Characterization of Fatty Acyl Modifications in Phosphatidylcholines and Lysophosphatidylcholines via Radical-Directed Dissociation

Phosphatidylcholines (PCs) are the major structural components of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells, while lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) are critical intermediates in lipid remodeling. Conventional tandem mass spectrometric (MSn) methods via collision-induced dissociation (CID) are blind to intrachain modifications such as the location of the carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) and methyl branching point. In this study, we demonstrate that almost complete structural information can be inferred from a single (MSCID)-C-2 spectrum of the bicarbonate anion adducts of PC or LPC ([M + HCO3](-)), including the identity of the headgroup, composition of fatty acyl chains, their sn-positions, the location of C=C, and the point of methyl branching in fatty acyls. We have integrated this MS2 CID method onto liquid chromatography for the analysis LPCs in human plasma, revealing the existence of multiple sn-isomers, branched chain isomers, and C=C location isomers of LPC.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates that almost complete structural information of PC or LPC can be inferred from a single spectrum of the bicarbonate anion adducts, including the identity of the headgroup and composition of fatty acyl chains. Applying this method to analyze LPCs in human plasma revealed the presence of multiple isomers.