Divergent pattern of polyisoprenoid alcohols in the tissues of Coluria geoides: a new electrospray ionization MS approach.

Polyisoprenoid alcohols of the plant Coluria geoides were isolated and analyzed by HPLC with UV detection to determine the nature of the polyprenol and dolichol mixture in the organs studied. In roots, a family of dolichols (Dol-15 to Dol-23, with Dol-16 dominating, where Dol-n is dolichol composed of n isoprene units) was accompanied by traces of polyprenols of similar chain lengths, whereas in hairy roots grown in vitro, identical patterns with a slightly broader chain-length range were found. Conversely, in leaves and seeds polyprenols were the dominant form, and their pattern was shifted toward longer chains (maximal content of Pren-19, where Pren-n is polyprenol composed of n isoprene units). Interestingly, the pattern of dolichols in seeds and leaves (in which Dol-17 dominated) was similar to that found in roots. Structures of the dolichols and polyprenols isolated were confirmed by the application of a new HPLC/electrospray ionization-MS method, which also offers a much higher sensitivity in detection of these compounds compared to a UV detector. The highest sensitivity was obtained when the [M + Na]+ ions of polyprenols and dolichols were recorded in the selected ion monitoring mode and a small amount of sodium acetate solution was added post-column to enhance the formation of these ions in an electrospray ion source.