Applications of Liquid-Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Natural Products Research: Tropane Alkaloids as a Case Study

Summary

We present a method for rapid mass spectrometry (MS)/mass spectrometry (MS)-based annotation and classification of tropane alkaloids, useful for both preliminary dereplication of tropane-containing samples and discovery of novel alkaloids for isolation.

Abstract

Although many drugs utilized today are synthetic in origin, natural products still provide a rich source of novel chemical diversity and bioactivity, and can yield promising leads for resistant or emerging diseases. The challenge, however, is twofold: not only must researchers find natural products and elucidate their structures, but they must also identify what is worth isolating and assaying (and what is already known - a process known as dereplication). With the advent of modern analytical instrumentation, the pace of natural product discovery and dereplication has accelerated. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has become an especially valuable technique for identifying and classifying chemical structures. Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are plant-derived compounds of great medicinal and toxicological significance. In this study, we developed an LC-MS/MS-based screening workflow utilizing the multiple MS/MS configurations available on a triple-quadrupole (QQQ) mass spectrometer to annotate and classify TA structures based on their distinct fragmentation patterns. By using a combination of data-dependent (DD) product ion scans, precursor ion scans (PrIS), and neutral loss scans (NLS), we applied this method to TA-rich extracts of the nightshades Datura stramonium and Datura metel. This method is rapid, sensitive, and was successfully employed for both preliminary dereplication of complex TA-containing samples and for the discovery of a novel candidate for isolation, purification (and eventual bioassay).

Introduction

Although fully synthetic molecules have become more prominent in drug discovery in recent decades, nearly two-thirds of all approved drugs from the last 39 years are natural products or natural-product-inspired,^1,2 underscoring the continued importance of natural products research. Alkaloids, certain nitrogen-containing natural products, are especially prized for their medicinal properties. Tropane alkaloids (TAs) containing the [3.2.1.]-bicyclic nitrogen-containing system, are produced mostly by plants in the Solanaceae (nightshade), Erythroxylaceae, and Convolvulaceae families. Examples inclu....

Protocol

CAUTION: Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) before using the listed chemicals.

1. Sample preparation

CAUTION: Liquid nitrogen can cause cryogen burns. Use cryogen gloves and eye protection in a well-ventilated area. Alkaloid-containing plant samples can be irritating to the skin; always handle them with gloves. Methanol is toxic and flammable and should be handled in a fume hood away from potential ignition sources.

Discussion

Although the instrument parameters provided in the protocol allow for satisfactory performance, the successful use of this method may require careful attention to or optimization of several critical steps. While the HPLC solvent gradient provided in step 2.2 is generally appropriate for tropane alkaloids, it may need to be modified depending on the tropane alkaloid profile of the sample or plant species being examined. The sample injection volume can also be changed depending on the sensitivity of the instrument and.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Acetonitrile, For UHPLC, suitable for mass spectometry	Sigma-Aldrich	900667	HPLC solvent
Argon gas	AirGas	AR UHP300	CID gas
Formic acid, 99% for analysis	Thermo Scientific	AC270480010	HPLC additive
Guard column holder	Restek	25812
HPLC, Shimadzu LC-2030C 3D Plus	Shimadzu	228-65802-58	HPLC column
LCMS, Shimdazu LCMS-8045	Shimadzu	225-31800-44	Mass spectrometer; we ran LabSolutions software, which is standard for Shimadzu instruments
Liquid nitrogen	AirGas	NI 180LT22
Methanol, for HPLC/UHPLC/LCMS	VWR	BDH 85800.400	For making extraction solvent
Microcentrifuge	VWR	2400-37
Microcentrifuge tubes, 1.5 mL	Fisher Scientific	05-408-129
Mortar	Fisher Scientific	FB961C	For grinding plant tissues
Pestle	Fisher Scientific	FB961M	For grinding plant tissues
Pipette 1000 mL	Gilson	F144059M
Pipette tip 1000 mL	Fisher scientific	02-707-404
Plant tissues	Various sources	N/A	Can be anything wild or cultivated
Polypropylene conical tubes, 15 mL	Fisher Scientific	05-539-4
Polystyrene cooler	ULINE	S-18312	The type of coolers that reagents for molecular biology are shipped in would be appropriate
Roc C18 3 µm, 100 mm x 4.6 mm	Restek	9534315	HPLC column
Roc C18, 10 mm x 4 mm	Restek	953450210	Guard column
Rocking shaker	Themo Scientific	11-676-680
Screw thread vial convenience kit (9 mm)	Fisher scientific	13-622-190	LCMS autosampler vials
Syringe, 3 mL	Fisher Scientific	03-377-27
Syringe filter 0.45 µm	Avantor/VWR	76479-008
Water, for use in liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry	JT Baker	9831-03	For making extraction solvent
Water solution, contains 0.1% v/v formic acid, For UHPLC, suitable for mass spectometry	Sigma-Aldrich	900687-1L	HPLC solvent