Method for estimating structure of target-compound including acyl group

Abstract

To provide a method for conveniently estimating the total number of carbons in an acyl group and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl group in a target-compound including the acyl group.SOLUTION: A structure estimation method in a target-compound including a straight-chain acyl group is provided, the method includes the following steps: analyzing a sample including the target compound by a chromatograph and acquiring holding time; and estimating a combination of the total number of carbons and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl group in the target-compound from the holding time on the basis of the following formulas: N=f(T)...(formula 1) and T=t / Dm...(formula 2). In formula 1, N indicates the total number of carbons in the acyl group and f(T) indicates a function derived from a homologue of a saturated compound corresponding to the target compound, or a function representing a correlation between the total number of carbons and the holding time, and in formula 2, t indicates the holding time, D indicates a coefficient derived from the carbon-carbon double bonds, and m indicates the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for predicting the structure of a target compound that contains an acyl group. [Background technology]

[0002] Triacylglycerol (TAG) is a compound in which one molecule of glycerol is esterified with three molecules of fatty acid, and is one of the neutral fats belonging to simple lipids. TAG is the main component of edible fats and oils, and is found in, for example, vegetable oil, butter, margarine, milk, beef, pork, chicken, soybeans, and nuts. The composition ratio of TAG varies depending on its origin. For example, olive oil, which is a vegetable-derived fat and oil, has a high content of oleic acid (C18:1; carbon number 18, double bond number 1) as a fatty acid constituting TAG, while soybean oil has a high content of linoleic acid (C18:2; carbon number 18, double bond number 2). In addition, cacao butter, which is the raw material for chocolate, mainly contains palmitic acid (C16:0; carbon number 16, double bond number 0), stearic acid (C18:0; carbon number 18, double bond number 0), and oleic acid, which belong to saturated fatty acids, as fatty acids constituting TAG. In other words, by analyzing the types and ratios of fatty acids (acyl groups) that make up TAG, it is possible to estimate the type of oil or fat, so there is a need to establish a method to identify the fatty acids that make up TAG.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 7019281) discloses a method for analyzing the triacylglycerol composition of a composition containing two or more different triacylglycerols having the same total number of fatty acid residues (total carbon number), the method comprising the following steps (a) and (b): (a) resolving each triacylglycerol into its corresponding diacylglycerol and fatty acid fragments by mass spectrometry; (b) Resolving each diacylglycerol detected in step (a) into its corresponding fatty acid fragments by mass spectrometry. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7019281 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, since the method described in Patent Document 1 requires a lot of man-hours, a method that allows for easier analysis is desired. In addition, the number of fatty acid combinations in TAG is enormous (at least 3000 or more), and it is not easy to prepare all standard products corresponding to the expected combinations prior to analyzing TAG. Therefore, a method for estimating the fatty acids that constitute TAG even if there are no standard products corresponding to the expected fatty acid combinations is desired.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for simply estimating the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in acyl groups in a target compound containing acyl groups. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a result of intensive research, the present inventors have found that there is a correlation between the retention time in chromatographic analysis and the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups in a target compound, and have completed the present invention.

[0008] A first aspect of the present invention is a method for predicting a structure of a target compound containing a linear acyl group, comprising the steps of: analyzing a sample containing the target compound by chromatography to determine a retention time; Formula 1 and Formula 2 below: N=f(T) …(Formula 1) T=t / D m …(Formula 2) (In formula 1, N represents the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl group, f(T) represents a function derived from a homologue of a saturated compound corresponding to the target compound and represents a correlation between the total number of carbon atoms and retention time, and in formula 2, t represents the retention time, D represents a coefficient derived from carbon-carbon double bonds, and m represents the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds.) estimating a combination of the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the target compound from the retention time based on The present invention relates to a structure prediction method,

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium having a database recorded thereon for use in causing a computer to execute the structure prediction method according to the first aspect, comprising: The database includes: The analytical conditions of the chromatograph; a function f(T) derived when the homologue is analyzed under the above analytical conditions and a coefficient D derived from a carbon-carbon double bond; The present invention relates to a recording medium storing the above in association with each other. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for simply estimating the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in acyl groups in a target compound that contains acyl groups. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a graph (left) showing the results of analyzing fully saturated triacylglycerols using a supercritical fluid chromatograph, and a graph (right) showing the correlation between the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups in triacylglycerols (horizontal axis) and retention time (vertical axis) based on the results of the analysis. In the graph on the left, the horizontal axis shows retention time (min), and the vertical axis shows detection intensity. [Diagram 2]Figure 2 shows a graph (left) showing the results of analyzing triacylglycerols using supercritical fluid chromatography, and a table (right) showing the correlation between the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups in triacylglycerols and retention time based on the results of the analysis. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the results of analysis of triacylglycerols by supercritical fluid chromatography. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "this embodiment") will be described. However, this embodiment is not limited thereto. In this specification, the notation in the form of "A to Z" means the upper and lower limits of a range (i.e., A or more and Z or less), and when no unit is stated for A and a unit is stated only for Z, the unit of A and the unit of Z are the same.

[0013] <Method for predicting structure of target compound containing linear acyl group> A first aspect of the present invention is a method for predicting a structure of a target compound containing a linear acyl group, comprising the steps of: analyzing a sample containing the target compound by chromatography to determine a retention time; Formula 1 and Formula 2 below: N=f(T) …(Formula 1) T=t / D m …(Formula 2) (In formula 1, N represents the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl group, f(T) represents a function derived from a homologue of a saturated compound corresponding to the target compound and represents a correlation between the total number of carbon atoms and retention time, and in formula 2, t represents the retention time, D represents a coefficient derived from carbon-carbon double bonds, and m represents the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds.) estimating a combination of the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl group and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the target compound from the retention time based on The present invention relates to a structure prediction method,

[0014] In this step, a sample containing a target compound is analyzed by chromatography to determine the retention time. The target compound contains a straight-chain acyl group. Here, "retention time" refers to the time required for a solute to elute after being injected into a chromatographic column.

[0015] (Target compound) In this embodiment, the target compound is not particularly limited as long as it contains at least one linear acyl group, and can be a compound to be analyzed. The acyl group may be a linear saturated acyl group or a linear unsaturated acyl group. The number of carbon atoms per acyl group may be 2 to 30, or 6 to 24. The number of carbon-carbon double bonds per acyl group may be 0 to 6, or 0 to 3. The number of acyl groups in the target compound may be 1 to 3, or 1 to 2.

[0016] Examples of the target compound include triacylglycerol (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "TAG"), diacylglycerol, monoacylglycerol, sterol lipid, glycerophospholipid, sphingophospholipid, etc. In one aspect of this embodiment, the target compound is preferably triacylglycerol.

[0017] In this embodiment, the sample containing the target compound is not particularly limited, and may be liquid or solid. From the viewpoint of facilitating analysis by chromatography, the sample is preferably liquid. In one aspect of this embodiment, the sample may be derived from a living body or food.

[0018] In this embodiment, the chromatograph is not particularly limited and a known chromatograph can be used. Examples of the chromatograph include a liquid chromatograph and a supercritical fluid chromatograph. In one aspect of this embodiment, the chromatograph is preferably a liquid chromatograph or a supercritical fluid chromatograph.

[0019] In this embodiment, the conditions for the chromatographic analysis are not particularly limited and can be set appropriately. For example, the analysis conditions described in the examples below can be used.

[0020] <Step of estimating the combination of the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the target compound from the retention time> In this step, the combination of the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the target compound is estimated from the retention time based on the following formulas 1 and 2. N=f(T) …(Formula 1) T=t / D m …(Formula 2) (Formula 1: Function expressing the correlation between the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl group, N, and the retention time, T, of the saturated compound corresponding to the target compound)

[0021] In the above formula 1, N represents the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl group, and f(T) represents a function derived from the homologue of the saturated compound corresponding to the target compound, and represents a correlation between the total number of carbon atoms N and the retention time T in the saturated compound.

[0022] In this embodiment, "N=f(T)" means that if the retention time T in a saturated compound corresponding to the target compound is determined, the total number of carbon atoms N in the corresponding acyl group is determined to be one. The total number of carbon atoms N in the corresponding acyl group can also be understood as a function of the retention time T in the saturated compound corresponding to the target compound. In this case, f(T) may or may not be expressed by a mathematical formula. In one aspect of this embodiment, when f(T) is expressed by a mathematical formula, the mathematical formula may be an equation approximated by a straight line (linear function) or an equation approximated by a spline curve (quadratic function, etc.).

[0023] In this embodiment, f(T) is a function derived from a homolog of a saturated compound corresponding to the target compound. Here, the term "saturated compound corresponding to the target compound" refers to a compound in which all carbon-carbon double bonds of the acyl group in the target compound are changed to single bonds. If the acyl group in the target compound does not have a carbon-carbon double bond, the target compound and the saturated compound corresponding to the target compound are the same compound. In this embodiment, the term "homologue of a saturated compound" refers to a group of compounds in which the number of carbon atoms in the acyl group is different based on the saturated compound.

[0024] In one aspect of this embodiment, the target compound, the saturated compound corresponding to the target compound, and the homologue of the saturated compound have the same main chemical structure. Here, the "main chemical structure" refers to the chemical structure other than the acyl group in the target compound. For example, when the target compound is triacylglycerol, the main chemical structure is a chemical structure derived from glycerol. The main chemical structure in the target compound is specified in advance because the target chemical structure is determined at the start of the analysis. For example, when triacylglycerol is analyzed as the target compound, the main chemical structure can already be specified as a chemical structure derived from glycerol at the stage of selecting triacylglycerol as the target.

[0025] In this embodiment, the "total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups" means the sum of the numbers of carbon atoms in each of the acyl groups bonded to the target compound.

[0026] In this embodiment, T in f(T) means the retention time of the saturated compound corresponding to the target compound. The retention time T of the saturated compound is calculated by Equation 2 described below.

[0027] For example, f(T) can be derived by the following procedure. First, two or more homologues of the above-mentioned saturated compound are prepared. In this case, the homologues are compounds whose total carbon number N in the acyl group is known. The prepared homologues are analyzed by chromatography to obtain the retention time T corresponding to each homologue. f(T) is derived by plotting the correlation between the total carbon number N in the above-mentioned acyl group and the corresponding retention time T (for example, the graph on the right in FIG. 1). An approximation formula may be obtained based on the obtained plot to represent f(T). That is, in one aspect of this embodiment, f(T) in formula 1 is preferably a function derived from two or more homologues.

[0028] (Formula 2: Relationship between retention time t of a target compound and retention time T of a saturated compound corresponding to the target compound) In the above formula 2, t represents the retention time of the target compound, D represents a coefficient derived from carbon-carbon double bonds, and m represents the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds.

[0029] It has been known that when the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups of triacylglycerol is the same, the retention time tends to decrease as the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups increases, but no specific rules were known. As a result of intensive research, the present inventors have found that when the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups of triacylglycerol is the same, the retention time T in the saturated compound is proportional to the retention time t in the target compound, and the proportionality constant is (1 / D mBased on the above formulas 1 and 2, it has become possible to easily estimate the combination of the total number of carbon atoms N in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds m in the acyl groups in a target compound containing acyl groups from the retention time t.

[0030] The coefficient D derived from the carbon-carbon double bond is greater than 0 and less than 1. In one aspect of this embodiment, when the rate of decrease in retention time due to an increase in one carbon-carbon double bond is constant regardless of the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds, the structure estimation method according to this embodiment can be suitably used. The coefficient D derived from the carbon-carbon double bond can be calculated, for example, as follows. First, two or more compounds having the same main chemical structure and the same total number of carbons in the acyl group, but different total numbers of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl group, are prepared. Each of the prepared compounds is analyzed by chromatography to obtain a retention time corresponding to each compound. The rate of decrease in retention time due to an increase in one carbon-carbon double bond is calculated from the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl group and the corresponding retention time. When the variation in the calculated decrease rate is small, the average value of the calculated decrease rate is taken as D. On the other hand, when the variation in the calculated decrease rate is large and it is desired to improve the accuracy of the analysis for a target compound having a smaller degree of unsaturation, the decrease rate of the retention time caused by an increase in the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds from 0 to 1 is taken as D.

[0031] In this embodiment, the total number m of carbon-carbon double bonds in formula 2 is not particularly limited, but may be from 0 to 6. By setting it in such a range, the structure estimation method of this embodiment can be suitably used.

[0032] By using the above-mentioned formulas 1 and 2, the total number of carbon atoms N of the acyl groups in the target compound can be obtained from the retention time t in the target compound and the total number m of the assumed carbon-carbon double bonds. That is, the combination of the total number of carbon atoms N of the acyl groups and the total number m of the carbon-carbon double bonds in the target compound can be estimated from the retention time t in the target compound. In this embodiment, "estimating" also includes narrowing down the possible candidates of the above combination. For example, in the case of triacylglycerol, three acyl groups are bonded, and 28 types of chemical structures are mainly known for each acyl group (see Table 1). In this case, 3276 combinations of the three acyl groups are possible. By using the structure estimation method according to this embodiment, the total number of carbon atoms N of the acyl groups is determined to be one for the total number m of the assumed carbon-carbon double bonds, making it possible to significantly narrow down the candidates of the triacylglycerol to be analyzed.

[0033] [Table 1]

[0034] <Other processes> In one aspect of this embodiment, it is preferable to further include a step of analyzing the target compound with a mass spectrometer.

[0035] The method of ionization by the mass spectrometer is not particularly limited, and the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) method, the electrospray (ESI) method, the nano-electrospray ionization (nano-LSI) method, etc. can be used. In this embodiment, the ionization method is preferably the ESI method. In the ionization in the mass analysis, either the positive ion mode or the negative ion mode may be used. The mass analysis may be performed in multiple stages.

[0036] Examples of the mass spectrometer include a Fourier transform mass spectrometer, a time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer, a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, a single quadrupole mass spectrometer, etc. In this embodiment, from the viewpoint of analyzing known components with high accuracy in a short time, the mass spectrometer is preferably a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

[0037] In one aspect of this embodiment, the analysis of a sample containing a target compound by a chromatograph and the analysis of the target compound by a mass spectrometer may be performed consecutively. For example, both steps may be performed consecutively by using a liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer. The liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer is typically a liquid chromatograph-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer or a liquid chromatograph-quadrupole / time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer. Usually, in such a liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer, analysis parameters are determined so that the detection sensitivity is as high as possible for each component in the eluate separated by the liquid chromatograph, that is, in the best state.

[0038] The structure estimation method according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The structure estimation method may be directly performed by a measurer or may be executed by a computer.

[0039] <Computer-readable recording medium> A second aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium having a database recorded thereon for use in causing a computer to execute the structure prediction method according to the first aspect, comprising: The above database is The above chromatographic analysis conditions; A function f(T) derived when the above homologue is analyzed under the above analytical conditions and a coefficient D derived from a carbon-carbon double bond; The present invention relates to a recording medium storing the above in association with each other.

[0040] The analytical conditions of the above-mentioned chromatography include, for example, the type of mobile phase, the flow rate of the mobile phase, the gradient conditions of the mobile phase, the type of stationary phase, the measurement temperature, and the pressure.

[0041] Other information stored in the database may include, for example, mass information of the analytes, retention time information, detector signal intensity, and the like.

[0042] The recording medium is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used recording medium, and examples thereof include optical discs (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, BD-ROM, etc.), magneto-optical discs, flash memories, and the like. EXAMPLES

[0043] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these.

[0044] <Experiment 1: Correlation between the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups, N, and retention time, T> The following experiment was carried out to investigate the correlation between the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl group, N, and the retention time, T. First, the following standard samples of triacylglycerol (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "TAG") were prepared. For each standard sample, a compound (saturated compound) in which the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl group is 0 was used. (Triacylglycerol standard) Saturated triacylglycerol mixture (total carbon number 26 to 54)

[0045] The retention times of each of the above standards were determined by analyzing them with a supercritical fluid chromatograph (Shimadzu Corporation, product name: Nexera UC) under the following analytical conditions: (Supercritical fluid chromatographic analysis conditions) Column: Shim-pack XR-ODSIII, 150×2.0 mm ID, 2.2 μm Flow Rate: 0.8 mL / min Modifier (Pump B): Acetonitrile Time program B conc. 10% Back Pressure Regulator: 10MPa Oven Temperature: 25 ℃ Injection Volume: 0.5 μL LCMS-8050 and Interface conditions Make-up solvent: 0.2 mL / min (Methanol with 10 mM ammonium acetate) Interface: DUIS MS Mode: Positive mode Block Temperature: 40℃ DL Temperature: 235℃ Nebulizing Gas Flow: 2 L / min Drying Gas Flow: 10 L / min Heating Gas Flow: 10 L / min

[0046] Figure 1 shows a graph (left) showing the results of analyzing fully saturated triacylglycerols using supercritical fluid chromatography, and a graph (right) showing the correlation between the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups in triacylglycerols (horizontal axis) and retention time (vertical axis) based on the results of the analysis. In the graph on the right of Figure 1, the circle plots show the measurement results of standard triacylglycerols, and the cross plots show retention predictions obtained by the function N = f(T). From the graph on the right of Figure 1, it was found that the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups in triacylglycerols, N, is a function of retention time T. When the graph was approximated by the least squares method, the following formula 1' was derived. N=f(T)=0.0000271053186070559×(T 4 )-0.00363140807472355×(T 3)+0.186952207220782×(T 2 )-4.24830631212859×(T)+36.3581033113478…(Formula 1')

[0047] <Experiment 2: Correlation between the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in acyl groups, m, and retention time, t> The following experiment was carried out to investigate the correlation between the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl group, m, and the retention time, t. First, the following triacylglycerol standards were prepared. All standards used were compounds with a total of 48 carbon atoms in the acyl group. (Triacylglycerol standard) Mixture of triacylglycerols represented by (48:0), (48:1), (48:2) and (48:3)

[0048] The retention times of each of the above standards were determined by a supercritical fluid chromatograph (Shimadzu Corporation, product name: Nexera UC) under the same analytical conditions as in Experiment 1.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a graph (left) showing the results of analyzing triacylglycerols using a supercritical fluid chromatograph, and a table (right) showing the correlation between the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups in triacylglycerols and retention time based on the results of the analysis. From the table in FIG. 2, it was found that the retention time t decreases at a rate of 0.83 to 0.88 times for each increase in the total number m of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups in triacylglycerol. From the table, the following formula 2' was derived. In formula 2', T means the retention time in the saturated compound corresponding to the above standard (target compound). t and m mean the retention time and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups in the above standard (target compound), respectively. D means the rate of decrease in retention time due to an increase in the above carbon-carbon double bond by one (coefficient derived from carbon-carbon double bonds). In other words, the retention time T in the saturated compound corresponding to the above standard is proportional to the retention time t in the above standard, and the proportionality constant is (1 / D m , D = 0.83~0.88). T=t / D m ...(Formula 2')

[0050] <Experiment 3: Estimation of retention time> Based on the results of Experiment 1 and Experiment 2, the retention time of triacylglycerol (TAG(52:2)) with N=52 and m=2 was estimated. The phenomenon in which the retention time changes due to an increase in the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds is independent of the phenomenon in which the retention time changes due to a change in the total number of carbons in the acyl group, so it is considered that a similar value of D can be used to some extent in both the case of N=48 (Experiment 2) and the case of N=52 (Experiment 3). The retention time of the saturated compound (TAG(52:0)) corresponding to TAG(52:2) was calculated in advance and was 8.55 minutes. From Experiment 2, the retention time decrease rate due to an increase in the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds from 0 to 1 is 0.83, so the retention time of TAG(52:2) was estimated to be 5.89 (minutes).

[0051] On the other hand, when TAG (52:2) was analyzed by supercritical fluid chromatography under the same conditions as in Experiment 1, the retention time was 5.862 minutes, which was almost the same as the estimated retention time mentioned above (Figure 3).

[0052] From the results of Experiments 1 to 3, it was found that by using the above-mentioned Equation 1 and Equation 2, the combination of the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups in a target compound containing acyl groups can be easily estimated from the retention time t of the target compound.

[0053] [Aspects] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are examples of the following aspects.

[0054] (Item 1) A structure prediction method according to one aspect includes the steps of: A method for predicting a structure of a target compound containing a linear acyl group, comprising the steps of: analyzing a sample containing the target compound by chromatography to determine a retention time; and determining a structure of the target compound based on the following formulas 1 and 2: N=f(T) …(Formula 1) T=t / D m …(Formula 2) and estimating a combination of the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the target compound from the retention time based on (in formula 1, N represents the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups, f(T) represents a function derived from a homologue of a saturated compound corresponding to the target compound and represents a correlation between the total number of carbon atoms and retention time, and in formula 2, t represents the retention time, D represents a coefficient derived from carbon-carbon double bonds, and m represents the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds).The structure estimation method described in item 1 makes it possible to provide a method for simply estimating the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in an acyl group-containing target compound.

[0055] (Item 2) In the structure prediction method according to item 1, the target compound is triacylglycerol. According to the structure prediction method according to item 2, it becomes possible to predict the chemical structure of triacylglycerol simply and easily.

[0056] (Item 3) In the structure prediction method according to item 1 or 2, the f(T) in formula 1 is a function derived from two or more of the homologues. According to the structure prediction method according to item 3, the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups in a target compound containing acyl groups can be predicted simply and accurately.

[0057] (Item 4) In the structure prediction method according to any one of items 1 to 3, the chromatograph is a liquid chromatograph or a supercritical fluid chromatograph. According to the structure prediction method according to item 4, the total number of carbon atoms in acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in acyl groups in a target compound containing acyl groups can be predicted simply and accurately.

[0058] (Item 5) The method for determining structure according to any one of items 1 to 4, further comprising a step of analyzing the target compound with a mass spectrometer. According to the method for determining structure according to item 5, in a target compound containing acyl groups, the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups can be easily estimated, and more detailed structural information can be obtained.

[0059] (Item 6) In the structure estimation method according to item 5, the mass spectrometer is a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. According to the structure estimation method according to item 6, in a target compound containing acyl groups, the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the acyl groups can be easily estimated, and more detailed structural information can be obtained.

[0060] (Item 7) A recording medium according to one aspect includes: A computer-readable recording medium having a database recorded thereon for causing a computer to execute the structure prediction method according to any one of items 1 to 6, The database includes: The analytical conditions of the chromatograph; a function f(T) derived when the homologue is analyzed under the above analytical conditions and a coefficient D derived from a carbon-carbon double bond; According to the recording medium described in item 7, it is possible to cause a computer to execute the structure prediction method described in any one of items 1 to 6.

[0061] Although the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above, it is also intended from the beginning that the configurations of the above-described embodiments and examples may be appropriately combined.

[0062] The embodiments and examples disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered as limiting. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the embodiments and examples described above, and is intended to include the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

Claims

1. A method for predicting a structure of a target compound containing a linear acyl group, comprising the steps of: analyzing a sample containing the target compound by chromatography to determine a retention time; Formula 1 and Formula 2 below: N=f(T)...(Formula 1) T = t / D ｍ …(Formula 2) (In formula 1, N represents the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl group, f(T) represents a function derived from a homologue of a saturated compound corresponding to the target compound and represents a correlation between the total number of carbon atoms and retention time, and in formula 2, t represents the retention time, D represents a coefficient derived from carbon-carbon double bonds, and m represents the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds.) estimating a combination of the total number of carbon atoms in the acyl groups and the total number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the target compound from the retention time based on A structure prediction method comprising:

2. The structure prediction method according to claim 1 , wherein the target compound is triacylglycerol.

3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the f(T) in formula 1 is a function derived from two or more of the homologues.

4. 3. The structure elucidation method according to claim 1, wherein the chromatograph is a liquid chromatograph or a supercritical fluid chromatograph.

5. The structure prediction method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of analyzing the target compound with a mass spectrometer.

6. The structure determination method according to claim 5 , wherein the mass spectrometer is a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

7. A computer-readable recording medium having a database recorded thereon for causing a computer to execute the structure prediction method according to claim 1 or 2, The database includes: The analytical conditions of the chromatograph; a function f(T) derived when the homologue is analyzed under the analysis conditions and a coefficient D derived from a carbon-carbon double bond; A recording medium that stores the above in association with each other.

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