Application of stable isotope ratio analysis explaining the bioformation of 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone in plants by a biological Maillard reaction

[1-13C]-D-Fructose and [U-13C6]-D-fructose were applied to detached ripening strawberry fruits, and the incorporation into 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone 1, 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2H)-furanone 2, 2,5-dimethyl-4-acetoxy-3(2H)-furanone 3, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone beta-D-glucopyranoside 4, and 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone 6'-O-malonyl beta-D-glucopyranoside 5 was determined by HRGC-MS and HPLC-ESI MS-MS. The data clearly showed the direct conversion of D-fructose to the furanones without cleavage of the carbohydrate prior to the formation of 1-5, as expected for a biological Maillard reaction. Both, the furanone and the D-glucose moiety of 4 and 5 contained the labels. However, the label was primarily incorporated into the furanone moiety, indicating that D-fructose is a more efficient precursor of the furanones than D-glucose