Determination of Phosphatidylcholine in Shrimp by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

The molecular species of phosphatidylcholine from freshwater sources (Macrobranchium nipponense and Macrobranchium rosenbergii) and marine sources (Euphausia superba and Penaeus chinesis) were characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The tandem secondary mass spectrometry (MS/MS) fragmentation allowed for the identification of fatty acyl residues of phosphatidylcholine molecular species. (16:0–18:1)Phosphatidylcholine was the main phosphatidylcholine molecular species determined in all shrimp samples, especially in E. superba. Macrobranchium rosenbergii phosphatidylcholine was particularly rich in (16:0–20:5)phosphatidylcholine and (16:0–22:6)phosphatidylcholine. The proportion of the two molecular species was next to the phosphatidylcholine of E. superba. Therefore, M. rosenbergii appears to be a potential freshwater source for the supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6). This approach may be used as an efficient method for the identification of natural phosphatidylcholine sources from the broad range of plant, animal, and marine origins.