Normal-phase Liquid Chromatography Class Separation and Species Determination of Phospholipids Utilizing Electrospray Mass Spectrometry/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Membrane phospholipids have been separated into classes by normal-phase chromatography using electrospray (ES) mass spectrometry or with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for species determination. Biological samples, taken from patients seeking a remedy for gastric catarrh or gastric ulcer were examined. It was found, by altering the cone voltage and changing between positive- and negative-ion modes in ES, that in most cases it was possible to obtain structural information for the molecular species and fatty acids present. MS/MS was employed to achieve accurate species determination.