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Top-down Metabolomic Approaches for Nitrogen-Containing Metabolites
Ryo Nakabayashi1, Kei Hashimoto1, Kiminori Toyooka1
1RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
Analytical Chemistry
|February 23, 2017
Summary
This study introduces a novel method using 15N labeling and advanced mass spectrometry to identify nitrogen-containing metabolites in Catharanthus roseus. The approach efficiently reveals both known and unknown compounds and their spatial distribution for pharmaceutical discovery.
Area of Science:
- Metabolomics
- Plant Sciences
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Identifying heteroatom-containing metabolites is crucial for pharmaceutical research.
- Catharanthus roseus is a medicinal plant source of several anti-cancer drugs.
- Efficient methods are needed for integrated metabolomics studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply top-down targeted metabolomic analyses for nitrogen-containing metabolites.
- To utilize ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry techniques including LC-MS, MALDI, and IMS with 15N labeling.
- To extract chemical and spatial information from Catharanthus roseus.
Main Methods:
- Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) was employed.
- Ultrahigh-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) identified 65 N-metabolites.
- High-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) identified 64 N-metabolites.
- High-resolution imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) characterized spatial patterns of 32 N-metabolites.
Main Results:
- Identified molecular formulas for numerous known and unknown nitrogen-containing metabolites.
- Comparative analysis revealed organ-specific ions primarily from unknown N-metabolites.
- IMS demonstrated consistent spatial accumulation patterns for labeled and unlabeled metabolites, validating top-down analysis in IMS.
Conclusions:
- The developed top-down metabolomic approach efficiently identifies and localizes nitrogen-containing metabolites.
- The study highlights the potential of unknown N-metabolites in Catharanthus roseus.
- This method advances integrated metabolomics for drug discovery and understanding plant biochemistry.
