Analytical Testing Approaches for Phytohormones, Fatty Acids, Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolites in Plants
Posted by Dr. Theo Kapanadze, D.Sc., Ph.D. on Fri, Jan 27, 2012 @ 07:56 AM
The analysis of low abundant signaling molecules such as phytohormones such as jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) and intermediates of metabolic pathways such as free fatty acids (FFA) and oxygenated forms of fatty acids in plants is an important tool to understand how plants grow, develop and respond to stress conditions. Therefore, it is essential to develop quantitative analytical testing methods for the rapid, simultaneous and reliable analysis of a broad range of plant molecules.
Traditional methods for analysis of these molecules require purification or enrichment steps, which are laborious when multiple samples need to be analyzed.
There are many analytical techniques available for developing assays which are ideal for the analysis of complex mixtures of compounds which are commonly found in biological matrices such as plant tissues.
LC-MS/MS detection is the best method for the simultaneous determination of aliphatic
molecules such as FFA's and their oxygenated derivatives and more polar (phytohormones, phenolics) compounds by using picolinyl ester derivatives, especially if the product to be analyzed is a leaf extract. If you only need to identify individual compounds, then alternate techniques such as Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) or Gas Chromatography (GC) detection are also viable. For simultaneous detection however, LC-MS/MS would be required. The method enables the rapid, specific and simultaneous analysis free fatty acids, amino acid conjugates, phytohormones and its secondary metabolites in plants tissues extracts.
To find out more about how these techniques can be used, explore the case studies in:
