdo. 8111, 28080, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cadahía
authors.forename: Brígida
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández de Simón
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aranda
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Gómez
authors.forename: Ernani
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinto
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D029964:Fagus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D055442:Metabolome; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Fagus sylvatica; GC-MS; LC-MS; leaves; metabolomic profiling