Intensity-dependent mass search for improving metabolite database matches in chemical isotope labeling LC-QTOF-MS-based metabolomics. 2023

Yunong Li, and Hao Li, and Taibo Luo, and Guohui Lin, and Liang Li
Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has been increasingly used for metabolome analysis. One of the critical steps in the LC-MS metabolome analysis workflow is related to metabolite identification. Among the measured parameters, peak mass is commonly used to search against a database for potential metabolite matches. Higher accuracy mass measurement allows the use of a narrower mass tolerance window for mass search. While various types of mass analyzers can routinely measure a peak mass with an error of less than a few ppm, mass measurement accuracy is not uniform for peaks with different intensities, particularly for quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) MS. Herein we present a simple and convenient method to determine the relation between peak intensity and mass error in LC-QTOF-MS-based metabolome analysis, followed by intensity-dependent mass search (IDMS) of a database for metabolite matches. This method is based on running a series of sodium formate mass calibrants, as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP) in LC-MS data acquisition, and then curve-fitting the measured mass errors and peak intensities. We show that, in two different quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass analyzers, mass accuracy is generally reduced as peak intensity decreases, which is independent of m/z values in the range commonly used for metabolite detection (e.g., m/z < 1000). We demonstrate the improvement in metabolite matches using IDMS in the analyses of dansyl labeled standards and human urine samples. We have implemented the IDMS method in the freely available MCID database at www.mycompoundid.org, which is composed of 8021 known human endogenous metabolites and their predicted metabolic products (375,809 compounds from one metabolic reaction and 10,583,901 compounds from two reactions).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007553 Isotope Labeling Techniques for labeling a substance with a stable or radioactive isotope. It is not used for articles involving labeled substances unless the methods of labeling are substantively discussed. Tracers that may be labeled include chemical substances, cells, or microorganisms. Isotope Labeling, Stable,Isotope-Coded Affinity Tagging,Isotopically-Coded Affinity Tagging,Affinity Tagging, Isotope-Coded,Affinity Tagging, Isotopically-Coded,Isotope Coded Affinity Tagging,Labeling, Isotope,Labeling, Stable Isotope,Stable Isotope Labeling,Tagging, Isotope-Coded Affinity,Tagging, Isotopically-Coded Affinity
D002853 Chromatography, Liquid Chromatographic techniques in which the mobile phase is a liquid. Liquid Chromatography
D003619 Dansyl Compounds Compounds that contain a 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl group. Dimethylaminonaphthalenesulfonyl Compounds,Compounds, Dansyl,Compounds, Dimethylaminonaphthalenesulfonyl
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013058 Mass Spectrometry An analytical method used in determining the identity of a chemical based on its mass using mass analyzers/mass spectrometers. Mass Spectroscopy,Spectrometry, Mass,Spectroscopy, Mass,Spectrum Analysis, Mass,Analysis, Mass Spectrum,Mass Spectrum Analysis,Analyses, Mass Spectrum,Mass Spectrum Analyses,Spectrum Analyses, Mass
D055432 Metabolomics The systematic identification and quantitation of all the metabolic products of a cell, tissue, organ, or organism under varying conditions. The METABOLOME of a cell or organism is a dynamic collection of metabolites which represent its net response to current conditions. Metabonomics,Metabolomic,Metabonomic
D055442 Metabolome The dynamic collection of metabolites which represent a cell's or organism's net metabolic response to current conditions. Metabolic Profile,Metabolic Profiles,Metabolomes,Profile, Metabolic,Profiles, Metabolic

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