DOI

Fatty acids (FAs) represent an important class of metabolites, impacting on membrane building blocks and signaling compounds in cellular regulatory networks. In nature, prokaryotes are characterized with the most impressing FA structural diversity and the highest relative content of free fatty acids (FFAs). In this context, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (order Rhizobiales), the symbionts of legumes, are particularly interesting. Indeed, the FA profiles influence the structure of rhizobial nodulation factors, required for successful infection of plant root. Although FA patterns can be assessed by gas chromatography—(GC-) and liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry (LC-MS), sample preparation for these methods is time-consuming and quantification suffers from compromised sensitivity, low stability of derivatives and artifacts. In contrast, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) represents an excellent platform for high-efficient metabolite fingerprinting, also applicable to FFAs. Therefore, here we propose a simple and straightforward protocol for high-throughput relative quantification of FFAs in rhizobia by combination of Langmuir technology and MALDI-TOF-MS featuring a high sensitivity, accuracy and precision of quantification. We describe a step-by-step procedure comprising rhizobia culturing, pre-cleaning, extraction, sample preparation, mass spectrometric analysis, data processing and post-processing. As a case study, a comparison of the FFA metabolomes of two rhizobia species—Rhizobium leguminosarum and Sinorhizobium meliloti, demonstrates the analytical potential of the protocol.
Original languageEnglish
Article number36
Pages (from-to)1-17
Number of pages17
JournalMethods and Protocols
Volume3
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2020

    Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)
  • Structural Biology
  • Biotechnology

    Research areas

  • Bacteria, barium monocarboxylates, chemical deposition technique, free fatty acids (FFAs), Langmuir film technology, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), metabolic fingerprinting, rhizobia, Barium monocarboxylates, Rhizobia, Free fatty acids (FFAs), Metabolic fingerprinting, Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), Chemical deposition technique

ID: 53423664