Capillary electrophoresis of DNA for molecular diagnostics

A number of applications of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in sieving liquid polymers (notably linear polyacrylamides and cellulose) for the analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of clinically relevant, diagnostic DNA, are reviewed. The fields covered are: human genetics, quantitative gene dosage, microbiology and virology, forensic medicine and therapeutic DNA (notably, antisense nucleotides). Some unique, novel developments are highlighted, such as: (i) nonisocratic CZE, i.e., temperature-programmed CZE for detection of DNA point mutations; (ii) the synthesis of novel N-substituted acrylamides, offering extreme resistance to alkaline hydrolysis coupled to high hydrophilicity. In the field of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), as routinely performed in gel slabs, a novel methodology is described in CZE: double-gradient DGGE. In this technique, two gradients are simultaneously applied along the migration direction: a chemical (or thermal) denaturing gradient, for partially unwinding homo- and hetero-duplexes of DNA, and a porosity gradient, for recompacting diffuse bands melting over a broader range of denaturing conditions. It is thus demonstrated that chemical gradients, in addition to temperature gradients, can be easily implemented even in a capillary format.     

Determination of Phenolic Acids in Herba Epilobi by ITP–CE in the Column-Coupling Configuration

The combination of capillary isotachophoresis (ITP) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in the column-coupling configuration has been optimized in a mode in which the background electrolyte employed in the CZE step was different from the leading and terminating electrolytes of the ITP step. The optimum composition of the electrolyte system was 0.01 M HCl, 0.02 M IMI, 0.2% HEC, pH 7.2 (leading electrolyte), 0.01 M HEPES, pH 8.2 (terminating electrolyte), and 25 mM MES, 50 mM TRIS, 30 mM boric acid, 0.2% HEC, pH 8.3 (background electrolyte). All solutions contained 20% methanol. The timing of the transfer of isotachophoretically stacked analyte zones into the CZE column was also optimized. An ITP–CZE method with UV detection at 270 nm was developed for separation of nine phenolic acids (protocatechuic, syringic, vanillic, cinnamic, ferulic, caffeic, ρ-coumaric, chlorogenic, and gentisic acids) in a model mixture and used for assay of some of these acids in a methanolic extract of herba epilobi. Application of ITP–CZE resulted in 100-fold better sensitivity than conventional CZE; limits of detection ranged between 10 and 60 ng mL⁻¹. When MES–TRIS–borate-based buffer, pH 8.3, was used in the CZE separation step the linearity of the ITP–CZE response was satisfactory (correlation coefficients were from 0.9937 to 0.9777). Repeatability was also satisfactory (RSD values ranged between 0.77% and 1.28% for migration times and between 1.65% and 13.69% for peak area). Revised: 23 March and 27 April 2006     

Simultaneous determination of dihydroxybenzene and phenylenediamine positional isomers using capillary zone electrophoresis coupled with amperometric detection

In general capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separation models, o‐, m‐, and p‐phenylenediamine isomers can be separated in a weak acidic running buffer for their pK_a values being 4.52, 5.64, 6.04, respectively, while o‐, m‐, and p‐dihydroxybenzene isomers can be separated in a weak basic buffer for their pK_a values being 9.40, 9.40 and 10.04, respectively. So, it is hard to find a suitable running buffer at a fixed pH in normal CZE for simultaneous separation of these two groups of positional isomers. In this paper, a novel method based on alternately running two different pH buffers in CZE coupled with amperometric detection (CZE‐AD) was designed to simultaneously determine these two groups of positional isomers. It is found that when two different pH running buffers were employed alternately under appropriate order and time, the six analytes could be separated perfectly in less than 20 min and the detection limits were as low as 10^–7 mol/L. Furthermore, the effects of working electrode potential, pH and concentration of running buffer, separation voltage and injection time on CZE–AD were investigated. Experimental results demonstrated that the introduced method was practical to simultaneously determine two groups of positional isomers with different pK_a and had some advantages of high sensitivity, good repeatability and small sample requirement.     

Routine serum protein analysis by capillary zone electrophoresis: Clinical evaluation

Summary To measure the five classical protein fractions in human serum several electrophoretic techniques are available. Besides separation on cellulose acetate membrane or agarose gel, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) may be a useful analytical alternative in clinical routine. We have compared the Dionex CES I capillary electrophoresis system with that of the Olympus Fractoscan using specimens submitted for routine analysis. For clinical evaluation 102 samples from patients with various diseases have been analysed. Serum protein fractions were judged on separation performance, precision and the regression method ofBablok-Passing. Regression analysis revealed variable agreement between both methods with a slope ± intercept of 2.10–0.52 (α₁-fraction) and 1.0–0.20 (α₂-fraction) as worse and best, resectively; and the coefficient of variation of migration time: 5.9 %–6.8 % (between-run imprecision). Differences in the comparison of fractions are mainly caused by the improved resolution of CZE; e.g. one β-globulin peak on cellulose acetate is separated into two distinct protein fractions in CZE, including more detailed diagnostic information—as is also the case with γ-fraction. In some cases monoclonal gammopathy with low concentrations of immunglobulin clone can only be detected in CZE, whereas the cellulose acetate membrane (CAME) electropherogram is inconspicuous. The within-run precision (N=18) gave coefficients of variation of peak areas 1.3–5.9 % (CZE) and 1.0–3.8 % (cellulose acetate membrane). This is the first time that a complete clinical evaluation of CZE serum protein fraction analysis has been performed. CZE with its higher resolution and hence more detailed diagnostic information in some cases, showed good separation patterns, precision and correlation. Interchangeability of results showed that this CZE method is well suited for analysis of serum protein fractions in clinical routine. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996.     

Determination of Enantiomeric Excess of Aromatic 1,2-Diols with HP-β-Cyclodextrin as Chiral Selector by CE

To determine optical purities of four aromatic 1,2-diol enantiomers synthesized by a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) reaction of olefins, a simple and reliable separation method was achieved with high resolution (R _s > 2.2) by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) as chiral selector and borate combined with methanol additive as background buffer. Furthermore, the developed CZE method was successfully applied to the determination of enantiomeric excess of the tested enantiomers. RSD values of migration time and peak area fell within 1.0 and 3.8%, respectively. This method allowed for the determination of ee (%) values of targeted isomers as high as 99.6%. Impurities of undesired isomers could be detected at levels as low as 0.2% in the presence of the targeted isomers.     

Application of Capillary Zone Electrophoresis for the Analysis of Low Molecular Weight Organic Acids in Environmental Samples

Abstract

The applicability of a recently developed capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) method for the determination of low molecular weight (LMW) organic acids in water was tested on five types of environmental samples (rainwater, water extract from peat, and soil water from two polluted sites). A full baseline resolved separation of fourteen commonly found LMW carboxylic acids in natural waters (malonic, oxalic, fumaric, maleic, formic, succinic, tartaric, glutaric, adipic, acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric and citric acids), was achieved within eight minutes. The limits of detection (2 X noise) were in the ranges 90–200 μg/l and 0.5 – 5 μg/l for hydrodynamic and electrokinetic injection, respectively. Two different CZE systems, a Waters Quanta 4000 and a Hewlett Packard HP ^3DCE system, were used and their performance compared.     

Hybrid phospholipid bilayer coatings for separations of cationic proteins in capillary zone electrophoresis

Protein separations in CZE suffer from nonspecific adsorption of analytes to the capillary surface. Semipermanent phospholipid bilayers have been used to minimize adsorption, but must be regenerated regularly to ensure reproducibility. We investigated the formation, characterization, and use of hybrid phospholipid bilayers (HPBs) as more stable biosurfactant capillary coatings for CZE protein separations. HPBs are formed by covalently modifying a support with a hydrophobic monolayer onto which a self‐assembled lipid monolayer is deposited. Monolayers prepared in capillaries using 3‐cyanopropyldimethylchlorosilane (CPDCS) or n‐octyldimethylchlorosilane (ODCS) yielded hydrophobic surfaces with lowered surface free energies of 6.0 ± 0.3 or 0.2 ± 0.1 mJ m^?2, respectively, compared to 17 ± 1 mJ m^?2 for bare silica capillaries. HPBs were formed by subsequently fusing vesicles comprised of 1,2‐dilauroyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine or 1,2‐dioleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine to CPDCS‐ or ODCS‐modified capillaries. The resultant HPB coatings shielded the capillary surface and yielded reduced electroosmotic mobility (1.3–1.9 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1s^?1) compared to CPDCS‐ and ODCS‐modified or bare capillaries (3.6 ± 0.2 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1s^?1, 4.8 ± 0.4 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1s^?1, and 6.0 ± 0.2 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1s^?1, respectively), with increased stability compared to phospholipid bilayer coatings. HPB‐coated capillaries yielded reproducible protein migration times (RSD ≤ 3.6%, n ≥ 6) with separation efficiencies as high as 200 000 plates/m.     

Separation of binaphthyl enantiomers by capillary zone electrophoresis and electrokinetic chromatography

The capillary electrophoretic (CE) separation of the enantiomers of three binaphthyl compounds is investigated. Several CE modes such as cyclodextrin (CD) modified capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) (CD-CZE), micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), cyclodextrin electrokinetic chromatography (CD-EKC), etc. are employed for the simultaneous enantiomer separation of the three solutes. The successful separation was achieved by combining two modes, in other words by using more than two chiral selectors. A development of the CE enantiomer separation is demonstrated for the binaphthyl compounds. The enantioselectivity of binaphthyl compounds is alo briefly discussed.     

Separation of Enantiomers by On‐Line Capillary Isotachophoresis‐Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

The ability of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled on‐line with capillary isotachophoresis (ITP) sample pretreatment in the column‐coupling capillary electrophoresis equipment to separate trace enantiomers present in samples of complex ionic matrices and enantiomers present in their mixtures at significantly differing concentrations has been studied. Enantiomers of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl labeled norleucine (DNP‐Nleu) and tryptophan enantiomers were employed as model analytes in this work while urine and mixtures of tryptophan enantiomers of differing concentrations served as model samples. Experiments performed with urine samples spiked with the DNP‐Nleu racemate at sub‐μmol/L concentrations demonstrated excellent sample pretreatment capabilities of ITP (concentration of the analytes, in‐column and post‐column sample clean up) when coupled on‐line with chiral CZE separations. In the CZE separations of enantiomers present in the samples at trace concentrations the sample pretreatment could be performed in both achiral and chiral ITP electrolyte systems. The use of a chiral electrolyte system was found to be essential in the ITP pretreatment of the samples containing the enantiomers at very differing concentrations. For example, a 2×10^–7 mol/L concentration of L‐tryptophan could be detected in the CZE separation stage of the ITP‐CZE combination in samples containing about a 10⁴ excess of D‐tryptophan only when the ITP pretreatment was carried out in the electrolyte system providing the resolution of enantiomers (α‐cyclodextrin served for this purpose in the present work). A post‐column ITP sample clean up was found effective in enhancing the destacking rate of the trace enantiomer in the CZE stage when the migration configuration of the enantiomers was less favorable (the trace constituent migrating behind the major enantiomer).     

Complementary middle‐down and intact monoclonal antibody proteoform characterization by capillary zone electrophoresis – mass spectrometry

High‐resolution capillary zone electrophoresis – mass spectrometry (CZE‐MS) has been of increasing interest for the analysis of biopharmaceuticals. In this work, a combination of middle‐down and intact CZE‐MS analyses has been implemented for the characterization of a biotherapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) with a variety of post‐translational modifications (PTMs) and glycosylation structures. Middle‐down and intact CZE separations were performed in an acidified methanol‐water background electrolyte on a capillary with a positively charged coating (M7C4I) coupled to an Orbitrap mass spectrometer using a commercial sheathless interface (CESI). Middle‐down analysis of the IdeS‐digested mAb provided characterization of PTMs of digestion fragments. High resolution CZE enabled separation of charge variants corresponding to 2X‐deamidated, 1X‐deamidated, and non‐deamidated forms at baseline resolution. In the course of the middle‐down CZE‐MS analysis, separation of glycoforms of the F_C/2 fragment was accomplished due to hydrodynamic volume differences. Several identified PTMs were confirmed by CZE‐MS². Incorporation of TCEP‐HCl reducing agent in the sample solvent resulted in successful analysis of reduced forms without the need for alkylation. CZE‐MS studies on the intact mAb under denaturing conditions enabled baseline separation of the 2X‐glycosylated, 1X‐glycosylated, and aglycosylated populations as a result of hydrodynamic volume differences. The presence of a trace quantity of dissociated light chain was also detected in the intact protein analysis. Characterization of the mAb under native conditions verified identifications achieved via intact analysis and allowed for quantitative confirmation of proteoforms. Analysis of mAbs using CZE‐MS represents a complementary approach to the more conventional liquid‐chromatography – mass spectrometry‐based approaches.     

Capillary Zone Electrophoresis of Eleven Priority Phenols with Amperometric Detection

A scheme for separation and detection of eleven priority phenols using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled with amperometric detection is described. With a capillary of I.D. 50 μm and length 62.5 cm at 9 kV and an electrophoretic buffer of 20 mM CHES (pH 10.1), complete separation of the eleven compounds was achieved in less than 17 min. Amperometric detection was carried out using a carbon fiber microelectrode of diameter 9 μm inserted into the end of the detection capillary. Linearity over two orders of magnitude was generally obtained for the eleven priority phenols. With an electrode potential+1.10 V (vs. Ag/AgCl reference), the concentration limits of detection were in the sub-ppm (10^?6 M) level. This method was successfully applied to analysis of priority phenols in industrial waste water.     

Evaluation of coelectroosmotic capillary zone electrophoresis for the rapid analysis of twelve aromatic sulphonate compounds

Summary Coelectroosmotic capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been investigated as a means of rapid analysis of twelve aromatic sulphonate compounds. The main factors affecting reversal of electroosmotic flow (EOF)—type of osmotic modifier and concentration-were studied. Two types of osmotic modifier, an alkylammonium salt (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) and a cationic polyelectrolyte (hexadimentrine bromide, HDB) were investigated. The composition of the running buffers was optimized according to the characteristics of each osmotic modifier. A concentration of HDB as low as 0.0001% (w/v) was used successfully to provide a stable and reversed EOF.     

Determination of Substance P by capillary zone electrophoresis in rat brain

In the complex neuronal network, chemical messengers like neuropeptides play a key role in signaling. To understand the mechanism of signaling, it is necessary to analyze the levels of neuropeptides from biological sources, which is important for neuroscience research. In the present work, a detailed investigation of the capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method was carried out to detect and quantify Substance P (SP), a bioactive neuropeptide, in rat brain tissues. The method involves specifically, a combination of solid phase extraction and immunoprecipitation prior to the CZE quantification. In this procedure, antibodies are used to capture the analyte of interest before the separation by CZE. Different separation parameters like buffer type, concentration, pH and applied voltage were the steps taken to study and achieve high efficiency CZE separation. CZE analysis was performed in an untreated fused-silica capillary column (35 cm×75 μm i.d.) and 185 nm wavelength using 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) as a separation buffer. Electrophoresis in acidic mode and successive washing procedures solved the adsorption problem. The method provides a rapid analysis time of less than 15 min with 3.91% of RSD. Simultaneously, SP was quantified by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and compared with CZE data. Starting from milligram amounts of brain tissue, the method allowed the detection of low picomole amounts of SP and the combined use of CZE and MALDI-TOF-MS was a success in quantification in this study.     

Capillary electrophoresis for the direct determination of cephalosporins in clinical samples

Summary The possibility of determination of four cephalosporin antibiotics in clinical samples by capillary electrophoresis has been investigated. The separation conditions for capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) were studied in detail. The precision of migration times measured by use of the optimized method was satisfactory (RSD<1%) and response was linearly dependent on concentration over the approximate range 2–150 mg L⁻¹ for all the compounds studied (cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime). Complete separation could be achieved within 5 min. The CZE method was found to be highly suitable for direct determination of the antibiotics in clinical samples such as wound drainage, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine; for serum, however, the use of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) was more advantageous. Presented at Balaton Symposium '01 on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 2–4, 2001     

Direct capillary electrophoretic determination of three chemotherapeutic drugs in human urine

Summary Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been used for direct determination of 6-thioguanine, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil in human urine, by use of a fused-silica capillary (60.2 cm×75 μm i.d.). Separation was performed after hydrodynamic injection for 7 s; the separation potential and capillary temperature were 25 kV and 35°C, respectively. A 45mm borate buffer solution (pH 9.2) was used as separation electrolyte. Under these conditions the analysis takes approximately 10 min and interday precision of migration times and corrected peak areas is satisfactory. A linear response over the concentration range 3.0–20.0 mg L¹ was observed for the three chemotherapeutic drugs in diluted human urine. Detection limits (s/n=3) for 6-thioguanine and methotrexate were approximately 1.60 mg L¹ in diluted human urine; that for fluorouracil was 2.60 mg L¹. A 2-ml volume of human urine was diluted with 2-mL of water and introduced directly into the electrophoresis system. CZE was shown to be a good method with regard to simplicity, satisfactory precision, and sensitivity. This method resulted in especially excellent recoveries for determination of methotrexate in all the different urine samples analysed (n=10).     

Capillary electrophoresis of synthetic peptide standards varying in charge and hydrophobicity

A mixture of eight structurally closely related synthetic peptides as capillary electrophoretic (CE) standards is introduced. The almost identical mass-to-charge ratio of the standards, coupled with their random-coil (i.e., no secondary structure) nature, offer a potent analytical test for CE to separate peptides varying only subtly in hydrophobicity. Parameters varied to effect a separation included background electrolyte concentration, temperature, applied voltage in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE in uncoated capillaries), as well as the introduction of hydrophobic mechanisms to the separation either through the use of micelles or C8-coated capillaries. Our step-by-step approach culminated in an optimized combination of a CZE mechanism for separation of differently charged peptide groups (based on common mass-to-charge ratio) and an ion-pairing mechanism (effecting a separation within each group of identically charged peptides), which we have termed ion-interaction CZE or II-CZE. The study clearly shows how the peptide standards allow an excellent assessment of the resolving power of CE.     

Electroosmotic pump-assisted capillary electrophoresis of proteins

A new method for protein analysis, that is, electroosmotic pump-assisted capillary electrophoresis (EOPACE), is developed and demonstrated to possess several advantages over other CE-based techniques. The column employed in EOPACE consists of two linked sections, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-coated and uncoated capillaries. The PVA-coated capillary column is the section for protein electrophoresis in EOPACE. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) is almost completely suppressed in this hydrophilic polymer coated section, so protein electrophoresis in the PVA-modified capillary is free of irreversible protein adsorption to the capillary inner wall. The uncoated capillary section serves as an electroosmotic pump, since EOF towards cathode occurs at neutral pH in the naked silica capillary. By the separation of a protein mixture containing cytochrome c (Cyt-c), myoglobin and trypsin inhibitor, we have demonstrated the advantages of EOPACE method over other relevant ones such as pressure assisted CE, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with naked capillary and CZE with PVA-coated capillary. A significant feature of EOPACE is that simultaneous separation of cationic, anionic and uncharged proteins at neutral pH can be readily accomplished by a single run, which is impossible or difficult to realize by the other CE-based methods. The high column efficiency and good reproducibility in protein analysis by EOPACE are verified and discussed. In addition, separation of tryptic digests of Cyt-c with the EOPACE system is demonstrated.     

Simultaneous Determination of Cephradine,L‐Arginine,and Cephalexin in Cephradine for Injection by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Abstract

Applying capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to separate the components of Cephradine for Injection: cephradine, and L‐arginine, as well as cephalexin, which is the degradation product of cephradine was studied. The best results were achieved with background electrolyte consisting of 50 mM disodium hydrogen phosphate buffer at pH 6.5 and an applied voltage of 20 kV in a bare fused‐silica capillary. The samples were injected at 50 mbar for 4 s. The capillary temperature was 25°C and the UV detection was performed at a wavelength of 195 nm. Histidine was used as internal standard (IS) to ensure acceptable precision data. The linear ranges of cephradine, L‐arginine, and cephalexin were 93.8–6255.6 µg/mL, 47.9–3195.2 µg/mL, and 6.1–405.4 µg/mL, respectively. Quantitative parameters such as accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation(LOQ) were all established in CZE mode.     

On-line microwave-induced helium plasma atomic emission detection for capillary zone electrophoresis

We report a feasibility study on using a microwave-induced helium plasma atomic emission detector (MIP-AED) as an on-line detector in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). To couple CZE to MIP-AED, we used an ion exchange membrane capillary to connect the separation capillary to the interfacing capillary. The outlet end of the interfacing capillary was placed directly in the discharge tube of the MIP-AED system. The electroosmotic flow generated in the separation capillary carried the analytes and the electrolyte buffer solution through the interfacing capillary into the MIP-AED discharge tube where the analytes were detected. The performance of the CZE/MIP-AED system was evaluated with trimethyltin chloride, dimethyltin dichloride, n-propanol, and 2-butanone. The preliminary results indicate that the MIP-AED can be used in CZE to provide element-specific detection for target analytes.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis for determination of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in human serum

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is the most specific marker for diagnosis of chronic excessive alcohol consumption and includes the serum transferrin (Tf) isoforms with two or less sialic acid residues (di-, mono-, and asialo-Tf). To monitor serum CDT, we developed a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method based on the dynamic capillary coating with diethylenetriamine (DETA). The separation was performed in a bare fused-silica capillary (50 microm ID, 57 cm in length), applying a voltage of 25 kV and a temperature of 40 degrees C. Using a 100 mmol/L borate buffer, pH 8.4 with 3 mmol/L DETA, the Tf isoforms (asialo- to pentasialo-Tf) were resolved within 16 min. Enzymatic cleavage of sialic acid residues with neuraminidase and immunosubtraction were used to identify CDT isoforms. The relative amount of CDT expressed as area % of disialo-Tf isoform related to the area of tetrasialo-Tf in 50 healthy donors (24 males and 26 females; aged 25-50 years) was 3.15 +/- 0.76% (mean +/- SD). The comparison between CDT values obtained by this CZE procedure and the "Axis-Shield %CDT" kit gave r = 0.644, p < 0.001 (n = 290). This easy to use and inexpensive CZE procedure could be an ideal tool to investigate CDT proteins for clinical or forensic purposes.