FAME analysis of pollen fatty acids v1

This protocol uses FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esterification) techniques adapted from Seppanen-Laasko et al., 2002 to quantify fatty acid contents in small samples (10 mg) of anther pollen, corbicular pollen, or stored pollen. Pollen is initially fractured by cell disruption and fatty acids are extracted by Folch extraction/partition. Fatty acids are converted to their fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) equivalents by acid methylation then separated and analyzed by GCMS in SIM mode. Seppänen-Laasko, T., Laakso, I., & Hiltunen, R. (2002). Analysis of fatty acids by gas chromatography and its relevance to research on health and nutrition. Analytica Chimica Acta, 465, 39-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(02)00397-5 National Program Number: NP 305 Project Number: 2022-21000-022-000D, 2022-21000-022-053-I Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS PWA, Tucson, Arizona, USA Grand Challenge - Assessing the Nutrient Contents of Pollen for Bees