A novel strategy for isolation and determination of sugars and sugar alcohols from conifers.

The ultrasound-assisted extraction method for isolation of 17 sugars and sugar alcohols from conifers with a subsequent hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for their determination is proposed. The optimization of extraction parameters was carried out using Taguchi - L9 (34) orthogonal array experimental design for the following parameters-a methanol concentration in the extraction solution, an extraction time, a type of plant sample and an extraction temperature. The optimal ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were-MeOH concentration - 30% (water - 70%), extraction time - 30 min, type of plant sample - II (grinded leaves 2-4 mm long), extraction temperature - 60 °C. Pure water and acetonitrile were used as eluents in gradient elution mode to separate the analytes. Direct determination of multiple sugars and sugar alcohols was carried out using a mass spectrometric detector operated in a multiple reaction monitoring mode, providing detection limits in the range between 0.1 and 20 ng/mL and good analytical characteristics of the method without derivatization. The developed approach was validated by multiple successive extraction method applied to test its performance on a series of 10 samples, i.e. 2 samples per each of 5 genera: Abies, Larix, Picea, Pinus (Pinaceae) and Juniperus (Cupressaceae), widely distributed in the boreal conifer forests of Eurasia. The novel strategy can be used for profiling of sugars and sugar alcohols in a wide range of plant species.

"Noah's Ark" Project: Interim Results and Outlook for Classic Collection Development.

The "Noah's Ark" project, afoot at M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University since 2015 and aimed at studying biodiversity, is the largest ongoing Russian project in life sciences. During its implementation, several hundred new species have been described; a comprehensive genetic and biochemical characterization of these species, as well as that of the pre-existing specimens in Moscow University's collections, has been performed. A consolidated IT system intended to house the knowledge generated by the project has been developed. Here, we summarize the investigations around the Moscow University classical biocollections which have taken place within the framework of the project and discuss future promise and the outlook for these collections.