Liquid Chromatography and Liquid Chromatograpy‐Mass Spectrometry of Plants: Techniques and Applications

Abstract

Technical advances in LC–MS hardware instrumentation and in data analysis software tools have enabled the routine implementation of comprehensive metabolite studies in many biological laboratories. In this chapter, we describe the current types of MS instruments and corresponding applications. LC–MS systems can be coupled to UV or fluorescence detectors and even spatial resolution of metabolic distribution (MALDI‐imaging) is feasible to gain valuable additional information. LC–MS applications usually divide into targeted or untargeted approaches, whereby the general aims are either to quantify a known substance or to analyze and compare metabolite profiles of two conditions to identify potential biomarkers. For tentative annotation of unknown compounds, LC–MS/MS analysis are conducted. An incessantly growing number of software tools have been developed to handle the challenge of extracting biologically valuable information from LC–MS analysis, which generates enormous amounts of data. Furthermore, various databases have been set up to facilitate annotation of compounds of interest.