Lipidomics in triacylglycerol and cholesteryl ester oxidation

Although direct mass spectrometry is capable of identification the major molecular species of lipids in crude total lipid extracts, prior chromatographic isolation is necessary for detection and identification of the minor components. This is especially important for the analysis of the oxolipids, which usually occur in trace amounts in the total lipid extract, and require prior isolation for detailed analysis. Both thin-layer chromatography and adsorption cartridges provide effective means for isolation and enrichment of lipid classes, while gas-liquid chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography with on-line mass spectrometry permit further separation and identification of molecular species. Prior chromatographic resolution is absolutely necessary for the identification of isobaric and chiral molecules, which mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) cannot distinguish. Both gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry applications may require the preparation of derivatives in order to improve the chromatographic and mass spectrometric properties of the oxolipids which is a small inconvenience for securing analytical reliability. The following chapter reviews the advantages and necessity of combined chromatographic-mass spectrometric approaches to successful identification and quantification of molecular species of oxoacylglycerols and oxocholesteryl esters in in-vitro model studies of lipid peroxidation and in the analyses of oxolipids recovered from tissues.