Analysis of fatty acid composition in insulin secreting cells by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was developed for determination of fatty acids (irrespective of origin, i.e., both free fatty acids and fatty acids bound in sources such as triglycerides) in cultured mammalian cells. The method was applied to INS-1 cells, an insulin-secreting cell line commonly used as a model in diabetes studies. In the method, lipids were extracted and transformed to fatty acid methyl esters for analysis. GC × GC analysis revealed the presence of 30 identifiable fatty acids in the extract. This result doubles the number of fatty acids previously identified in these cells. The method yielded linear calibrations and an average relative standard deviation of 8.4% for replicate injections of samples and 12.4% for replicate analysis of different samples. The method was used to demonstrate changes in fatty acid content as a function of glucose concentration on the cells. These results demonstrate the utility of this method for analysis of fatty acids in mammalian cell cultures.

► A GC × GC method for assessing the fatty acid content of a cell culture line was developed. ► The method allowed identification of 15 new fatty acids present in insulin secreting cells, double the number previously known. ► Glucose effects on fatty acid content were determined and revealed decreases at high concentration for many fatty acids that may be related to secretion of fatty acids.