New biochemical separations using precolumn derivatization and microcolumn liquid chromatography

Microcolumn liquid chromatography with slurry-packed capillary columns has been used to resolve mixtures of biologically important steroids and prostaglandins. In order to enhance detection sensitivity, the samples are first derivatized with a suitable chromophore-yielding agent. Hydroxy steroids were derivatized with either benzoyl chloride or 7-(chlorocarbonylmethoxy)-4-methylcoumarin, while Dns hydrazine was employed to react with the ketonic groups of certain steroidal conjugates. Bile acids can also be derivatized with bromomethylcoumarin to yield fluorescent products. The use of microcolumns permits both a high degree of component resolution and enhanced detection sensitivity.     

Dansylated acrylic copolymer with potential for sensor applications: Synthesis and properties

A novel copolymer has been prepared by free radical polymerization in dimethylformamide of 5‐dimethylamino‐1‐(β‐methacryloyloxyethylcarbamoyloxyethyl)‐N‐methylsulfonamido‐naphthalene (Dns‐Acr) and methyl methacrylate in 1:3 M ratio with azobis(isobutyronitrile) as the initiator. The structure, purity, and the chemical composition of the dansylated copolymer (Dns‐COPA) were confirmed by spectrophotometric (¹HNMR, FTIR, UV/vis), thermal and analytical methods, GPC measurements, and AFM techniques. Compared with Dns‐Acr, whose fluorescence emission band appears at 510 and 430 nm (shoulder), the photoluminescence spectrum of the Dns‐COPA in DMF solution exhibited a strong fluorescence emission at 440 nm (I₁), and a small shoulder at 520 nm (I₂) accompanying the main signal. The emitting behavior of Dns‐COPA was investigated through a spectrofluorimetric titration experiment, the fluorescence measurements demonstrating that introduction of various acids into the solution has a significant effect upon the quenching of fluorescence. This ability of dansyl copolymer to suffer the protonation of the amino group in organic acidic phase may be exploited in sensor applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3774–3782, 2008     

柱前衍生-超高效液相色谱-单重四极杆质谱法分析不同产地烤烟的20种游离氨基酸

为了分析烤烟中游离氨基酸含量与烤烟香型、产地的关系,以国内14个烟草种植省份的138个调制后的烤烟中部叶片为材料,采用柱前衍生-超高效液相色谱-单重四极杆质谱法对烤烟中的20种游离氨基酸进行分析。方法表征结果显示该方法满足分析要求,适合烤烟中游离氨基酸的检测。对调制后烤烟中部叶片的游离氨基酸分析结果显示,烤烟的游离氨基酸含量在产地间差异很大（28.50%~94.20%）,其中天冬酰胺、谷氨酰胺含量的相对标准偏差（RSD）超过80%;在3种典型香型（浓香型、清香型和中间香型）烤烟中,浓香型烤烟游离氨基酸含量的RSD大于其他两种香型。对同一香型的不同种植省份和同一省份不同香型的烤烟游离氨基酸分析结果显示,其含量呈现一定的规律。     

UHPLC-Quadrupole/Orbitrap MS同步检测十字花科植物中的游离氨基酸

采用超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱联用技术(UHPLC-Quadrupole/Orbitrap MS)结合柱前衍生法建立了可同时测定28种游离氨基酸的分析方法,并对十字花科植物中的游离氨基酸进行检测和分析。样品用超纯水提取后,经6-氨基喹啉基-N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺基甲酸酯(AQC)衍生,采用Waters BEH C18柱作为色谱柱,以pH 5.0乙酸铵缓冲溶液和80%乙腈水溶液作为流动相进行梯度洗脱。质谱检测器采用电喷雾离子源,在正离子模式下进行检测。实验结果表明,十字花科植物中含有25种以上游离氨基酸,其中包括人体必需的8种氨基酸。25种氨基酸在线性范围内相关性良好,平均加标回收率为80.5%~104.4%,相对标准偏差为0.6%~4.4%。不同氨基酸检测灵敏度不同,定量下限为0.01~1.45μmol/L。该方法杂质干扰小,分析速度快,灵敏度高,适用于植物样品中游离氨基酸的同步检测。     

Characterization and Antineoplasic Effect of Extracts Obtained from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus sajor</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">caju</Emphasis> Fruiting Bodies

Fungi of the Pleurotus genus present a great industrial interest due to their possibility of producing pharmacological compounds, pigments, aromas, organic acids, polysaccharides, enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, etc. Among the therapeutic products, we can highlight those with antineoplasic activity, attributed to the fungi cell wall components. Based on this, the objective of this work was to study the antineoplasic capacity of the polysaccharidic fractions obtained from Pleurotus sajor-caju fruiting bodies. Female Swiss mice were inoculated with the Ehrlich ascitic tumor (5 × 10⁶ cells/animal) in ascitic form. The polysaccharidic fractions were administered intraperitoneally, during a 6-day period. Fractions FI and FII presented a lower volume of ascitic liquid (3.1 and 1.8 mL, respectively) and a higher reduction in the number of neoplasic cells present in the ascitic liquid (86.2% and 85%, respectively), when compared to the positive control (group inoculated with the tumor but without treatment). These fractions were characterized in terms of monosaccharide composition. Glucose was the major component detected, followed by galactose and mannose. The anomeric carbon configuration of the β-glucan was confirmed by the ¹³C NMR (δ 103.7). Substituted and free C3 and C6 were also detected. Protein bands were confirmed through infrared analysis.     

Measurement of total plasma and cerebrospinal fluid homocysteine by fluorescence following high-performance liquid chromatography and precolumn derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde.

Precolumn derivatization of amino acids with o-phthaldialdehyde followed by high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and fluorescence detection is used in many clinical and experimental laboratories for the measurement of primary amino acids. This technique was adapted for the measurement of homocysteine in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following alkylation of the free sulphydryl group with iodoacetate. The minimum detection limits are less than 1 microM in plasma and 80 nM in CSF. Within-day and between-day coefficients of variation for plasma and for CSF are less than 10%. Values for normal plasma homocysteine range from 6.04 to 16.2 microM and for CSF from 0.28 to 0.66 microM.     

pKa shift-associated effects in enantioseparations by cyclodextrin-mediated capillary zone electrophoresis.

Enantioselective migration of dansylated (Dns) amino acids in the presence of hydroxypropylated-beta-cyclodextrin under acidic conditions near the pI value of the analytes was investigated by means of capillary zone electrophoresis. Based on the migration data, the pH dependence of the complexation constants was evaluated, as well as the variation of the complex mobilities with pH. As a result of these data, the migration behavior in the pH region near the pI could be understood, which, in some instances, includes the reversal of migration order upon variation of selector concentration. The enantioselective pKa shifts upon complexation could be quantitated for the carboxylic and the amino group separately. pKa shifts were found in the order of 0.8 pI units, the differences between the enantiomers being up to 0.25 pH units. These data were in agreement with the pI shifts reported from isoelectric focusing experiments. The accurate determination of the pI values of the Dns amino acids makes it possible to calibrate the pI scale in isoelectric focusing in the presence of chiral selectors.     

Determination of L-alanosine in plasma and urine by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of the Dns derivative

L-Alanosine is an antitumour antibiotic that has recently been placed in clinical trial. We have developed a relatively rapid and specific assay for urinary and plasma alanosine, based on formation of the Dns derivative and separation of this from other Dns compounds by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Dns-Alanosine is detected by its absorption at 254 nm, since alanosine is atypical in that it forms a Dns derivative with very low fluorescence. The lower limit of detection of alanosine in plasma is 0.1 microgram/ml. The assay has been used to measure the levels of alanosine in the plasma and urine of rabbits and of man.     

Effect of realgar on extracellular amino acid neurotransmitters in hippocampal CA1 region determined by online microdialysis–dansyl chloride derivatization–high‐performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection

An online microdialysis (MD)–dansyl chloride (Dns) derivatization–high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence detection (FD) system was developed for simultaneous determination of eight extracellular amino acid neurotransmitters in hippocampus. The MD probe was implanted in hippocampal CA1 region. Dialysate and Dns were online mixed and derivatized. The derivatives were separated on an ODS column and detected by FD. The developed online system showed good linearity, precision, accuracy and recovery. This online MD‐HPLC system was applied to monitor amino acid neurotransmitters levels in rats exposed to realgar (0.3, 0.9 and 2.7 g/kg body weight). The result shows that glutamate concentrations were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in hippocampal CA1 region of rats exposed to three doses of realgar. A decrease in γ‐aminobutyric acid concentrations was found in rats exposed to medium and high doses of realgar (p < 0.05). Elevation of excitotoxic index (EI) values in hippocampal CA1 region of realgar‐exposed rats was observed (p < 0.05). Positive correlation was found between EI values and arsenic contents in hippocampus of realgar‐exposed rats, which indicates that the change in extracellular EI values is associated with arsenic accumulation in hippocampus. The developed online MD–Dns derivatization–HPLC–FD system provides a new experimental method for studying the effect of toxic Chinese medicines on amino acid neurotransmitters. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemically L-prolinamide-modified monolithic silica column for enantiomeric separation of dansyl amino acids and hydroxy acids by capillary electrochromatography and mu-high performance liquid chromatography

A silica-based chiral monolithic column prepared by sol-gel process and chemical modification of chiral selector was used for enantioseparation of dansyl amino acids and hydroxy acids by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and mu-high-performance liquid chromatography (mu-HPLC). L-Prolinamide was modified as a chiral selector. The chiral stationary phase (CSP), the chiral complex of Cu(II) with L-prolinamide, provides an anodic electroosmotic flow (EOF) in CEC. The EOF was found to be dependent on applied electric field strength, the pH, and the composition of mobile phases. Scanning electron micrograph showed that monolithic columns have the morphology of continuous skeleton and large through-pore. D-Enantiomers migrated before L-enantiomers except for dansyl-(Dns)-DL-Ser. The separation efficiencies of up to 17600 (D) and 13,200 plates m(-1) (L) were achieved for the separation of DL-indole-3-lactic acid.     

Quantitative high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of sulfur amino acids in protein hydrolysates

A rapid, quantitative high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of methionine and cystine after oxidation to methionine sulfone and cysteic acid is described. The Dns derivatives of the amino acids are separated by reversed-phase chromatography with a phosphate buffer-acetonitrile gradient and detected by UV absorption at 254 nm. The procedure is validated by confirming the methionine and cystine content of ribonuclease A. The average yields of cysteic acid and methionine sulfone from triplicate analyses of ribonuclease A were 98.1% (±3.3) and 106.1% (±2.4) of the theoretical values, respectively.     

异硫氰酸苯酯柱前衍生化反相高效液相法同时测定18种氨基酸

 建立了一种利用反相高效液相同时测定 18种氨基酸的方法。以正亮氨酸为内标物 ,异硫氰酸苯酯为柱前衍生剂 ,用C18柱在柱温 38℃下采用二元梯度洗脱 ,于 2 5 4nm波长处检测。氨基酸质量浓度在 3 5mg/L～ 5 5 6mg/L时 ,其峰面积与内标物峰面积的比值和氨基酸的质量浓度的线性相关系数 ,除胱氨酸 (0 96 2 )外均大于 0 99;18种氨基酸的加标回收率在 96 0 %～ 10 2 .4 %。信噪比为 2时 ,亮氨酸最低检测限为 0 5mg/L。应用该方法对小牛血去蛋白注射液中的游离氨基酸含量进行了测定 ,取得了满意的结果。     

Determination of Free and Total Underivatized Amino Acids Including L-Canavanine in Bitter Vetch Seeds Using Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography

A new hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography method coupled with diode-array detector was developed for the determination of 17 underivatized amino acids including L-canavanine in bitter vetch [Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.] seeds. Amino acids were extracted as free as well as total extracts after acid hydrolysis, followed by chromatographic separation on a Zorbax Rx-SIL column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile/potassium phosphate buffer (12.5?mM; pH 3.0) using gradient elution and detection at 190?nm. The method is characterized by a wide linear range (0.01–200?µg/mL, r?>?0.9987), sufficient accuracy (relative error 86.3–109.1%), and suitable precision for the results (relative standard deviation <4.9% in the case of intra-day and <9.8% in the case of inter-day precision). The limits of detection and quantification for free amino acids ranged from 0.01 to 0.24?mg/g and 0.03 to 0.72?mg/g, respectively, whereas the total amino acids ranged from 0.02 to 0.47?mg/g and 0.07 to 1.43?mg/g, respectively. The mean recoveries of free and total amino acids in spiked samples exceeded 70.3% for most amino acids. The mean total content of free and total amino acids in bitter vetch seeds was 1.71 and 14.88?g/100?g seed, whereas the corresponding values for canavanine were 0.07 and 0.19?g/100?g seed, respectively.     

Advances in amino acid analysis

Amino acids are important targets for metabolic profiling. For decades, amino acid analysis has been accomplished by either cation-exchange or reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to UV absorbance or fluorescence detection of pre-column or post-column-derivatized amino acids. Recent years have seen great progress in the development of direct-infusion or hyphenated mass spectrometry in the analysis of free amino acids in physiological fluids, because mass spectrometry not only matches optical detection in sensitivity, but also offers superior selectivity. The advent of cryo-probes has also brought NMR spectroscopy within the detection limits required for the analysis of free amino acids. But there is still room for further improvement, including expansion of the analyte spectrum, reduction of sample preparation and analysis time, automation, and synthesis of affordable isotope standards. Figure Fully automated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of amino acids.     

Determination of free amino acid enantiomers in rat brain and serum by high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with N-tert.-butyloxycarbonyl-L-cysteine and o-phthaldialdehyde.

The concurrent determination of free amino acid enantiomers and non-chiral amino acids in rat brain and serum was accomplished by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection after derivatization with N-tert.-butyloxycarbonyl-L-cysteine and o-phthaldialdehyde. The method revealed the presence of a large amount of free D-serine (0.22 mumol/g of tissue; D/D + L ratio = 0.25) in the brain whereas D-aspartate and D-alanine were established to be at trace levels. These results further support the presence of D-serine in adult brain tissues as demonstrated by recent work using gas chromatography.     

Determination of 3-methylhistidine in hydrolysed proteins by fluorescamine derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography

A method is described for the determination of the 3-methylhistidine content in myofibrilar proteins (myosin and actin) using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Proteins were hydrolysed and free amino acids were derivatized with fluorescamine. Elution was performed isocratically with acetonitrile-water (24:76). This method allows the detection of picomole amounts of 3-methylhistidine in myosin and actin.     

Micelles for signal enhancement and novel selectivity of dansyl amino acids

Fluorescence intensity of various chemical species is enhanced in the microenvironment provided by micelles. Parameters which affect fluorescence intensities are examined by using dansyl (Dns) amino acids as the probe. The retention behavior of Dns-amino acids in micellar LC is examined by using ion-exchange-induced stationary phases. The type and concentration of micellar agent and modifier ion as well as concentration of acetonitrile in the mobile phase affect the retention and signal intensity of Dns-amino acids. The order of elution of Dns-amino acids obtained with the micellar mobile phase is very different from that observed in conventional reversed-phase LC. Fluorescence intensities of Dns-amino acids are enhanced by the micellar mobile phase.     

Comparative Study on Volatile Compounds and Taste Components of Different Durian Cultivars Based on GC-MS,UHPLC, HPAEC-PAD,E-Tongue and E-Nose

In order to comprehensively evaluate the aroma-active substances and taste components of durian, solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS), high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) were used to test the key components of three popular durian cultivars. A total of 27 volatile compounds, 5 sugars, 27 organic acids and 19 free amino acids were detected in Black Thorn (BT) durian. A total of 38 volatile compounds, 4 sugars, 27 organic acids and 19 free amino acids were detected in Monthong (MT) durian. A total of 36 volatile compounds, 4 sugars, 27 organic acids and 20 free amino acids were detected in Musang King (MK) durian. Finally, the flavor differences of the three durians were evaluated using electronic nose (e-nose) and electronic tongue (e-tongue), and different cultivars were classified through principal component analysis (PCA).     

二维阀切换离子色谱法测定海带中游离氨基酸

建立一种测定海带中游离氨基酸的阀切换高效阴离子交换色谱耦合脉冲安培检测器法。采用一根阳离子交换柱对氨基酸进行富集,而后经阀切换至氨基酸分析柱Amino Pac~PA-10(250 mm×2 mm)上分离并进入安培检测器检测。在最佳分离条件下,20种氨基酸的质量浓度在0.1~20.0 mg/L范围内与其色谱峰面积线性关系良好,线性相关系数r~20.99,20种氨基酸的检出限为0.01 mg/L,加标回收率为83.12%~117.34%,测定结果的相对标准偏为1.02%~13.05%(n=8)。该方法样品前处理简单,无基底杂质干扰,适用于海带样品中游离氨基酸的测定。     

葡萄酒中游离氨基酸的高效液相色谱法测定

采用邻苯二甲醛衍生化法衍生葡萄酒中的游离氨基酸，以反相高效液相色谱法对葡萄酒中１８种氨基酸进行了测定，方法简单、迅速，２５ｍｉｎ即可完成１８种氨基酸的分离。精密度及回收率实验结果令人满意。