Analysis of intact bacteriohopanepolyols from methanotrophic bacteria by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

Direct detection of most intact biohopanoids is not possible using conventi onal GC-MS techniques due to their highly functionalised and amphiphilic na ture. Here we report the application of a new reversed-phase high-performan ce liquid chromatography method for the direct analysis of acetylated, inta ct bacteriohopanepolyols in solvent extracts of methanotrophic bacteria. At mospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometric detection provide s structural information relating to the number and types of functional gro ups present in the four biohopanoids detected: bacteriohopanetetrol, aminob acteriohopanetriol, -tetrol and -pentol. The method should facilitate the a ssessment of hopanoid composition of both bacteria and environmental sample s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.