基于气相色谱-质谱联用技术的高通量细胞表型分析方法

研究开发了一种基于96孔板培养和气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)技术的高通量细胞表型分析方法。该方法分别以48种物质作为唯一能源对大肠杆菌进行培养,利用GC-MS研究野生型和yfcC基因改造大肠杆菌对各物质的分解代谢情况,实现高通量的细胞表型分析。结果显示,野生型和yfcC基因过表达大肠杆菌对14种物质的代谢能力有显著差异,yfcC基因过表达大肠杆菌对甘氨酸和柠檬酸的代谢能力明显强于野生型大肠杆菌,而对其他物质的代谢能力较弱,我们推测可能是由于yfcC基因促进乙醛酸代谢,导致yfcC过表达菌株对甘氨酸的代谢能力较强;野生型和yfcC基因敲除大肠杆菌间分解有显著差异的共16种物质,其中yfcC基因敲除大肠杆菌对丙氨酸、乳糖、肌醇和柠檬酸的代谢能力较强。该方法简单、高效,可以为未知基因功能研究提供更多代谢功能相关的参考数据。     

Simultaneous LC-MS/MS quantitation of a highly hydrophobic pharmaceutical compound and its metabolite in urine using online monolithic phase-based extraction

This article describes the use of monolithic material as extraction support in simultaneous LC-MS/MS quantitation of a highly hydrophobic pharmaceutical compound and its hydroxylated metabolite in urinary matrix. DMSO was added to urine samples to aid the solubilization of analytes during storage and transfer. Samples were then diluted and injected onto an online extraction system for high-throughput analysis in an automated fashion. A linear range of 1.03-103 ng/mL was validated for the parent compound and 7.02-1400 ng/mL for the metabolite. The accuracy (%bias) at the lower LOQ (LLOQ) for the parent compound was -2.9% and the precision (%CV) at the LLOQ was 5.4%, while the accuracy at LLOQ for the metabolite was 6.3% and the precision at LLOQ was 5.5%. The results show that quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis by online extraction using the monolithic support is reproducible, sensitive, and accurate enough to satisfy bioanalytical testing requirements in a good laboratory practice (GLP) regulated environment. Monolithic phase based online extraction provided efficient sample cleanup, which was evidenced in matrix effect testing against multiple lots of urinary matrix. The method described within can be a generic approach for quantitative analysis of analytes with poor solubility in aqueous matrix.     

Comparison of two algorithmic data processing strategies for metabolic fingerprinting by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The alignment algorithm Statistical Compare (SC) developed by LECO Corporation for the processing of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) data was validated and compared to the in-house developed retention time correction and data alignment tool INCA (Integrative Normalization and Comparative Analysis) by a spike-in experiment and the comparative metabolic fingerprinting of a wild type versus a double mutant strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Starting with the same peak lists generated by LECO's ChromaTOF software, the accuracy of peak alignment and detection of 1.1- to 4-fold changes in metabolite concentration was assessed by spiking 20 standard compounds into an aqueous methanol extract of E. coli. To provide the same quality input signals for both alignment routines, the universal m/z 73 trace of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) group was used as a quantitative measure for all features. The performance of data processing and alignment was evaluated and illustrated by ROC curves. Statistical Compare performed marginally better at the lower fold changes, while INCA did so at the higher fold changes. Using SC, quantitative precision could be improved substantially by exploiting the signal intensities of metabolite-specific unique (U) m/z ion traces rather than the universal m/z 73 trace. A list of 56 features that distinguished the two E. coli strains was obtained by the SC alignment using m/z U with an estimated false discovery rate (FDR) of <0.05. Ultimately, 23 metabolites could be identified, one additional and five less than with INCA due to the failure of SC to extract unitized m/z U's across all fingerprints with suitable spectral intensities for the latter metabolites.     

Comprehensive automation of the solid phase extraction gas chromatographic mass spectrometric analysis (SPE-GC/MS) of opioids,cocaine, and metabolites from serum and other matrices

The analysis of opioids, cocaine, and metabolites from blood serum is a routine task in forensic laboratories. Commonly, the employed methods include many manual or partly automated steps like protein precipitation, dilution, solid phase extraction, evaporation, and derivatization preceding a gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS) or liquid chromatography (LC)/MS analysis. In this study, a comprehensively automated method was developed from a validated, partly automated routine method. This was possible by replicating method parameters on the automated system. Only marginal optimization of parameters was necessary. The automation relying on an x-y-z robot after manual protein precipitation includes the solid phase extraction, evaporation of the eluate, derivatization (silylation with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide, MSTFA), and injection into a GC/MS. A quantitative analysis of almost 170 authentic serum samples and more than 50 authentic samples of other matrices like urine, different tissues, and heart blood on cocaine, benzoylecgonine, methadone, morphine, codeine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, dihydrocodeine, and 7-aminoflunitrazepam was conducted with both methods proving that the analytical results are equivalent even near the limits of quantification (low ng/ml range). To our best knowledge, this application is the first one reported in the literature employing this sample preparation system.     

Validation and application of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for the determination of GDC-0834 and its metabolite in human plasma using semi-automated 96-well protein precipitation

A liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of GDC‐0834 and its amide hydrolysis metabolite (M1) in human plasma to support clinical development. The method consisted of semi‐automated 96‐well protein precipitation extraction for sample preparation and LC‐MS/MS analysis in positive ion mode using TurboIonSpray® for analysis. D6‐GDC‐0834 and D6‐M1 metabolite were used as internal standards. A linear regression (weighted 1/concentration²) was used to fit calibration curves over the concentration range of 1 – 500 ng/mL for both GDC‐0834 and M1 metabolite. The accuracy (percentage bias) at the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 5.20 and 0.100% for GDC‐0834 and M1 metabolite, respectively. The precision (CV) for samples at the LLOQ was 3.13–8.84 and 5.20–8.93% for GDC‐0834 and M1 metabolite, respectively. For quality control samples at 3, 200 and 400 ng/mL, the between‐run CV was ≤7.38% for GDC‐0834 and ≤8.20% for M1 metabolite. Between run percentage bias ranged from ?2.76 to 6.98% for GDC‐0834 and from ?6.73 to 2.21% for M1 metabolite. GDC‐0834 and M1 metabolite were stable in human plasma for 31 days at ?20 and ?70°C. This method was successfully applied to support a GDC‐0834 human pharmacokinetic‐based study. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis of proteomics based on image feature and mathematical morphology

Protein analysis techniques, including 2-D electro- phoresis, image analysis, biological mass spectrometry, database search, etc., are fundamental technologies of proteomics, a front area in biochemistry and life sci- ences[1―3]. Among them image analysi…     

全自动QuEChERS样品制备系统结合高效液相色谱-串联质谱法检测植物源性食品中34种农药残留

建立了全自动QuEChERS样品制备系统结合高效液相色谱-串联质谱（HPLC-MS/MS）同时检测植物源性食品中34种农药残留的分析方法。方法利用全自动QuEChERS样品制备系统涡旋振动和离心功能，将手动QuEChERS方法中样品提取和分散固相萃取相结合；优化了操作参数及前处理步骤，在多反应监测（MRM）模式下检测，基质匹配外标法定量。从方法学验证角度对全自动QuEChERS法与手动QuEChERS法进行了比较。结果表明：该方法中大多数农药在一定范围内呈现良好的线性关系，相关系数（R²）均大于0.99，检出限为0.76~3.60 μg/kg，定量限为2.28~10.80 μg/kg，加标回收率为53.0%~125.2%，相对标准偏差（RSD）<15.9%（n=5）。该方法与手动QuEChERS法的方法验证比对结果显示差异不明显，用于植物源性食品中多农药残留检测可有效降低劳动强度和出错概率。     

Fully automated determination of vitamins A and E in milk-based products using a robotic station-HPLC arrangement

An automated method, which includes an extraction procedure based on the AOAC official method of analysis for vitamins A and E in milk-based infant formula, was developed. The whole procedure is carried out automatically in a robotic station coupled to a liquid chromatograph with a UV detector for individual separation and quantification of the vitamins. Different commercial products (milk, infant formula and nutritional supplements) were analysed, and the data were compared with those obtained using the manual AOAC extraction method. Relative standard deviations using the automated method were 5.92 and 2.57% for vitamin A and E, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of losartan,EXP-3174 and hydrochlorothiazide in plasma via fully automated 96-well-format-based solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–negative electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

An automated, sensitive and high-throughput liquid chromatographic/electrospray tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS/MS) assay was developed for the simultaneous determination of losartan (LOS), its major circulating metabolite EXP-3174 and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in human plasma. LOS and HCTZ coexist in the same drug formulation, and this is the first method that enables the simultaneous determination of both drugs along with the active metabolite of LOS. Since these drugs have different physicochemical properties, the employment of a liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) protocol was precluded. A fully automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) protocol, based on 96-well format plates, was used to isolate these compounds and furosemide (internal standard, IS) from plasma. Washing and elution steps were amended accordingly in order to minimize any matrix effect from components of the plasma without reducing the elution of the molecules of interest. The compounds were eluted from a C18 column and detected with an API 3000 triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer using negative electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The assay was linear over the range 1.00–400 ng/mL for LOS and EXP-3174 and 0.500–200 ng/mL for HCTZ, respectively, when 200 μl of plasma was used in the extraction. The overall intra- and interassay variations were within acceptance limits. The analysis time for each sample was 4 min, and more than 300 samples could be analyzed in one day by running the system overnight. The assay was simple, highly sensitive, selective, precise, fast, and it enables the reliable determination of LOS, EXP-3174 and HCTZ in pharmacokinetic or bioequivalence studies after per os administration of a single tablet containing both drugs.     

Quantitative determination of the novel anticancer drug E7070 (indisulam) and its metabolite (1,4-benzenedisulphonamide) in human plasma, urine and faeces by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

E7070 (indisulam) is a novel anticancer drug currently undergoing clinical investigation. We present a sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of E7070 and its metabolite M1 (1,4-benzenedisulphonamide) in human plasma, urine and faeces. The analytes and their tetra-deuterated analogues, which were used as internal standards, were isolated from the biological matrix by solid-phase extraction with OASIS cartridges (0.5 mL plasma or 1 mL urine) and by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate at pH 5 (1 mL faecal homogenate). The analytes were separated on a C8 reversed-phase chromatographic column and analyzed using electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometric detection in the negative ion mode. The validated concentration ranges in plasma were 0.1-20 microg/mL for E7070 and 0.01-2 microg/mL for M1. In urine and faecal homogenate, a concentration range from 0.05-10 microg/mL or microg/g, respectively, was validated for both analytes. Validation of the plasma assay was performed according to the most recent FDA guidelines. The assay fulfilled all generally accepted requirements for linearity (r > 0.99, residuals between -8 and 10%), accuracy (-13.5 to 1.4%) and precision (all less than 11%) in the tested matrices. We investigated recovery, stability (working solutions at -20 degrees C and at room temperature, biological matrices at -20 degrees C, room temperature and after 3 freeze/thaw cycles; final extracts at room temperature) and robustness. All these parameters were found acceptable. This method is suited for mass balance studies or therapeutic drug monitoring, as demonstrated by a case example showing plasma concentrations and cumulative excretion of E7070 and M1 in urine and faeces. Furthermore, we show the presence of E7070 metabolites in patient urine.     

Automated chip-based nanoelectrospray-mass spectrometry for rapid identification of proteins separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

We report a method using a fully automated chip-based nanoelectrospray system for two-dimensional (2-D) gel sample analyses with mass spectrometric detection. The automated nanoelectrospray system, consisting of the NanoMate and electrospray ionization (ESI) chip, serves as both an autosampler and nanoESI source. This infusion system aspirates samples from a 96-well plate using disposable pipette tips and then delivers these samples sequentially to an ESI chip. This chip is a fully integrated monolithic device consisting of a 10x10 array of nozzles. The automated nanoelectrospray system is easily controlled through software, permitting the user to select the number of samples to be analyzed, the volume of sample to aspirate, the spray voltage, and analysis time. The system offers all the advantages of conventional nanoelectrospray plus automated, high-throughput analyses without analyte carryover. The system was used for a protein identification study of 2-D gel spots of both Escherichia coli and yeast crude cell extracts. The identification of 50 spots from E. coli crude cell extract and 27 spots from yeast extract is presented, demonstrating the powerful combination of the automated nanoESI system, the Thermo Finnigan LCQ Deca ion-trap mass spectrometer, and SEQUEST search software. In addition, the effects of silver staining and colloidal Coomassie blue staining of 2-D gel spots on the detection sensitivity and protein sequence coverage are compared and discussed. Furthermore, the comparison results using the multiwell microscale preparation kit versus manual extraction for in-gel samples are presented.     

Comparative evaluation of extraction methods for simultaneous mass-spectrometric analysis of complex lipids and primary metabolites from human blood plasma

Metabolomic results on human blood plasma largely depend on the sample preparation protocols employed for protein precipitation and metabolite extraction. Five different extraction methods were examined, which can be grouped into two categories, liquid-liquid extraction and protein precipitation methods, including long-standing protocols such as the Folch extraction and Bligh-Dyer extraction in comparison to modern methods such as the Matyash protocol and two global metabolite extraction methods. Extracts were subjected to analysis of blood plasma lipids and primary metabolites by using chip-based direct infusion nanoelectrospray tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry, respectively. Optimal extraction schemes were evaluated based on the number of identified metabolites, extraction efficiency, compound diversity, reproducibility, and convenience for high-throughput sample preparations. Results showed that Folch and Matyash methods were equally valid and robust for lipidomic assessments while primary metabolites were better assessed by the protein precipitation methods with organic solvent mixtures. Graphical Abstract

Schematic workflow of five extraction methods and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis using GC-TOF MS and nanoelectrospray direct-infusion ion trap MS/MS?     

Sample preparation for planar chromatography

High-performance thin-layer chromatography has favorable properties for high-throughput separations with a high matrix tolerance. Sample preparation, however, is sometimes required to control specific matrix interferences and to enhance the detectability of target compounds. Trends in contemporary applications have shifted from absorbance and fluorescence detection to methods employing bioassays and mass spectrometry. Traditional methods (shake-flask, heat at reflux, Soxhlet, and hydrodistillation) are being challenged by automated instrumental approaches (ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted solvent extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction) and the quick, easy cheap, efficient, rugged, and safe extraction method for faster and streamlined sample processing. Liquid-liquid extraction remains the most widely used approach for sample clean-up with increasing competition from solid-phase extraction. On-layer sample, clean-up by planar solid-phase extraction is increasingly used for complex samples and in combination with heart-cut multimodal systems. The automated spray-on sample applicator, the elution head interface, biological detection of target and non-target compounds, and straightforward mass spectrometric detection are highlighted as the main factors directing current interest toward faster and simpler sample workflows, analysis of more complex samples, and the determination of minor contaminants requiring high concentration factors.     

超高效液相色谱-串联四极杆飞行时间质谱和超高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱用于血浆中苦杏仁苷及其代谢产物野黑樱苷的定性和定量分析

建立了大鼠灌胃麻杏石甘汤后血浆中苦杏仁苷、野黑樱苷的定性及定量方法。样品经液液萃取净化处理,定性采用超高效液相色谱-串联四极杆飞行时间质谱仪（UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS）,经Shim-pack XR-ODS Ⅲ色谱柱（75 mm×2.0 mm,1.6 μm）分离,定量采用超高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱仪（UPLC-Q-TRAP-MS）,经Agilent C₁₈色谱柱（50 mm×2.1 mm,1.7 μm）分离,电喷雾负离子化（ESI）及MRM模式测定,流动相均为乙腈-0.1%（v/v）甲酸水溶液。结果显示苦杏仁苷、野黑樱苷在相应浓度范围内线性关系良好（相关系数分别为0.9990、0.9970）,精密度（RSD）小于9.20%,回收率为82.33%~95.25%,检出限（LOD）约为0.50 ng/mL。本方法快速简便,为血浆样品中苦杏仁苷、野黑樱苷的定性和定量分析提供良好参考。     

Determination of Arotinoid Ro 15–0778 and its Metabolite in Plasma by HPLC

Abstract

A method is described for the quantitative analysis in plasma of Ro 15–0778, an arotinoid, (E)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-1, 1, 4, 4-tetramethyl-6-(1-methyl-2-phenylethenyl) naphthalene and its metabolite Ro 14–6113, (E)-4- 2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-2 methylethenyl) phenol. Following a simple extraction, the compounds are determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and detection at 300 nm. The experimental error is below 12% in the concentration range 6–4350 ng/ml. The detection limit is about 2 ng/ml. This method was applied to plasma specimens collected from patients receiving single or multiple dose administration of this compound.     

Determination of ketotifen and its conjugated metabolite in human plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: application to a pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was developed for the investigation of the pharmacokinetics of ketotifen and its major metabolite, ketotifen N-glucuronide, in human plasma. The plasma samples were treated by liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed using LC/MS/MS with an electrospray ionization interface. Diphenhydramine was used as the internal standard. The method had a lower limit of quantitation of 10 pg/mL for ketotifen, which offered increased sensitivity, selectivity and speed of analysis, compared with existing methods. The intra- and inter-day precision were measured to be below 8.2% and accuracy between -2.4% and 3.4% for all QC samples. Incubation of the plasma samples with beta-glucuronidase allowed the quantitation of ketotifen N-glucuronide. This quantitation method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of ketotifen and its major metabolite after oral administration of 2 mg ketotifen fumarate to 16 healthy volunteers.     

Combination of a new sample preparation strategy with an accelerated high-performance liquid chromatography assay with photodiode array and mass spectrometric detection for the determination of destruxins from Metarhizium anisopliae culture broth

A method is presented allowing the qualitative and quantitative analysis of destruxins (dtxs) in fungal culture broth. Sample preparation was carried out by ultrafiltration over a commercially available acetylated cellulose (CTA) membrane with a Mr 10000 cut-off. The developed high-performance liquid chromatography assay with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) cuts down the analysis time by 50% compared to most of the currently applied methods (retention times: dtx A = 8.3 min, dtx B = 8.9 min, dtx E= 7.5 min) and enables dtx detection down to sub-ppm range (limits of detection: dtx A = 0.19 mg/l, dtx B = 0.41 mg/l, dtx E = 0.10 mg/l). Stability of dtx E in filtrated culture broth was found to be much lower than anticipated (half-life time = 64.5 +/- 1.7 h). Thus, the detoxification of this metabolite is an abiotic process. Coupling of the HPLC-DAD system to an ion trap mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization source operating in the positive mode allowed identification of most dtxs encountered by utilizing multiple stage MS-MS experiments and retention time rules.     

Molecular Pathological Diagnosis of Thyroid Tumors Using Spatially Resolved Metabolomics

The pathological diagnosis of benign and malignant follicular thyroid tumors remains a major challenge using the current histopathological technique. To improve diagnosis accuracy, spatially resolved metabolomics analysis based on air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI) technique was used to establish a molecular diagnostic strategy for discriminating four pathological types of thyroid tumor. Without any specific labels, numerous metabolite features with their spatial distribution information can be acquired by AFADESI-MSI. The underlying metabolic heterogeneity can be visualized in line with the cellular heterogeneity in native tumor tissue. Through micro-regional feature extraction and in situ metabolomics analysis, three sets of metabolic biomarkers for the visual discrimination of benign follicular adenoma and differentiated thyroid carcinomas were discovered. Additionally, the automated prediction of tumor foci was supported by a diagnostic model based on the metabolic profile of 65 thyroid nodules. The model prediction accuracy was 83.3% when a test set of 12 independent samples was used. This diagnostic strategy presents a new way of performing in situ pathological examinations using small molecular biomarkers and provides a model diagnosis for clinically indeterminate thyroid tumor cases.     

Comparison of surfactant-assisted shotgun methods using acid-labile surfactants and sodium dodecyl sulfate for membrane proteome analysis

Three surfactant-assisted shotgun methods using acid labile surfactants, sodium-3-[(2-methyl-2-undecyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-methoxyl]-1-propanesulfonate (RapiGest) and 3-[3-(1,1-bisalkyloxyethyl)pyridin-1-yl]propane-1-sulfonate (PPS), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were investigated for their applicability to membrane proteome analysis. It is shown that RapiGest is a preferred reagent for handling membrane proteomes of Escherichia coli and MCF7 cells for liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS) analysis of tryptic digests. The RapiGest method allowed identification of more peptides and proteins than the SDS and PPS methods and there was no apparent bias for the type of peptides and proteins identified by the RapiGest and SDS methods, while a slightly higher proportion of hydrophilic peptides and proteins were identified by the PPS method. The performance of the SDS and PPS methods is similar in terms of the numbers of peptides and proteins identified. Since the SDS method required the removal of SDS using a technique such as strong-cation exchange (SCX), we further investigated the effect of SCX on sample loss through analyzing the digest of an enriched E. coli membrane fraction as well as a standard protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA). The results showed that extensive sample loss (as much as 62%) was encountered during the SCX cleaning step. We then applied the RapiGest method in combination with two-dimensional LC MS/MS to characterize the E. coli membrane proteome. In total, 1626 unique proteins (5799 unique peptides) were identified with a peptide false discovery rate of 2.4%. About 60% of the identified proteins with known cellular locations were found to be membrane proteins. Among them, about 75% were integral membrane proteins. This work represents one of the most comprehensive profiles of E. coli membrane proteome generated by a proteomic technique.     

Quantitative detection of metabolites using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry with 9-aminoacridine as the matrix

Quantitative detection of metabolites is a highly desirable feature in metabolome analyses. Recently, the successful detection of multiple metabolites using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) in the negative ion mode employing 9-aminoacridine as the organic matrix was reported (Edwards JL, Kennedy RT. Anal. Chem. 2005; 77: 2201-2209). However, there is little information available on quantitative detection of multiple metabolites using MALDI-MS and in particular the influence changes in metabolite levels have on such detections. We investigated this aspect by spiking a synthetic metabolite cocktail (consisting of 39 metabolites including amino acids, organic acids and phospho-metabolites) with five representative metabolites at increasing concentrations, one metabolite at a time, and assessed the signals from replicate determinations. It was possible to detect quantitative changes in the spiked metabolites. Although analyte suppression was observed, it was possible to observe scenarios where the spiked metabolite had little or no influence on the quantitative detection of some metabolites. It appears that the mass spectral response of the metabolite is suppressed only when the spiked chemical species are relatively similar in chemical terms. This suggests that quantitation is possible in scenarios where changes in a specific metabolite or a class of metabolites are monitored following appropriate analyte separation strategies, and that careful interpretations must be made when using the technique for quantitative analysis in unbiased metabolomic approaches.