A non-targeted approach for extended liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry profiling of free and esterified jasmonates after wounding.

Upon wounding or herbivory, plants quickly react by activating various defense mechanisms. A major part of these defenses is thought to be regulated by the jasmonate pathway through the induction of jasmonic acid and its biologically active jasmonoyl-isoleucine conjugate. Yet, these well-known phytohormones are only two among the numerous compounds that compose the jasmonate family. Here, we describe a method based on ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry that can potentially profile the full range of known free and esterified jasmonates in a non-targeted manner. The developed approach is illustrated by the analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves after mechanical wounding.