Amino Acid Determination in Grape Juices and Wines by HPLC Using a Modification of the 6-Aminoquinolyl-N-Hydroxysuccinimidyl Carbamate (AQC) Method

Summary A novel rigid spherical biporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-triallyl isocyanurate-divinylbenzene) resin (denoted Resin B) has been fabricated by radical suspension copolymerization, with superfine granules of calcium carbonate, and toluene andn-heptane, as porogenic agents, as the basis of a novel porogenic mode, cooperation of solid granules and solvents. The pore structure, static adsorption behavior, and chromatographic properties of Resin B were characterized and compared with those of Resin A (with only solvents as porogens). The results indicated that the biporous resin is a promising chromatographic medium for highspeed protein separation with good mechanical performance and high dynamic adsorption capacity and column efficiency at high flow rates.     

A micro-scale method employing surface plasmon resonance detection for the determination of conditions for immunoaffinity chromatography of proteins

Summary The BIAcore^TM Biosensor System utilizes a detection principle known as Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) which, in simple terms, detects changes in the refractive index of a solution in contact with a gold film. The gold film is surface modified with carboxymethylated dextran to produce a hydrophillic matrix onto which macromolecules may be covalently immobilized. In this respect, the BIAcore^TM is similar to any other insoluble matrix, such as a chromatographic support. The SPR detection principle, however, allows one to directly visualize the interaction under study, in real time and without the need for reporter molecules such as enzyme-labels. In addition, the very small sample requirements, automated robotics unit and ease of data analysis suggest the potential use of the BIAcore^TM instrumentation for assay development and possibly process development, especially where bio-specific interactions such as immunoaffinity chromatography are used as a step in the process. In this report, we demonstrate the use of the BIAcore^TM SPR detector for the micro-scale determination of conditions for immunoaffinity chromatography of soluble complementreceptor 1, sCR1.     

Development of a push-pull microdialysis sampling technique for the quantitative determination of proteins

Summary An on-line push-pull sampling technique has been developed for continuous analysis of proteins of molecular weight from 5.7 to 67 kDa. The characteristics of the system include gradient elution with a total cycle time of 21 min, membrane stability, unattended automatic operation, and adjustment of the sampling mode and extraction fraction (the ratio of the concentration of analyte in the dialysate to that in the sample) by varying the effective dialysis length. The push and pull flow rates were adjusted in a manner which enabled three different modes of operation. When push-pull microdialysis was compared with conventional microdialysis sampling, significantly higher extraction fractions were obtained for all five model proteins studied. The technique has been applied to the quantification of proteins in cell samples. On-line fractionation enabled complementary MS identification of the proteins present.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography method for analysis of colistin sulphate

Summary The peptide antibiotic Colistin has been successfully separated into more than thirty components on a YMC-Pack Pro, C-18 column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile—sodium sulphate (0.7% m/v)—phosphoric acid (6.8% v/v dilution of 85% m/m H₃PO₄)—water (21.5∶50∶5∶23.5) at 1.0 mL per min and detection at 215 nm. Baseline resolution of the major components, colistin A and B, and many minor components was obtained. Robustness was evaluated by performing a full-factorial design experiment. The method showed good selectivity, repeatability, linearity and sensitivity.     

Preparation of polymeric monoliths by copolymerization of acrylate monomers with amine functionalities for anion-exchange capillary liquid chromatography of proteins

Two novel polymeric monoliths for anion-exchange capillary liquid chromatography of proteins were prepared in a single step by a simple photoinitiated copolymerization of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), or copolymerization of 2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl trimethylammonium chloride and PEGDA, in the presence of selected porogens. The resulting monoliths contained functionalities of diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) as a weak anion-exchanger and quaternary amine as a strong anion-exchanger, respectively. An alternative weak anion-exchange monolith with DEAE functionalities was also synthesized by chemical modification after photoinitiated copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and PEGDA. Important physical and chromatographic properties of the synthesized monoliths were characterized. The dynamic binding capacities of the three monoliths (24 mg/mL, 56 mg/mL and 32 mg/mL of column volume, respectively) were comparable or superior to values that have been reported for various other monoliths. Chromatographic performance was also similar to that provided by a modified poly(GMA-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) monolith. Separation of standard proteins was achieved under gradient elution conditions using these monolithic columns. Peak capacities of 34, 58 and 36 proteins were obtained with analysis times of 20–30 min. This work represents a successful attempt to prepare functionalized monoliths via direct copolymerization of monomers with desired functionalities. Compared to earlier publications, additional surface modifications were avoided and the PEGDA crosslinker helped to improve the biocompatibility of the monolithic backbone.     

Indirect fluorimetric detection of proteins via postcolumn mixing with fluorescence probe in size-exclusion chromatography

Summary Proteins were visualized by postcolumn mixing with 2-p-toluidinyl-6-naphthalene sulfonate or 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate in size-exclusion chromatography. The indirect detection is based on fluorescence enhancement of the fluorescence probe owing to hydrophobic interaction with proteins. Bovine serum albumin gave the highest signal intensity among the proteins examined.     

Protein surface area and retention in hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Summary Molecular surface areas accessible to a 4 ? diameter spherical probe were calculated from crystallographic data for five proteins: α-chymotrypsinogen A, lysozyme, trypsinogen, ribonuclease A and ribonuclease S. The retention factors of various proteins were measured on stationary phases having polyether- and phenylligates and with aqueous eluents containing (NH₄)₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄ or NaCl at pH 7.0. The logarithmic retention factors were plotted against the salt molality and the hydrophobic interaction parameters evaluated from the limiting slopes of the plots at high salt concentrations for the proteins in the chromatographic systems investigated. The hydrophobic interaction parameters thus obtained were linear in both the molecular surface areas of the proteins and the molal surface tension increments of the salts. The experimental results obtained with these relatively simple proteins of known molecular structure, which were available in high purity, support earlier theoretical predictions for the dependence of the hydrophobic interaction parameter on the surface area of the protein and the surface tension raising effect of the salt.     

Preparation of anhydrotrypsin-immobilized diol silica as a selective adsorbent for high-performance affinity chromatography of peptides containing arginine or lysine at their C-termini

Summary Anhydrotrypsin (AHT), a catalytically inert derivative of trypsin in which the active site serine residue was converted to dehydroalanine residue by chemical modification, was immobilized onto diol silica through the activation with trifluoroethanesulfonyl chloride, and an AHT-diol-silica column was used for high-performance affinity chromatography separation of peptides containing arginine or lysine at their C-termini from the others. Improved separation in terms of speed was accomplished.     

Determination of ephedra alkaloids by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary Two simple methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of six alkaloids (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methylephedrine and methyl-pseudoephedrine) inEphedrae Herba by high-performance liquid chromatography. The first method was carried out by using a Cosmosil 5C₁₈-MS column with a gradient solvent system consisting of a phosphate buffer and acetonitrile, and detection at 210 nm. The contents of alkaloids in non-pretreated ephedra herb extracts could be determined easily in 50 min. Alternatively, the alkaloids could be determined within 35 minutes by using a Cosmosil 5C₁₈-MS column with an isocratic solvent system of a sodium dodecyl sulfate-acetonitrile solution. The two methods are compared and discussed.     

Separation of carotenoids by high-performance liquid chromatography with polymeric and monomeric octadecylsilica stationary phases

Summary In addition to their value in the nutritional context, the carotenoids have other important functions, including some epidemiological significance in disease prevention. With increasing interest in the carotenoids methods for their characterization and quantification in various matrices are essential particularly with regard to epidemiologic studies dealing with diet and health. Since high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) is the most promising analytical method for this purpose, having high reliability, high selectivity and quantification ability, this work presents the evaluation of reversed-phase LC methods using polymeric and monomeric octadecylsilica (ODS) stationary phases for the highly selective separation of carotenoids. It has been found that the polymeric ODS has a better selectivity for carotenoids, taking account of their molecular shape and size recognition, than the monomeric ODS phase and that the former is more suitable than the latter for separations of the carotenoids.     

A rapid method for the determination of methoprene in tobacco by high performance liquid chromatography

Summary A rapid sample preparation procedure combined with a short reversed-phase HPLC separation for the quantitation of methoprene residue in tobacco samples is described. A ground tobacco sample of 0.5 g is mixed with 3 mL of 2-propanol. The mixture is extracted for twelve minutes with the aid of sonication at an elevated temperature (45–55°C) and then filtered through a 0.45 m disposable filter prior to injection on HPLC. No sample cleanup or solvent evaporation step is required. Chromatographic analysis is performed on a C-18 column and the analysis time is 12.5 minutes. The detection limit for methoprene in tobacco samples is one part per million (g/g).     

An application of fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) in the purification of retinol binding protein from rat serum

Summary Retinol Binding Protein (RBP) is the specific plasma protein for the transport of retinol from liver to peripheral tissues. It is a single polypeptide chain of approximately 21 KDa, and circulates as a 11 molar complex with transthyretin (TTR). The relative low concentration in plasma (40–50 g/ml and its chromatographic behaviour on ionic exchangers render the purification of rat RBP particularly laborious. In this paper we report a simple and semi-automatic method for the preparative purification to homogeneity of rat serum RBP. The method includes: (1) Selective removal of albumin by affinity chromatography on a Blue Sepharose column; (2) Chromatography on a Mono Q strong anion exchange column; (3) Dissociation of the RBP-TTR complex by 3 M urea; (4) Concentration, desalting and freeze drying. The purified RBP has been used for the production in rabbit of antirat RBP specific antibodies for studies on nutritional control of RBP synthesis and metabolism.     

Electrochemically generated multifunctional suppressor for ion chromatography

Summary A multifunctional suppressor for both anion and cation chromatography has been designed. The suppressor comprises five thin chambers—an anion eluent suppressive chamber, a cation eluent suppressive chamber, a cathode chamber, an anode chamber, and a common electrode chamber, all of which are clipped together. An electrochemical process—electrolysis of deionized water or detector effluent—is used to regenerate the suppressor for continuous operation. Two power sources are used to supply current. The device can work as an anion suppressor, a cation suppressor, or as both anion and cation suppressors, with high suppression capacity (60 mmol L⁻¹) and good reproducibility (RSD=0.80–0.91%) and linearity (r=0.9992).     

Liquid chromatography of carbon clusters

Summary A comparison of three binary mobile phases in LC separation of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerences on chemically bonded 2,4-dinitroanilinopropyl (DNAP) stationary phase was carried out, n-Hexane-benzene has been found to be the best mobile phase for efficient separation of the all-carbon molecules permitting high loads in preparative LC.     

The calculation of retention and selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography II. Methanol-water eluents

Summary To calculate retention in reversed-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography a method based on the molecular structure of the analyte and the characteristics of sorbents and mobile phases has been employed. Characteristics of different ODS-columns in water-methanol eluents have been determined.     

On the chromatography mechanism of reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary An equation is derived which can describe how the retention of solutes is influenced by the composition of the mobile phase in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, the retention of solutes in alkyl bonded stationary phase regarded as the complexation between solute molecule and the active sites on the surface of the stationary phase. When the stationary phase is not fully saturated by the organic modifier, the activity of the active sites, the activity coefficient of the adsorbed solute as well as the activity coefficient of the solute in the mobile phase depend on the composition of the mobile phase. However, when the stationary phase is fully saturated, the composition of the mobile phase mainly influences the activity coefficient of the solute in the mobile phase. In addition, the selectivity of retention is discussed in terms of the derived equation.     

Investigation of some modes of flat-bed chromatography

A comparison of different chromatographic methods is presented: column liquid chromatography (CLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), and continuous-elution flat-bed chromatography (CEFBC), which is in fact a combination of the first two methods. In CEFBC a sample is applied to a sorbent layer in a steady flow of eluent, and the components are detected directly on the layer, or immediately upon leaving it, during the separation process. It is shown that evaluation of the separation processes in CEFBC is best accomplished in terms of the parameters applicable in CLC. The reproducibility of the analytical results obtained by CEFBC is better than in the case of TLC by a factor of 6 to 10, and approaches that known for CLC.     

Liquid chromatography of gramicidin

Summary A simple, selective method is described for separation of more than 10 gramicidin components on Spherisorb ODS B, 5 μm,250×4.6 mm I.D. column, maintained at 50°C. The mobile phase comprised methanol-water (71:29) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹. Detection was by UV at 282 nm. Valine gramicidins A, B and C were very well separated from the isoleucine gramicidins A, B and C. Four new gramicidin components were also resolved and their structures determined by liquid chromatography/ mass spectrometry. The names 10-methionine valine gramicidin C, 4-methionine valine gramicidin A, valine gramicidin A hydroxypropyl and isoleucine gramicidin A hydroxypropyl were proposed. Robustness of the liquid chromatography method was evaluated by performing a full factorial design experiment. The method also showed good repeatability, linearity and sensitivity.     

Statistical evaluation of the validity of a method for characterizing stationary phases for reversed-phase liquid chromatography based on retention of homologous series

Summary The validity of a method for characterizing stationary phases for reversed-phase, liquid chromatography, based on the use of homologous series, has been evaluated. The method is based on a retention model which describes the dependence of the logarithm of the capacity factor on mobile phase composition and the carbon number of specific homologous series. A first-order as well as a second-order version of this model was investigated. The second-order model proved to be a significant improvement on the first-order model, even for smaller mobile-phase ranges. Nevertheless both models showed a significant lack of fit, reflecting the incompleteness of these models. Therefore, it is very questionable whether this method is suitable to describe HPLC-column characteristics like hydrophobicity and hydrophylicity.