Doctoral defence: Larissa Silva Maciel "Derivatization-targeted LC-MS analysis of compounds containing amino group"

On 30. August at 13.15, Larissa Silva Maciel will defend her thesis "Derivatization-targeted LC-MS analysis of compounds containing amino group".

Supervisor:
Associate Professor Koit Herodes, PhD, University of Tartu

Opponent:
Associate Professor Jeffrey Hawkes, PhD, Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden

Summary:
The derivatization-targeted analysis approach is introduced, which combines derivatization and the mass spectrometric fragmentation pattern that derivatives commonly possess. Therefore, it is possible to employ precursor ion scan (PIS) mode for recurrent charged fragments or neutral loss scan (NLS) mode for neutral fragment losses. In that way, a specific functional group is targeted, so it is possible to narrow down the number of possible compounds detected in a sample. This method was optimized for the detection of amino compounds, based on DEEMM derivatization and NLS mode, and applied to 42 samples from 5 Mediterranean plant species, revealing that amino compound content can distinguish between plant genera. In addition, it was also used to analyze agricultural by-products as potential feed supplements based on their free amino compounds profile. The method successfully detected and identified 50 amino compounds in plant extracts, and most of them were quantified as well.