Analysis of Soybean Phospholipid Metabolites Using Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry

Phospholipids play an essential role in living cells, such as forming a lipid bilayer to create a barrier of protection against environmental changes and enabling cellular processes to occur in these compartments. Lipidomics is the study of fatty molecules within a biological system, their extracellular and cellular interactions, and the diseases to which the molecules contribute. Analytical chemistry is a common technique used to analyze these molecules, using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled to electrospray ionization (ESI) or heated electrospray ionization (H-ESI) mode. TSQ Quantum Access MAX Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer provides many advantages when used for lipid analysis due to the numerous functions and adjustment of parameters allowing for a fast and accurate detection system of various molecules. This book chapter describes using the TSQ Quantum Access Max through direct infusion with a syringe pump to analyze phospholipids derived from soybeans.