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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #241166
Title: Identification and Quantitation of Various Inositols and O-methylinositols Present in Plant Roots Using Gas Chromatograpghy/Mass Spectrometry

Author
item MCDONALD, LUTHER - University Of Florida
item GOHEEN, STEVE - Batelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
item Donald, Patricia
item CAMPBELL, JAMES - Batelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2009
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Plant roots are composed of different compounds which have been used for medicine and also which help the plant withstand stresses. Cyclitols are carbohydrates which are produced by many plants and mammals. They are involved in glucose regulation and sensory nerve function in mammals. Deficiencies in these compounds in humans can be modified with plant derived supplements. Specific compounds are found in different plants and help regulate drought and saline stress in these plants. A clear understanding of the role of these compounds has been lacking due to difficulties in isolating these compounds from natural resources. A simple method was developed for identification of these compounds in plant roots by extracting with ethanol, making the compounds volatile and analyzing by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Plants included in this study were selected based on their known reaction to soybean cyst nematode. Use of this technique to detect and quantify cyclitols in plant roots will enhance research on the role of these compounds in plants and may help breeders select plants which respond well to root stresses.

Technical Abstract: Many inositols and O-methylinositols serve important roles in medicine and plant biology. A simple method was developed for the identification of these compounds in plant roots by extracting with 80% ethanol, derivatizing with trimethylsilyl imidazole, and analyzing by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Fresh roots of soybean, tapia bean, crimson clover, corn, sugar beet, and peanut were analyzed. The major fragment ion 260 m/z was used to quantify the O-methylinositols and the major fragment ion 265 m/z was used to quantify the inositols. The fresh root extraction was used to demonstrate the presence of pinitol, D-chiro-inositol, and myo-inositol from soybean roots; myo-inositol from tapia bean roots; D-chiro-inositol from sugar beet roots; pinitol, and myo-inositol from crimson clover roots; myo-inositol from corn roots; and pinitol, D-chiro-inositol, ononitol, and myo-inositol from peanut roots. The results are discussed in relation to the biosynthetic pathway of the inositols in plants.