TY - JOUR

T1 - Matrix Effects in GC-MS Profiling of Common Metabolites after Trimethylsilyl Derivatization

AU - Tarakhovskaya, Elena

AU - Marcillo, Andrea

AU - Davis, Caroline

AU - Milkovska-Stamenova, Sanja

AU - Hutschenreuther, Antje

AU - Birkemeyer, Claudia

PY - 2023/3/15

Y1 - 2023/3/15

N2 - Metabolite profiling using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is one of the most frequently applied and standardized methods in research projects using metabolomics to analyze complex samples. However, more than 20 years after the introduction of non-targeted approaches using GC-MS, there are still unsolved challenges to accurate quantification in such investigations. One particularly difficult aspect in this respect is the occurrence of sample-dependent matrix effects. In this project, we used model compound mixtures of different compositions to simplify the study of the complex interactions between common constituents of biological samples in more detail and subjected those to a frequently applied derivatization protocol for GC-MS analysis, namely trimethylsilylation. We found matrix effects as signal suppression and enhancement of carbohydrates and organic acids not to exceed a factor of ~2, while amino acids can be more affected. Our results suggest that the main reason for our observations may be an incomplete transfer of carbohydrate and organic acid derivatives during the injection process and compound interaction at the start of the separation process. The observed effects were reduced at higher target compound concentrations and by using a more suitable injection-liner geometry.

AB - Metabolite profiling using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is one of the most frequently applied and standardized methods in research projects using metabolomics to analyze complex samples. However, more than 20 years after the introduction of non-targeted approaches using GC-MS, there are still unsolved challenges to accurate quantification in such investigations. One particularly difficult aspect in this respect is the occurrence of sample-dependent matrix effects. In this project, we used model compound mixtures of different compositions to simplify the study of the complex interactions between common constituents of biological samples in more detail and subjected those to a frequently applied derivatization protocol for GC-MS analysis, namely trimethylsilylation. We found matrix effects as signal suppression and enhancement of carbohydrates and organic acids not to exceed a factor of ~2, while amino acids can be more affected. Our results suggest that the main reason for our observations may be an incomplete transfer of carbohydrate and organic acid derivatives during the injection process and compound interaction at the start of the separation process. The observed effects were reduced at higher target compound concentrations and by using a more suitable injection-liner geometry.

KW - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods

KW - Metabolomics/methods

KW - Amino Acids/chemistry

KW - Carbohydrates/chemistry

KW - Trimethylsilyl Compounds/chemistry

KW - compound saturation

KW - quantification

KW - metabolomics

KW - gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

KW - signal suppression

KW - signal enhancement

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/279b8cb8-2efe-31cc-8fd9-2e4bed51168f/

U2 - 10.3390/molecules28062653

DO - 10.3390/molecules28062653

M3 - Article

C2 - 36985624

VL - 28

JO - Molecules

JF - Molecules

SN - 1420-3049

IS - 6

M1 - 2653

ER -