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Monitoring metabolites consumption and secretion in cultured cells using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole–time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–Q–ToF-MS)

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Abstract

Here we present an ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS) method for extracellular measurements of known and unexpected metabolites in parallel. The method was developed by testing 86 metabolites, including amino acids, organic acids, sugars, purines, pyrimidines, vitamins, and nucleosides, that can be resolved by combining chromatographic and m/z dimensions. Subsequently, a targeted quantitative method was developed for 80 metabolites. The presented method combines a UPLC approach using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and MS detection achieved by a hybrid quadrupole–time of flight (Q–ToF) mass spectrometer. The optimal setup was achieved by evaluating reproducibility and repeatability of the analytical platforms using pooled quality control samples to minimize the drift in instrumental performance over time. Then, the method was validated by analyzing extracellular metabolites from acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines (MOLT-4 and CCRF-CEM) treated with direct (A-769662) and indirect (AICAR) AMP activated kinase (AMPK) activators, monitoring uptake and secretion of the targeted compound over time. This analysis pointed towards a perturbed purine and pyrimidine catabolism upon AICAR treatment. Our data suggest that the method presented can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of extracellular metabolites and it is suitable for routine applications such as in vitro drug screening.

UPLC-MS analysis of extracellular metabolites from acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines treated with AMP activated kinase (AMPK) activators points out that purine catabolism is affected upon AICAR treatment.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by ERC grant proposal No. 232816. The authors thank Maike K. Aurich for helpful discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Systems Biology, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 8, Reykjavik 101, Iceland

    Giuseppe Paglia, Sigrún Hrafnsdóttir, Manuela Magnúsdóttir, Ronan M. T. Fleming, Steinunn Thorlacius & Bernhard Ø. Palsson

  2. Center for Systems Biology, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 8, Reykjavik 101, Iceland

    Ines Thiele

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  1. Giuseppe Paglia
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  2. Sigrún Hrafnsdóttir
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  3. Manuela Magnúsdóttir
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  4. Ronan M. T. Fleming
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  5. Steinunn Thorlacius
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  6. Bernhard Ø. Palsson
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  7. Ines Thiele
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Correspondence to Ines Thiele.

Electronic supplementary material

Overlay EICs obtained using mobile phases at different pHs; Growth and apoptosis of MOLT-4 and CCRF-CCFR-CEM treated AMPK activators; Total ATP in cells; Metabolites secreted during the CCFR-CEM cells culture after 48 h with AICAR treatments. List of metabolites investigated during the method development; RPMI Advanced medium composition; predicted exo-metabolome composition; Coverage of the exo-metabolome at different ACN/sample dilution; Qualitative comparison of metabolites detected using two different analytical platforms.

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Paglia, G., Hrafnsdóttir, S., Magnúsdóttir, M. et al. Monitoring metabolites consumption and secretion in cultured cells using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole–time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–Q–ToF-MS). Anal Bioanal Chem 402, 1183–1198 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5556-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5556-4

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