An Estimation Technique of Molecular Weights of Bio-Oligomers by Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A new simple and accurate method for molecular weight estimation of oligomers by reversed-phase liquid chromatography was developed and has been proposed to use in the investigation of bio-oligomers. Capacity factors (k′) of 24 peptides and proteins ranging in molecular weight from 200 to 70000 were measured independently under isocratic eluting conditions with slightly different acetonitrile contents in the mobile phase. Profiles of plots of the log k' values of the peptides and proteins against the acetonitrile contents were on straight lines with different slopes. These slopes were characteristic for each oligomer and found to be proportional to the two/thirds power of the molecular weight. This elution behavior of oligomers in reversed-phase liquid chromatography can be explained in terms of the solvophobic theory. The estimated molecular weights of several bio-oligomers were more accurate than those obtained by size-exclusion chromatography. when the range of molecular weights was limited from 10³ to 2×10⁴.     

Prediction of the detection ranges for HPLC-peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection system of fluorescent compounds

Summary A manual method for predicting the detection ranges of fluorescent compounds for the HPLC-peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection system is presented utilizing bis(4-nitro-2-(3,6,9-trioxadecyloxycarbonyl)phenyl) oxalate (TDPO) as a chemilumigenic reagent. The generated chemiluminescence decay curves were measured on a photomultiplier and extrapolated to zero time based on the first part of the decay curve. Dipyridamole, perylene, DNS-Ser, Rose Bengal, DNS-Asp, Trp-P-1, pyrencarboxylic acid methyl ester, perfenazine, alimemazine, oxypertine, Glu-P-2, benzydamine and doxorubicin gave chemiluminescence intensity (Icl) values of 3.2 × 10⁶, 2.8 × 10⁶, 2.3 × 10⁵, 2.1 × 10⁵, 1.9 × 10⁵, 1.4 × 10⁵, 9.4 × 10³, 6.2 × 10³, 4.2 × 10³, 3.3 × 10³, 2.3 × 10³, 9.7 × 10² and 3.1 × 10², respectively. The reaction conditions for the HPLC-CL detection system were investigated and optimum conditions obtained.     

The Influence of Stop-Flow on Band Broadening of Peptides in Micro-Liquid Chromatography

Stop-flow techniques are occasionally needed in combinations of LC-NMR and LC-MS. During the interval when there is no flow on the column, axial diffusion of components not yet eluted can be expected to take place. In this paper the size of the band broadening which is caused by diffusion during stop-flow has been determined for two peptides on reversed-phase packed micro columns. Within a temperature range of 20–40 °C, stop-flow could be extended to 30 minutes for peptides having k values in the range of 0.7–5.1 with little increase in band width on 1.0 mm i.d. columns at isocratic conditions. Stop-flow for 6 h at 20 °C increased the peak width of bradykinin and leucine-enkephalin by 25% and 60%, respectively, depending on the secondary interactions of the peptides. The peak broadening increased with increasing temperature (from 20 to 40 °C), as expected, and the impact was significant at stop-flow times larger than 2 h. Stop-flow during gradient elution resulted in less increase in peak width than isocratic elution due to the peak compression obtained when re-entering the gradient. At 20 °C the effective diffusion coefficients of leucine-enkephalin and bradykinin were determined to 6.5 × 10⁻⁷cm ²/s and 5.5 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s, respectively, on the packed micro column.     

The application of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1-sulphonic acid in the differential pulse polarographic determination of amines

The differential pulse polarographic behaviour of 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) derivatives of several primary amines and amino acids was investigated in the presence of sulphite ion. All the derivatives produced a polarographic peak for their complexes with sulphite (1 × 10^?2 M) in pH 8.0 phosphate buffer (0.05 M)/0.1 M potassium chloride. The derivatives of proteins and peptides did not give such a peak. A 5-min reaction time at room temperature (or 50°C for lysine) and pH 10.5 using 1 × 10^?4 M 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1-sulphonic acid provides the optimal conditions for the determination of 5 × 10^?6?2.5 × 10^?5 M amines. The relative standard deviation for determining 1 × 10^?5 M glycine (n = 5) was 1%.     

Study on a Fluorometric Method for the Determination of Protein in Serum Using Quercetin‐Lanthanum (III)‐Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate‐Protein System

Abstract

It was found that the fluorescence intensity of lanthanum (III) (La³⁺)‐quercetin (Qu) complex is greatly enhanced by proteins in the presence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). Based on this finding, a new fluorimetric method for the determination of proteins was developed. Under optimum conditions, the enhanced intensity of fluorescence is in proportion to the concentration of proteins in the range of 2.5×10^?8 to 1.0×10^?5 g/mL for bovine serum albumin (BSA), 5.0×10^?8 to 1.5×10^?5 g/mL for human serum albumin (HSA), and 1.0×10^?7 to 1.5×10^?5 g/mL for egg albumin (EA). Their detection limits (S/N=3) are 5.0×10^?9 g/mL, 7.0×10^?9 g/mL, and 2.1×10^?8 g/mL, respectively. The interaction mechanism was also studied.     

Simultaneous Determination of Epinephrine, Noradrenaline and Dopamine in Human Serum Samples by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Chemiluminescence Detection

A simple, rapid and accurate high performance liquid chromatographic （HPLC） technique coupled with chemiluminescence （CL） detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of epinephrine （E）, noradrenaline （NA） and dopamine （DA）. It was based on the analyte enhancement effect on the CL reaction between luminol and potassium ferricyanide. The effects of various parameters, such as potassium ferricyanide concentration, luminol concentration, pH value and component of the mobile phase on chromatographic behaviors of the analytes （E, NA and DA） were investigated. The separation was carded out on C18 column using the mobile phase of 0.01 mol/L potassium hydrogen phthalate solution and methanol （92 ： 8, V/V）. Under the optimum condi- tions, E, NA and DA showed good linear relationships in the range of 1 × 10^-8 -5 × 10^-6, 5.0× 10^-9 -1.0× 10^-6 and 5.0×10^-9-1.0× 10^-6 g]mL respectively. The detection limits for E, NA and DA were 4.0×10^-9, 1.0× 10^-9 and 8.0 × 10^-10 g/mL. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the analysis of E, NA and DA in human serum samples.     

Application of Nafion／Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate Chemically Modified Electrodes for the Determination of Electroinactive Cations by Ion Chromatography

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Simultaneous determination of silicic acid, Ca, Mg and Al in mineral water and composite tablets by Ion chromatography

Summary A simple, selective and sensitive ion-chromatography method was investigated for simultaneously determining silicic acid, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺ and anions (Cl⁻ and NO ₃ ⁻ ) in real samples. It involved a single-column ion-chromatograph with sodium hydroxide-methanol-water eluent and conductometric detection. Cations were converted to complex anions by adding EDTA to the sample solution. A set of well-defined peaks of silicic acid, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Cl⁻ and NO ₃ ⁻ were obtained. Detection limits using 3.3σ (σ=standard deviation of blank solution) were 1.25×10⁻⁶ M for H₃SiO ₄ ⁻ , 1.32×10⁻⁶ M for Ca²⁺, 1.28×10⁻⁶ M for Mg²⁺, 1.33×10⁻⁶ M for Al³⁺, 1.31×10⁻⁶ M for Cl⁻ and 1.24×10⁻⁶ M for NO ₃ ⁻ . The method was successfully applied to analysis of mineral water and composite tablets.     

THERMODYNAMICS OF THE BINDING OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN ESTER, A HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE-LIKE PHOTOSENSITIZER, AND ITS COMPONENTS TO HUMAN SERUM ALBUMIN, HUMAN HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN AND HUMAN LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN

The phenomena of the high affinity of porphyrins to the human serum proteins, albumin, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is well established. Yet, evaluation of the activities of these proteins as endogenous porphyrin carriers, especially with respect to receptor-mediated porphyrin uptake into tumor cells, the merits of which are still in dispute, requires more quantitative protein-porphyrin binding data. As a continuation of previous studies on this issue, the binding of several porphyrin systems to each of the three proteins, employing previously developed spectral methodologies, was studied. The specific systems reported here are hematoporphyrin ester (HPE), which is a novel hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD)-like system, two porphyrin trimers (denoted O1 and O2) and a porphyrin dimer (denoted O3) isolated from HPE. Human serum albumin (HSA) was found to have a single high-affinity site for the monomeric components of HPE, with an equilibrium binding constant of 3.6 × 10⁶. The equilibrium parameters determined for the binding of the three HPE-isolated oligomers to each of the serum proteins are: (1) Binding constants (K_b') of 2.3 × 10⁶, 6.9 × 10⁴ and 1.5 × 10⁴ and number of sites per protein molecule (n) of 3, 1 and 5, for the binding of 01, 02 and 03, respectively, to HSA. (2) K_b’values of 15.5 × 10³, 15.3 × 10³ and 6.6 × 10³ and n values of 1, 2 and 2, for the binding of O1, O2 and O3, respectively, to HDL. (3) K_b’values of 3.3 × 10³, 2.28 × 10⁴ and 8.0 × 10³ and n values of 50, 20 and 16 for the binding of O1, O2 and O3, respectively, to LDL. These data are direct and clear support not only for the high affinity of porphyrins to serum proteins but specifically of stable oligomers that have been assigned critical roles in the photodynamic treatment of tumors. Of the three proteins, LDL is clearly the best camer, providing the highest drug payload with a moderate affinity (enough to bind and not too much to prevent release). These data are suggested to be promising for the postulated role of LDL in porphyrin uptake into tumor cells and to be useful in the future as benchmarks for novel porphyrin systems.     

Application of micropellicular poly-styrene/divinylbenzene stationary phases for high-performance reversed-phase liquid chromatography electrospray-mass spectrometry of proteins and peptides

Summary Short columns packed with highly crosslinked 2.3 μm poly-styrene/divinylbenzene (PS/DVB) particles were used for rapid and efficient separation of proteins and peptides by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography at elevated temperatures. Enhancement of the diffusivities of the sample components at elevated temperatures together with the short diffusion pathlength with the micropellicular polymeric stationary phases were responsible for high efficiency, high speed of analysis, and short column regeneration times. Underivatized PS/DVB beads as well as PS/DVB microspheres which have been modified with polyvinylalcohol or octadecyl chains on the surface were synthesized, employed, and compared to HY-TACH-C18, a commercially available micropellicular octadecyl-silica stationary phase, for the separation of proteins, octapeptides and tryptic protein digests. Highest performance was obtained with the silica- and PS/DVB-based octadecyl stationary phases, which exhibited similar column efficiencies but different selectivities for proteins and peptides. The minimum detectability at 214 nm and the maximum loading capacity for ribonuclease A using analytical 30×4.6 mm I.D. columns were 10 ng (0.6 pmol) and 1 μg, respectively. Finally, reversed-phase HPLC with a 60×2 mm I.D. narrow-bore column packed with micropellicular octadecyl PS/DVB was coupled successfully to electrospray mass spectrometry at a flow-rate of 0.15 mL min⁻¹ and on-line full-scan mass spectra for molecular mass determination and identification of proteins in the lower picomol range were obtained.     

Separation of HIV‐1 gag virus‐like particles from vesicular particles impurities by hydroxyl‐functionalized monoliths

The downstream processing of enveloped virus‐like particles is very challenging because of the biophysical and structural similarity between correctly assembled particles and contaminating vesicular particles present in the feedstock. We used hydroxyl‐functionalized polymethacrylate monoliths, providing hydrophobic and electrostatic binding contributions, for the purification of HIV‐1 gag virus‐like particles. The clarified culture supernatant was conditioned with ammonium sulfate and after membrane filtration loaded onto a 1 mL monolith. The binding capacity was 2 × 10¹²/mL monolith and was only limited by the pressure drop. By applying either a linear or a step gradient elution, to decrease the ammonium sulfate concentration, the majority of double‐stranded DNA (88–90%) and host cell protein impurities (39–61%) could be removed while the particles could be separated into two fractions. Proteomic analysis and evaluation of the p24 concentration showed that one fraction contained majority of the HIV‐1 gag and the other fraction was less contaminated with proteins originated from intracellular compartments. We were able to process up to 92 bed volumes of conditioned loading material within 3 h and eluted in average 7.3 × 10¹¹ particles per particle fraction, which is equivalent to 730 vaccination doses of 1 × 10⁹ particles.     

Fluorescent detection of peptides and amino acids for capillary electrophoresis via on-line derivatization with 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole

An in-capillary derivatization of amino acids and peptides with 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F) was developed for their subsequent capillary electrophoretic analysis with laser-induced fluorescence detection (λ _ex=488 nm). The in-capillary derivatization was achieved in zone-passing mode by introducing successive plugs of sample and NBD-F into a fused silica capillary previously equilibrated with an alkaline borate buffer. To prevent NBD-F hydrolysis and to achieve a reliable derivatization, NBD-F was prepared daily in absolute ethanol and a plug of absolute ethanol was introduced between the sample and NBD-F reagent plugs. Various parameters influencing the derivatization efficiency were investigated and the optimum conditions were as follows: background electrolyte (BGE), 20 mM borate buffer (pH 8.8); introduction time, 4 s for sample and 2 s for NBD-F; molar ratio of NBD-F/sample, above 215; temperature, 45 °C for amino acids and 35 °C for peptides; applied voltage, +15 kV. The validation of the in-capillary derivatization method under optimal conditions showed a good linearity between the heights of the derivative peaks and the concentrations of the amino acids. The intra-day relative standard deviations of the migration times and the peak heights were less than 1.3% and 4.6%, respectively. The efficient derivatization and separation of a mixture of valine, alanine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid were achieved using this technique. Peptides such as buccaline and β-protein fragment 1–42 could also be derivatized using the developed in-capillary derivatization procedure. In‑capillary derivatization and separation of amino acids with different concentrations. From the top to bottom the concentrations are 1.11×10⁻⁵ M, 5.55×10⁻⁶ M, 2.78×10⁻⁶ M, 6.95×10⁻⁷ M. for valine; 1.26×10⁻⁵ M, 6.30×10⁻⁶ M, 3.15×10⁻⁶ M, 7.88×10⁻⁷ M for alanine; 3.78×10⁻⁵ M, 1.89×10⁻⁵ M, 9.45×10⁻⁶ M, 2.36×10⁻⁶ M for glutamic acid;, 4.27×10⁻⁵ M, 2.14×10⁻⁵ M, 1.07×10⁻⁵ M, 2.68×10⁻⁶ M for aspartic acid. Experiment conditions: injection order: 4s for sample, 1s for absolute ethanol, and then 2s for 5.24×10⁻² M NBD‑F; BGE: 20 mM borate pH 8.77; Applied voltage: 15 kV.     

Micelles with highly branched nanoporous interior: Solution properties and binding capabilities of amphiphilic copolymers with linear dendritic architecture

This article describes the solution behavior of model amphiphilic linear‐dendritic ABA block copolymers that self‐assemble in aqueous media and form micelles with highly branched nanoporous cores. The materials investigated are constructed of poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, with molecular weight 5,000 or 11,000 as the water‐soluble B block and poly(benzyl ether) monodendrons [G] of second and third generation as the hydrophobic A fragments. The process of self‐assembly in aqueous media and the character of the micellar core are investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as the molecular probe. The data obtained by different methods indicate that the critical micelle concentrations (cmc) for these systems are between 1.1 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L for [G‐2]‐PEG5000‐[G‐2] and between 7.08 × 10⁻⁶ and 7.94 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L for [G‐3]‐PEG11000‐[G‐3]. It is found that the ratio of the first and third vibronic bands (I₁/I₃ ) in the fluorescence spectrum of the encapsulated pyrene changes from 1.77 to 1.32 when the concentration of [G‐2]‐PEG5000‐[G‐2] increases from 1.1 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L to 1.1 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L. For [G‐3]‐PEG11000‐[G‐3] these changes are between 1.77 and 1.17 in the same concentration range. The hybrid copolymers form host‐guest complexes with several polyaromatic compounds (phenanthrene, pyrene, perylene and fullerene, C₆₀) that are stable over extended periods of time (more than 12 months). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2711–2727, 2000     

Determination of cyanogen and cyanogen chloride using gas chromatography with a flame ionisation detector

Summary The response of a flame ionisation detector (FID) to cyanogen ((CN)₂) and cyanogen chloride (CNCI) has been studied. The lower limits of detection for (CN)₂ and CNCl were 6×10⁻¹² moles and 2×10⁻¹¹ moles respectively. In a comparative study a thermal conductivity detector gave as its lower limit of detection for both (CN)₂ and CNCl 4×10⁻¹¹ moles. Both detectors showed excellent linearity over the range 0 to 10 micromoles. The ratio of the gradients of the FID calibrations (CN)₂/CNCI were found to be approximately two suggesting the response depended on the cyanide group. The response and stability of the FID was investigated as a function of air and hydrogen flow-rates. The response increased with increasing air flow-rate for both (CN)₂ and CNCI up to 300cm³min⁻¹, thereafter no significant increase was observed. On raising the hydrogen flow from 10 to 25cm³min⁻¹ only a slight increase in the sensitivity of the FID towards both (CN)₂ and CNCI was observed. At higher flow rates the response for (CN)₂ increased markedly whereas at the same flow rates the response for CNCI increased only slightly.     

Potentiometric sensors based on organic ion exchangers for determining tetraalkylammonium salts

Potentiometric sensors with plasticized polymer membranes based on organic ion exchangers, tetraalkylammonium dodecyl sulfates (benzyldimethyldodecylammonium, benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium, dimethyldistearylammonium), have been proposed for the determination of quaternary ammonium salts in model solutions and KATAPAV technical solutions. The thermal stability, composition, and solubility product have been estimated. It has been shown that ion associates are stable to 60?C70°C, K _S varies in the range from 2 × 10^?8 to 5 × 10^?10. The basic electrochemical parameters of the sensors have been determined as well, such as linearity ranges of the electrode function (5 × 10^?5 (5 × 10^?6)?1 × 10^?2 (1 × 10^?3) M) and slopes of the electrode functions (47?C59 mV/pc), response time (60?C90 sec), potential drift (2?C3 mV/day), operation period (3?C4 months), limits of detection for tetramethylammonium salts (1 × 10^?5?4 × 10^?7 M).     

Simultaneous determination of oxalate, thiosulfate, and thiocyanate in urine by ion-exclusion chromatography with electrochemical detection

Summary A sensitive ion-exclusion chromatographic method has been developed for determination of oxalate, thiosulfate, and thiocyanate. The method is based on separation of these anions on a polymethacrylate-based, weakly acidic cation-exchange resin (TSKgel OApak-A) and detection by means of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode electrochemically modified with polyvinylpyridine (PVP), palladium, and iridium oxide (PVP/Pd/IrO₂). The electrochemical behavior of oxalate, thiosulfate, and thiocyanate at this chemically modified electrode (CME) have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The results indicated that electrocatalytic oxidation of these anions by the electrode was efficient and that the sensitivity, stability, and lifetime of the electrode were relatively high. Combined with ion-exclusion chromatography the PVP/Pd/IrO₂ electrode was used as the working electrode for amperometric detection of these anions. All linear ranges were over two orders of magnitude and detection limits, defined asS/N=3, were 9.0×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for oxalate, 6.7×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for thiosulfate, and 5.6×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for thiocyanate. Correlation coefficients were all>0.998. Coupled with microdialysis sampling the method has been successfully applied to the determination of oxalate, thiosulfate, and thiocyanate in urine.     

Metal cation control of electroosmotic flow magnitude in phospholipid‐coated capillaries

CZE has become widespread for the separation and analysis of biomolecules such as proteins and peptides, due to factors such as, the speed of the separations, low sample volume, and high resolution associated with the technique. However, the separation of biomolecules by CZE does present a significant challenge due to the electrostatic attraction and adsorption of cationic, or cation containing, biomolecules to the capillary surface. To that end numerous methods have been developed to passivate, or protect the surface, in order to prevent the adsorption of analytes. Yet, in the process of protecting the capillary surface, the potential for further modification of the EOF, a factor crucial to effective analyte resolution, is greatly diminished. In seeking to overcome this limitation we have explored the potential of incorporating a range of metal cations into a phospholipid bilayer capillary coating. It has previously been established that the inclusion of calcium into the separation buffer with a phospholipid coating will reverse the EOF in the capillary. Here, we present our investigation of a broader range of metal cations included in the separation buffer (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, and Ce³⁺) revealing that the choice of metal cation can drastically influence the EOF, with observed values between ?3.80 × 10^?4 and ?5.74 × 10^?5 cm²/V·s.     

Investigation of complexes of DNA with synthetic peptide fragments of the N-end of histone H2B

The nature of the interaction of high- and low-molecular-weight DNAs (6×10⁶ and 3×10⁵ daltons) with synthetic oligopeptides of the N-end of histone H2B having the sequences 1–21, 1–10, 1–13, 11–21, and 14–21, differing in molecular weight and amino acid composition, as a function of the amount of peptide component in the complex and the ionic strength of the solution has been studied by the methods of UV and CD spectroscopy and the spectrophotometric analysis of melting curves. It has been shown that of all the peptides studied only the 1–21 peptide possesses the capacity of condensing DNA. This capacity depends on the amount of peptide component in the complex, the molecular weight of the DNA, and the ionic strength of the solution. The interaction with peptides under all the conditions studied, without changing the conformational parameters of the DNA, stabilizes its secondary structure in relation to the action of the temperature, which depends on the number of lysine residues in the peptides.     

Voltammetric Sensing of Soybean Agglutinin Using an Electrode Modified with Electron-transfer,Carbohydrate-mimetic/Cross-linker-peptide-collagen Film

We constructed an electrochemical sensor based on an electrode modified with electron-transfer, carbohydrate-mimetic peptides on collagen film. The peptide consisted of Ac-Y₄C combined with soybean agglutinin (SBA). To evaluate the binding between SBA and the peptide, we prepared Ac-Y₄CA_n (3-6) containing oligoalanine as a cross-linker. When SBA and Y₄C on the electrode were incubated, the peak was decreased by the SBA uptake of the peptide. The change in the peak current using Ac-Y₄CA₆ was the greatest of the four peptides. The calibration curve was linear and ranged from 4.0×10⁻¹⁴ to 1.2×10⁻¹² M with a detection limit of 1.3×10⁻¹⁴ M.