A free-flow electrophoresis chip device for interfacing capillary isoelectric focusing on-line with electrospray mass spectrometry

When electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is used on-line with capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF), the presence of the carrier ampholytes creating the IEF pH gradient is not desirable. With the purpose of removing these ampholytes, we have developed a free-flow electrophoresis (FFE) device and coupled it to CIEF. The different parameters inherent to the resulting CIEF/FFE system were optimised using ultraviolet absorbance (UV) detection. The on-line coupling of this system with ESI-MS was successfully realised for three model proteins (myoglobin, carbonic anhydrase I and beta-lactoglobulin B).     

Analysis of acrylamido-buffers for isoelectric focusing by capillary zone electrophoresis

Immobilized pH gradients use a series of weak acrylamido acids and bases (Immobiline) to create a pH gradient along the separation axis. These buffers can be degraded in water by two mechanisms: (i) hydrolysis of the amido bond, with generation of free acrylic acid and either an amino acid or a diamine; (ii) autopolymerization to oligomers and/or n-mers. In order to check for these degradation products, different capillary zone electrophoresis systems for analysis of all Immobilines have been devised. The acidic compounds are resolved in 100 mM acetate, pH 4.0, whereas the alkaline Immobilines are separated in 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.7 (or pH 7.2 for the weaker species). Polymers of alkaline Immobilines are resolved in 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 2.5, in 1% Ficoll-400. All Immobilines are detected underivatized, by their adsorption at 214 or 254 nm. A calibration curve has been constructed for quantification of acrylic acid contamination. As little as 1 mol% of acrylic acid contamination in Immobiline solutions can be detected, with a sensitivity limit below 0.2 mM (at the injection port).     

Fraction collection in micropreparative capillary zone electrophoresis and capillary isoelectric focusing

A new fraction collection system for capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary isolelectric focusing (CIEF) is described. Exact timing of the collector steps was based on determining the velocity of each individual zone measured between two detection points close to the end of the capillary. Determination of the zone velocity shortly before collection overcame the need for constant analyte velocity throughout the column. Consequently, sample stacking in CZE with large injection volumes as well as zone focusing in CIEF could be utilized with high collection accuracy. Capillaries of 200 microm inner diameter (ID) were employed in CZE and 100 microm ID in CIEF for the micropreparative mode. A sheath flow fraction collector was used to maintain permanent electric current during the collection. The bulk liquid flow due to siphoning, as well as the backflow arising from the sheath flow droplet pressure, were suppressed by closing the separation system at the inlet with a semipermeable membrane. In the CZE mode, the performance of the fraction collector is demonstrated by isolation of individual peaks from a fluorescently derivatized oligosaccharide ladder. In the CIEF mode, collection of several proteins from a mixture of standards is shown, followed by subsequent analysis of each protein fraction by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).     

Determination of the isoelectric point of proteins by capillary isoelectric focusing

Different ways of determining isoelectric points (pI) of proteins in capillary isoelectric focusing are reviewed here. Due to the impossibility of direct pH measurements in the liquid phase, such assessments have to rely on the use of pI markers. Different types of pI markers have been described: dyes, fluorescently labelled peptides, sets of proteins of known pI values. It appears that, perhaps, the best system is a set of 16 synthetic peptides, trimers to hexamers, made to contain each a Trp residue for easy detection at 280 nm. By a careful blend of acidic (Asp, Glu), mildly basic, with pK around neutrality (His), and basic (Lys, Arg) amino acids, it is possible to obtain a series of pI markers with pI values quite evenly distributed along the pH scale, possessing good buffering capacity and conductivity around their pI values and thus focusing as sharp peaks. Another approach to pI determination is the monitoring of the current during mobilization: this allows, with the aid of known pI markers, to calibrate the system with a pI/current graph. Pitfalls and common errors in pI determinations are reviewed here and guidelines given for minimizing such errors in pI estimation.     

Capillary isoelectric focusing of erythropoietin glycoforms and its comparison with flat-bed isoelectric focusing and capillary zone electrophoresis

The influence of several operation conditions on separation of recombinant human erythropoietin glycoforms by capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) is explored. From this study it is deduced that in order to separate several glycoforms of erythropoietin, urea has to be added to sample, which should not be completely depleted of the excipients used in its formulation. On-line desalting does not provide separation enhancement for samples with high content of salt. Better resolution is obtained using a mixture of a broad and a narrow pH-range carrier ampholytes than with either one used separately. Under the experimental conditions, focusing voltages of 25 kV improve separation compared to lower and higher electric fields. Focusing times shorter than the time necessary for electric current to reach a minimum provide similar separations than longer focusing times at which a minimum value of the current has already been achieved. The optimized method allows the separation and quantitation in 12 min of at least seven bands containing glycoforms of recombinant erythropoietin with apparent isoelectric points in the range 3.78–4.69. Compared to flat-bed isoelectric focusing, cIEF provides better separation of bands of glycoforms in a shorter time, and allows quantitative determination. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) gives rise to resolution of erythropoietin glycoforms similar to that obtained by cIEF. Although CZE requires a longer analysis time, its reproducibility in terms of peak area of glycoforms is better than in cIEF.     

Isoelectric focusing sample injection for capillary electrophoresis of proteins

Carrier ampholyte-free isoelectric focusing (IEF) sample injection (concentration) for capillary electrophoresis (CE) is realized in a single capillary. A short section of porous capillary wall was made near the injection end of a capillary by HF etching. In the etching process, an electric voltage was applied across the etching capillary wall and electric current was monitored. When an electric current through the etching capillary was observed, the capillary wall became porous. The etched part was fixed in a vial, where NaOH solution with a certain concentration was added during the sample injection. The whole capillary was filled with pH 3.0 running buffer. The inlet end vial was filled with protein sample dissolved in the running buffer. An electric voltage was applied across the inlet end vial and etched porous wall. A neutralization reaction occurs at the boundary (interface) of the fronts of H+ and OH-. A pH step or sharp pH gradient exists across the boundary. When positive protein ions electromigrate to the boundary from the sample vial, they are isoelectricelly focused at points corresponding to their pH. After a certain period of concentration, a high voltage is applied across the whole capillary and a conventional CE is followed. An over 100-fold concentration factor has been easily obtained for three model proteins (bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, ribonuclease A). Furthermore, the IEF sample concentration and its dynamics have been visually observed with the whole-column imaging technique. Its merits and remaining problem have been discussed, too.     

Parallel processing in the isoelectric focusing chip

Investigation of isoelectric focusing (IEF) kinetics has been performed to provide the theoretical basis for miniaturization of classical IEF in immobilized pH-gradients. Standard IEF demands colinearity of the electric field and pH-gradient directions (serial devices). It is shown that the IEF separation process based on a continuous, serial pH gradient is incompatible with miniaturization of separation devices. The new realization of the IEF device by a parallel IEF chip is suggested and analyzed. The main separation tool of the device is a dielectric membrane (chip) with conducting channels that are filled by Immobiline gels of varying pH. The membrane is held perpendicular to the applied electric field and proteins are collected (trapped) in the channels whose pH are equal to the pI of the proteins. The pH value of the surrounded aqueous solution is not equal to any channel's pH. The fast particle transport between different channels takes place due to convection in the aqueous solution. The new device geometry introduces two new spatial scales to be considered: the scale of transition region from a solution to the gel in a channel and a typical channel size. The corresponding time scales defining the IEF process kinetics are analyzed and scaling laws are obtained. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that parallel IEF accelerates the fractionation of proteins by their pI down to several minutes and enables possible efficient sample collection and purification.     

Recent developments in capillary isoelectric focusing

The developments in capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) over the period 2003-2007 are reviewed. With the focus on technological aspects, cIEF papers published in the fields of methodology, new techniques, detection, multidimensional systems, miniaturization and applications are summarized. The methodology section covers recent research in ampholytes composition, detergents and other additives, carrier ampholyte free cIEF, coatings and other capillary modifications. In the section on new systems adjustments to the technique (e.g. dynamic IEF), different applications of cIEF (e.g. as injection system) and new devices are reported. Systems focusing on whole column imaging, fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection and coupling to mass spectrometers are discussed in the section on detection. Interfacing cIEF with MS via RPLC systems and hyphenation of cIEF with capillary electrochromatography and other capillary electrophoresis modes are also summarized. Papers focusing on miniaturization are reviewed in the section on microfluidic devices. The section on applications will show analysis of biopharmaceutical compounds and isolated proteins for metabolomic studies. For the analysis of complex biological matrices, generally multidimensional systems are needed, which are mentioned throughout this review.     

Estimation of isoelectric points of human plasma proteins employing capillary isoelectric focusing and peptide isoelectric point markers

Synthetic UV-detectable peptide pI markers were used to estimate isoelectric point (pI) values of proteins separated by capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) followed by cathodic mobilization in the absence of denaturing agents. The pI calculation and quantitative analysis of purified proteins showed the feasibility of these peptides as pI markers and internal standards in CIEF separation of proteins. Estimation of pI values of major proteins in human plasma was performed using the peptide pI markers, and the values were compared with those previously obtained by gel isoelectric focusing (IEF). Sera of immunoglobulin G (IgG) myeloma patients, which showed characteristic peaks of myeloma IgG in their CIEF patterns, were also subjected to the analysis and the pI values of the myeloma proteins have been estimated.     

OFFGEL isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation of platinum-binding proteins

In this work a 2D electrophoretic separation procedure able to maintain the integrity of platinum-protein bonds has been developed. The method is based on the use of sequential OFFGEL isoelectric focussing (IEF) and PAGE. A systematic study of the reagents used for PAGE, for OFFGEL-IEF separation, and post-separation treatment of gels (such as enzymatic digestion and sample preparation for MS analysis) was tackled regarding their suitability for the identification of platinum binding proteins using standard proteins incubated with cisplatin. The distribution of platinum in high and low molecular weight fractions (separated by cut-off filters) was determined by ICP-MS, which allows evaluating platinum-protein bond stability under the conditions studied. SDS-PAGE in the absence of β-mercaptoethanol or dithiotreitol preserved the platinum-protein bonds. In addition, neither the influence of the electric field during the electrophoretic separation, nor the processes of fixing, staining and destaining of proteins in the gel did result in the loss of platinum from platinum binding proteins. SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions provides separation of platinum-binding proteins in very narrow bands with quantitative recoveries. Different amounts of platinum-bound proteins covering the range 0.3-2.0 μg were separated and mineralised for platinum determination, showing good platinum linearity. Limits of detection for a mixture of five standard proteins incubated with cisplatin were between the range of 2.4 and 13.9 pg of platinum, which were satisfactory for their application to biological samples. Regarding OFFGEL-IEF, a denaturing solution without thiourea and without dithiotreitol is recommended. The suitability of the OFFGEL-IEF for the separation of platinum binding proteins of a kidney cytosol was demonstrated.     

In situ photo-immobilised pH gradient isoelectric focusing and zone electrophoresis integrated two-dimensional microfluidic chip electrophoresis for protein separation

A method is introduced for open-column photo-induced site-selective immobilization of pH gradients in a layer of PEG-methacrylate in a multi-dimensional microfluidic chip for use in electrophoresis. It has several attractive features: (a) mixtures of fluorescently labelled proteins carbonic anhydrase, catalase and myoglobin in their native state can be separated by pH-gradient isoelectric focusing (IEF) and zone electrophoresis (CZE) using integrated 2D chip electrophoresis; (b) compared to strip packing or monolithic photo-immobilization, it overcomes the shortcomings of free carrier ampholyte-based 2D chip electrophoresis in an easy way; (c) larger amount of sample can be loaded into the open column-mode electrophoresis (d) immobilized pH gradients can be re-used and the chip can be recycled; (e) a multilayer 3D pH gradient is established by a layer-by-layer assembly technique to further increase the separation capacity. In our perception, this strategy has a large potential in microfluidic chip-based separation schemes because of its simplicity, separation power, re-usability, and separation capacity.

An open-column layer-by-layer photo-immobilised pH gradient was introduced into two-dimensional chip electrophoresis with simplicity, reusability, improved separation performance and separation capacity.

     

Chemiluminescence detection of heme proteins separated by capillary isoelectric focusing.

Chemiluminescence detection was combined with capillary isoelectric focusing to perform protein analysis with high sensitivity. Luminol-H2O2 chemiluminescence was utilized, and heme proteins such as cytochrome c, myoglobin and peroxidase were analyzed. The proteins were focused by use of Pharmalyte 3-10 as ampholytes. Hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose was added to the sample solution in order to easily reduce protein interactions with the capillary wall as well as the electroendoosmotic flow. The focused proteins were transported by salt mobilization to chemiluminescence detection cell equipped with an optical fiber. The present method showed significantly high sensitivity and wide dynamic range; the detection limit for cytochrome c was 6 x 10(-9) M and the linear dynamic range was greater than two-orders of magnitude (up to 2 x 10(-6) M).     

毛细管等电聚焦和电渗泵驱动聚焦区带分离蛋白质

建立了一种利用电渗泵驱动毛细管内的聚焦区带,实现毛细管电泳等电聚焦分离蛋白质的方法。通过控制电压来调节泵的输出流量,从而调节聚焦区带的迁移速度。适用于毛细管电泳等电聚焦两步法分离蛋白质等两性物质。考察了对牛血清白蛋白和溶菌酶两种粗提蛋白质混合物的分离,迁移时间的RSD分别为1.6%和1.3%,峰面积的RSD均为1.6%,证明方法可行。     

Isoelectric focusing of proteins in capillary electrophoresis with pressure-driven mobilization

Chromatographia - An isoelectric focusing (IEF) method in the capillary format with wide linear pH range (pH 3–10) and high resolution has been developed for separations of proteins. The...     

Recent applications of capillary isoelectric focusing

After the advent of capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) in the 80's several approaches have been developed in order to use the technique in routine analyses. The recent years showed an extensive increase in the applications of this technique employing its exceptionally high-resolution power. Methodological improvements, as well as hyphenation with other electrophoretic and chromatographic separation procedures, proved the versatility of CIEF in studies of clinically important proteins, recombinant product, cell lysates and other complex mixtures. The combination of CIEF with mass spectrometry detection is one of the major challenges for studying proteomics. This review collected the recent applications of CIEF including innovations in the experimental setup, remedies for the presence of salts in samples, calibration of the pH gradient, carrier ampholyte-free isoelectric focusing, the progress in micropreparation, two-dimensional separations, etc.     

Miniaturization of capillary isoelectric focusing.

Miniaturization of whole-column imaging capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) is discussed. A 1.2 cm capillary was used as a separation column for CIEF. The experimental results for the analysis of two pI markers and the protein myoglobin showed that good CIEF separation results could be obtained. Secondly, a light-emitting diode (LED) was used as the light source for the whole-column absorbance imaging detection. The focusing of both the pI markers and myoglobin were observed with the LED light source. The whole-column imaging CIEF instrument was simplified and miniaturized by the use of the LED. Further developments are also discussed.     

Validatibility of a capillary isoelectric focusing method for impurity quantitation

A strategy is presented for examining the validatability of a capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) method, intended for quantitation of product-related impurities in a protein drug substance, according to guidelines published by the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH). The results of this study demonstrate the suitability of cIEF as an analytical method for the quantitation of two product-related impurities in a protein drug substance: a monodeamidated degradation product and an aggregated form of the parent molecule. A range of impurity levels was generated by spiking the isolated impurity species, into a representative production lot of the drug substance. Six impurity spike levels (0.5-12% impurity for deamidated species and 0.5-8% impurity for aggregated species) were analyzed in triplicate. Measurement of impurity peak area percent in the spiked samples provided the data for computing specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity and limit of quantitation (LOQ) for the impurities. Accuracy, defined as the agreement of peak area percent for impurity species with the theoretical impurity percentage from the spike ratio, was 85-96% for the deamidated species and 73-97% for the aggregated species. A linear relationship was found between the measured area percent and the theoretical percent impurity for both impurity species (coefficient of determination, r2=0.9994 for deamidated species and =0.9827 for aggregated species). Precision (repeatability) studies demonstrated a low relative standard deviation (RSD) value (<6%) at all spike levels for both impurity species. Intermediate precision and reproducibility were evaluated by simulating many of the multivariable testing conditions expected during the life cycle of an analytical method, such as multiple equipment and laboratories. Repeated analyses of the drug substance under these varied conditions, yielded RSD values of <20%, for both impurity species. The LOQ, defined as the lowest impurity level where both accuracy and precision were achieved, was assigned at the 0.5% impurity level for both impurity species. This work illustrates a successful strategy in applying the ICH validation guidelines for impurity analytical methods to a cIEF method. Moreover, the data demonstrate the ability of cIEF to be used reliably as an analytical method for impurity quantitation.     

On-line coupling of capillary isoelectric focusing with transient isotachophoresis-zone electrophoresis: a two-dimensional separation system for proteomics

A microdialysis junction is employed as the interface for on-line coupling of capillary isoelectric focusing with transient isotachophoresis-zone electrophoresis in a two-dimensional separation system. Capillary isoelectric focusing not only provides high-resolution separation of tryptic peptides based on their differences in isoelectric point, but also potentially allows the analysis of low-abundance proteins with a typical concentration factor of 50-100 times. Carrier ampholytes, employed for the creation of a pH gradient during focusing, are further utilized as the leading electrolyte in the second separation dimension, transient isotachophoresis-zone electrophoresis. Many peptides which have the same isoelectric point would most likely have different charge-to-mass ratios, and thus different electrophoretic mobilities in zone electrophoresis. Two-dimensional separation of proteolytic peptides is demonstrated using standard proteins, including cytochrome c, ribonuclease A, and carbonic anhydrase II. The maximum peak capacity is estimated to be around approximately 1600 and can be significantly increased by simply increasing the capillary column length and manipulating the range of pH gradient in isoelectric focusing. In addition to enhanced separation efficiency and resolution, this two-dimensional electrokinetic separation system permits sensitive and comprehensive analysis of peptide fragments, especially when integrated with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for peptide/protein identification.     

Dynamic capillary coatings with zwitterionic surfactants for capillary isoelectric focusing

The use of surfactants as additives was demonstrated for the first time in capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) to dynamically modify the surfaces of bare fused silica capillaries. These surfactants were zwitterionic sulfobetaines: dodecyldimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (C12N3SO3), hexadecyldimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (C16N3SO3) and coco (amidopropyl)hydroxyldimethylsulfobetaine (Rewoteric AM CAS U). They were added directly to the protein-ampholyte mixture, and remained in the capillary during isoelectric focusing and mobilization. The C16N3SO3 and CAS U coatings were shown effective in CEF. Separation of seven IEF protein standards was obtained, with significantly improved resolution compared to that from an uncoated silica capillary. The effect of these surfactants on the electroosmotic flow (EOF) in CIEF was determined. CAS U was effective in suppressing the EOF at neutral and alkaline pH conditions, C16N3SO3 was effective in suppressing EOF at acidic and neutral pH conditions. C12N3SO3 however had little effect on the EOF. The pH gradients formed inside these surfactant coated capillaries were recta-linear at pH 6 to 9 (R2 approximately equal to 0.99). Reproducibility of migration time and peak area was determined. For all three coatings, the migration time standard deviations were less than 1.6 min, and the relative standard deviations of area were below 10%. The protein recovery in the CAS U-modified capillary was quantitative or near-quantitative for five of the seven proteins studied.