ABSTRACT
Matrix_assisted laser desorption ionization_time of flight tandem mass spectrometry ( MALDI_TOF/TOF MS) and electrospray ionization_quadrupole_time of flight mass spectrometry ( ESI_Q_TOF MS) were used to confirm the structure of cyclic lipopeptide daptomycin fastly. First, the relative molecular weight 1916. 7107 of daptomycin was measured by ESI with error 0. 0007. The sample’s doubly charged peak m/z 809. 848 was selected as precursor ion for ESI_MS/MS analysis, and the exocyclic amino acid sequence C9 H19 CO_Trp_Asn_Asp was successfully matched. Second, the experimental conditions of cleaving daptomycin by lithium hydroxide ( LiOH) were optimized and the ring_opened process was monitored by MALDI_TOF/TOF MS. After obtaining ring_opened product with purity of above 95%, the MS/MS measurements by MALDI and ESI were carried out. The b+and y+of ring_opened product were completely matched, which confirmed the amino acid sequence of daptomycin. Finally, ESI_MS/MS conditions of ring_opened product were further optimized to obtain more low mass fragment ions for analyzing the structure of fatty acid chain and the cleavage pattern of fat chain in mass spectrometry was proposed. The method was fast, convenient, accurate and reliable for identifying cyclic lipopeptide compounds.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: A cyclic lipopeptide, surfactin produced by a strain of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis (VCRC B471) was found to exhibit activity against both the larval and pupal stages of mosquitoes. The present study was aimed at increasing the production of the mosquitocidal metabolite by modifying the conventional medium. Methods: Enhancement of mosquitocidal metabolite production was attempted by replacing the existing micronutrients of the conventional NYSM and supplementing the medium with additional amounts of glucose. The LC50 value of culture supernatant (CS) against the larval and pupal stages of Anopheles stephensi was determined. Crude mosquitocidal metabolite (CMM) was separated from the CS, identified by MALDI-TOF analysis and its LC50 dosage requirement for the pupal stage of the above mosquito species determined. Results: The medium containing a new composition of micronutrients and glucose up to 1 per cent resulted in increased metabolite production. The LC50 value of the CS obtained in the improved medium against larvae and pupae of An. stephensi was 5.57 and 0.71 μl/ml, respectively. The yield of CMM was doubled in the improved medium. MALDI-TOF analysis revealed that the CMM was surfactin. Interpretation & conclusions: The new improved medium enhanced the production of mosquitocidal metabolite as the dosage required for inciting 50 per cent mortality among the pupal stages of mosquitoes was only half of that required when the metabolite was produced in the conventional medium. The mosquitocidal metabolite was identified as surfactin, a cyclic lipopeptide and biosurfactant.