Thermal degradation of ceramides as studied by mass spectrometry and vibrational spectroscopy

Abstract

The degradation of ceramides type IV induced by thermal treatment up to 140 °C was studied by using electrospray mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy and Fourier transform Raman spectrocopy. At temperatures above 125 °C structural changes such as cleavage of the C[double bond, length half m-dash]C bond, destruction of the amide structure and variations of the hydrogen bonds were observed in the head group of ceramides type IV. The mass spectrometry studies revealed the formation of free α-hydroxy fatty acids due to heat treatment. Degradation of ceramide III was not evident in the temperature range studied.

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