Quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor ACC in plant samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract Background Ethylene (C2H4) is a gaseous phytohormone that regulates various plant physiological processes and mediates the responses of the plants to various environmental stresses. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is the direct precursor of the phytohormone ethylene, and is also...

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Main Authors: Jianhua Tong, Wenkui Zhao, Keming Wang, Feiying Zhu, Danyi Deng, Langtao Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06943-7
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author Jianhua Tong
Wenkui Zhao
Keming Wang
Feiying Zhu
Danyi Deng
Langtao Xiao
author_facet Jianhua Tong
Wenkui Zhao
Keming Wang
Feiying Zhu
Danyi Deng
Langtao Xiao
author_sort Jianhua Tong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ethylene (C2H4) is a gaseous phytohormone that regulates various plant physiological processes and mediates the responses of the plants to various environmental stresses. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is the direct precursor of the phytohormone ethylene, and is also considered as a plant growth regulator. Accurate quantification of ACC is critically important in investigating its function. However, it remains challenging to accurately quantify ACC in plant tissues because it is a small, electroneutral molecule with very low concentrations. Methods An easy, cost-saving, and highly efficient quantitative method for ACC in plant tissues was set up by liquid-liquid micro-extraction (LLME) purification with green solvent ethyl-acetate, and the precise control of the mobile phase entering into the mass spectrometer combined with the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Results The contents of ACC in 10 mg of different fresh fruits were detected. The established method had limit of detection (LOD) (2.5 pg), matrix effect (ME) (92.6%), good precision (3.54%), recovery rate (95.82%), and a good linear relationship within the range of 0.5 to 1500 ng.mL−1 (R2 = 0.9998). Conclusion We have developed an easy, sensitive, and cost-saving quantitative method for ACC in plant tissues without derivatization which is useful for the precise quantification of ACC in plant tissues.
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spelling doaj-art-baef32cd90b34a599f7047127cfca9b02025-08-20T03:42:21ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-07-0125111310.1186/s12870-025-06943-7Quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor ACC in plant samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometryJianhua Tong0Wenkui Zhao1Keming Wang2Feiying Zhu3Danyi Deng4Langtao Xiao5Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Chemistry and Materials, Hunan Agricultural UniversityAssets and Laboratory Management Department, Hunan Agricultural UniversityHunan Academy of Agricultural SciencesHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural UniversityHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Ethylene (C2H4) is a gaseous phytohormone that regulates various plant physiological processes and mediates the responses of the plants to various environmental stresses. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is the direct precursor of the phytohormone ethylene, and is also considered as a plant growth regulator. Accurate quantification of ACC is critically important in investigating its function. However, it remains challenging to accurately quantify ACC in plant tissues because it is a small, electroneutral molecule with very low concentrations. Methods An easy, cost-saving, and highly efficient quantitative method for ACC in plant tissues was set up by liquid-liquid micro-extraction (LLME) purification with green solvent ethyl-acetate, and the precise control of the mobile phase entering into the mass spectrometer combined with the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Results The contents of ACC in 10 mg of different fresh fruits were detected. The established method had limit of detection (LOD) (2.5 pg), matrix effect (ME) (92.6%), good precision (3.54%), recovery rate (95.82%), and a good linear relationship within the range of 0.5 to 1500 ng.mL−1 (R2 = 0.9998). Conclusion We have developed an easy, sensitive, and cost-saving quantitative method for ACC in plant tissues without derivatization which is useful for the precise quantification of ACC in plant tissues.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06943-7Ethylene1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acidPhytohormoneTandem mass spectrometryLiquid-liquid micro-extractionPrecise control of the mobile phase
spellingShingle Jianhua Tong
Wenkui Zhao
Keming Wang
Feiying Zhu
Danyi Deng
Langtao Xiao
Quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor ACC in plant samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
BMC Plant Biology
Ethylene
1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid
Phytohormone
Tandem mass spectrometry
Liquid-liquid micro-extraction
Precise control of the mobile phase
title Quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor ACC in plant samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
title_full Quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor ACC in plant samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
title_fullStr Quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor ACC in plant samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor ACC in plant samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
title_short Quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor ACC in plant samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
title_sort quantitative analysis of ethylene precursor acc in plant samples by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
topic Ethylene
1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid
Phytohormone
Tandem mass spectrometry
Liquid-liquid micro-extraction
Precise control of the mobile phase
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06943-7
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