New functional aspects of eicosanoids

Abstract

Mass spectrometry is a highly sensitive, selective and rapid technique for characterizing multiple species of lipids, simultaneously, without the need for prior isolation and derivatization of compounds of interest. Coupled to ultra-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC-MS) is a powerful tool for identification, characterization and quantification of lipid mediators in complex matrices, allowing identification of lipid regiosomers. Lipidomics is the identification and quantification of lipids in biological systems, being the same, as a tool to evaluate the profile of certain lipid classes in immune and inflammatory responses. In our projects, we will focus our analysis to the class of eicosanoids, membrane phospholipids and neutral lipids. The formation of the Centre of Excellence for Quantification and Identification of Lipids (CEQIL), justifies the request of UHPLC-MS/MS system for this purpose. So, by being the first Lipid Analysis Center, using this technology in Brazil, this equipment (mass spectrometer) will have multiuser character, allowing the insertion of the quantification and identification of lipids in various interest projects such as biotechnology, clinical and basic research. So even being targeted primarily to analysis of a class of biomolecules (lipids), the use of the equipment will be constant and will have high demand, allowing the generation of new knowledge, scientific articles of impact and technological advances. (AU)