Quantitation of isoprenoids for natural rubber biosynthesis in natural rubber latex by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

The natural rubber molecule is one of the end products of isoprenoids metabolism in the plant. Dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) and farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) are two typical isoprenoids which control the rate of biosynthesis and the molecular weight of natural rubber. A rapid, nonradioactive method for quantitation of DMAPP and FPP in natural rubber latex by liquid chromatography tandem with mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was reported. DMAPP and FPP were determined in the multiple reaction monitoring mode(MRM)followed by separation with a silica-based C18 column. The external standard quantitative method was established, and the results showed limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 28 ng/ml and 33 ng/ml for DMAPP and FPP, respectively. The concentrations were detected 70–96 ng/ml and 242–375 ng/ml for these two isoprenoids in natural rubber latex. Recoveries of the method were in the range 81–93%. Daytime comparison experiments found that FPP had better stability than DMAPP.