title: Analysis of Betaines from Marine Algae Using LC-MS-MS.
abstract: Betaines are a class of quaternary ammonium compounds found in marine algae that can act as osmolytes and/or affect gene expression, and therefore improve plant tolerance to stresses such as temperature extremes, drought, and salinity when applied to agricultural crops. In humans, glycine betaine acts as a methyl donor and has been shown to protect internal organs, improve vascular risk factors, and enhance sport performance. Here we describe a sensitive LC-MS-MS method for the baseline separation and quantification of four betaines found in algae, namely, glycine betaine, δ-aminovaleric acid betaine, γ-aminobutyric acid betaine, and laminine.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council of Canada, 1411 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 3Z1, shawna.mackinnon@nrc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Shawna L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Craft
mesh_terms: D021542:Amino Acids, Neutral / Q000032:analysis*; D001622:Betaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D021542:Amino Acids, Neutral; D001622:Betaine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C013809:5-aminovaleric acid