4:3-β-naphthapyrone-4-acetic acidN-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester as a fluorescent labeling reagent for amino acids and oligopeptides in high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary 4:3-β-Naphthapyrone-4-acetic acidN-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester (NPA-OSu) is a highly sensitive and moderately reactive derivatizing reagent with a naphthapyrone moiety as fluorophore and anN-hydroxysuccinimidyl active ester as reactive group toward amino compounds. It is readily prepared in two steps. The fluorescence properties of NPA-OSu and its hydrolysis product have been studied in detail, and the conditions for derivatization and separation of the NPA-OSu derivatives of some amino acids and oligopeptides have been investigated. Atλ _ex = 352 nm andλ _em = 422 nm the detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio=3) for amino acids and oligopeptides reached fmol levels, for injection of 20 μL; this sensitivity was comparable with that obtained by use of 7-(diethylamino)coumarin-3-carboxylic acid succinimidyl ester as derivatizing reagent in the analysis of amino acids by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced-fluorescence detection.     

氨基酸的2,3-二甲醛基喹喔啉荧光衍生及高效液相色谱分离分析

将荧光试剂2,3-二甲醛基喹喔啉首次应用到氨基酸的高效液相色谱分离分析中。考察了该荧光试剂与伯胺氨基酸衍生反应的pH值、比例、反应时间等影响因素,确定衍生反应的最佳条件为:100 mmol/L硼砂缓冲液(pH 9.5),二巯基乙醇、衍生试剂与氨基酸的比例为9∶3∶1,室温下反应5 min。采用C18色谱柱,经二元梯度洗脱,荧光检测,17种伯胺蛋白氨基酸得到较好分离。氨基酸的浓度在0.01～1.00 mmol/L范围内与其衍生物峰面积呈较好的线性关系,氨基酸衍生物的检出限为0.02～0.07μg/L。应用该方法对麦冬中游离氨基酸的含量进行测定,结果满意。此方法快速,高效,灵敏度高,精密度好。     

Analytical potential of 6-oxy-(N-succinimidyl acetate)-9-(2'-methoxycarbonyl) fluorescein for the determination of amino compounds by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

The analytical potential of a fluorescein analogue, 6-oxy-(N-succinimidyl acetate)-9-(2'-methoxycarbonyl) fluorescein (SAMF), for the first time synthesized in our laboratory, as a labeling reagent for the labeling and determination of amino compounds by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was investigated. Biogenic monoamines and amino acids were chosen as model analytes to evaluate the analytical possibilities of this approach. The derivatization conditions and separation parameters for the biogenic amines were optimized in detail. The derivatization was performed at 30 degrees C for 6 min in boric acid buffer (pH 8.0). The derivatives were baseline-separated in 15 min with 25 mM boric acid running buffer (pH 9.0), containing 24 mM SDS and 12.5% v/v acetonitrile. The concentration detection limit for biogenic amines reaches 8 x 10(-11) mol.L(-1) (signal-to-noise ratio = 3). The application of CE in the analysis of the SAMF-derivatized amino acids was also exploited. The optimal running buffer for amino acids suggested that weak acidic background electrolyte offered better separation than the basic one. The proposed method was applied to the determination of biogenic amines in three different beer samples with satisfying recoveries varying from 92.8% to 104.8%. Finally, comparison of several fluorescein-based probes for amino compounds was discussed. With good labeling reaction, excellent photostability, pH-independent fluorescence (pH 4-9), and the resultant widely suited running buffer pH, SAMF has a great prospect in the determination of amino compounds in CE.     

Fixation of amino acids and oligopeptides by freeze-drying in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in an acetic/formic acid buffer, pH 2.0, in fabric reinforced gels, amino acids and oligopeptides could successfully be fixed in the gel by freeze-drying. Lyophilization of the fabric reinforced polyacrylamide gel after electrophoresis resulted in a dry film which absorbed ninhydrin solution quickly and uniformly, thus improving the detection limit for amino acids and oligopeptides with molecular weights ranging from 189-1045. Most amino acids were detected with a sensitivity of 0.1-0.25 microgram and for oligopeptides the detection limit was found to be 0.5-5 microgram.     

3-Nitro-l,2,4-triazol-l-yl-tris(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyNTP) as a condensing reagent for solid-phase peptide synthesis

Solid-phase oligopeptide synthesis has been well developed and most short oligopeptides can now be easily synthesized. However, when a desired oligopeptide forms a secondary structure or includes less reactive amino acids such as aminoisobutyric acid, its terminal amino groups become less reactive and synthesis of the desired oligopeptides becomes difficult. To expand the number of synthetic peptide sequences, we have developed efficient coupling conditions using 3-nitro-l,2,4-triazol-l-yl-tris(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyNTP) as a highly reactive condensing reagent on an unswellable solid support. PyNTP demonstrated higher reactivity than conventional condensing reagents and the optical purity of the synthesized oligopeptides was sufficiently high for application to general oligopeptide synthesis.     

Separation of fluorinated amino acids and oligopeptides from their non-fluorinated counterparts using high-performance liquid chromatography

Chromatographic conditions for the separation of fluorinated amino acids and oligopeptides from their non-fluorinated counterparts were explored. The separation of six pairs of analytes, including both aromatic and aliphatic fluorocarbons, was investigated at various temperatures using both hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon columns and eluents. Our results show that when hydrocarbon eluents are used, fluorocarbon column provides better separation of fluorinated amino acids or oligopeptides from their non-fluorinated counterparts; when fluorocarbon eluents are used, hydrocarbon column provides better separation of fluorinated amino acids or oligopeptides from their non-fluorinated counterparts. These chromatographic behaviors reflect the fluorophilicity possessed by fluorinated amino acids and oligopeptides.     

Chiral separation and determination of the optical purity of thiamphenicol-related chiral compound by capillary zone electrophoresis with cyclodextrins as chiral selectors

Summary One classical method for quantitation of amino acids in proteins is hydrolysis of the proteins and determination of the free amino acids. Although the drastic experimental conditions necessary for complete hydrolysis always cause degradation of some of the amino acids, if mild hydrolysis conditions are used, a mixture of amino acids and oligopeptides is obtained. If these conditions are adequately tuned, the oligopeptides are almost exclusively dipeptides. For this reason we have initiated a study to find a derivatizing agent suitable for the analysis of amino acids and dipeptides by an absolute method of quantitation already tested for amino acids. FMOC-Cl was found to be a suitable derivatizing agent for this purpose.     

Development of a sensitive fluorescent derivatization reagent 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC) and its application for determination of amino acids from seeds and bryophyte plants using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and identification with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A pre-column derivatization method for the sensitive determination of amino acids and peptides using the tagging reagent 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection has been developed. Identification of derivatives was carried out by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). The chromophore of 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate (CEOC) reagent was replaced by 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole functional group, which resulted in a sensitive fluorescence derivatizing reagent BCEOC. BCEOC can easily and quickly label peptides and amino acids. Derivatives are stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The derivatives showed an intense protonated molecular ion corresponding m/z (M + H)⁺ under electrospray ionization (ESI) positive-ion mode with an exception being Tyr detected at negative mode. The collision-induced dissociation of protonated molecular ion formed a product at m/z 246.2 corresponding to the cleavage of CO bond of BCEOC molecule. Studies on derivatization demonstrate excellent derivative yields over the pH 9.0-10.0. Maximal yields close to 100% are observed with a 3-4-fold molar reagent excess. Derivatives exhibit strong fluorescence and extracted derivatization solution with n-hexane/ethyl acetate (10:1, v/v) allows for the direct injection with no significant interference from the major fluorescent reagent degradation by-products, such as 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethanol (BDC-OH) (a major by-product), mono-1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl carbonate (BCEOC-OH) and bis-(1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl) carbonate (BCEOC)₂. In addition, the detection responses for BCEOC derivatives are compared to those obtained with previously synthesized 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate (CEOC) in our laboratory. The ratios AC_BCEOC/AC_CEOC = 2.05-6.51 for fluorescence responses are observed (here, AC is relative fluorescence response). Separation of the derivatized peptides and amino acids had been optimized on Hypersil BDS C₁₈ column. Detection limits were calculated from 1.0 pmol injection at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, and were 6.3 (Lys)-177.6 (His) fmol. The mean interday accuracy ranged from 92 to 106% for fluorescence detection with mean %CV < 7.5. The mean interday precision for all standards was <10% of the expected concentration. Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients of >0.9999. Good compositional data could be obtained from the analysis of derivatized protein hydrolysates containing as little as 50.5 ng of sample. Therefore, the facile BCEOC derivatization coupled with mass spectrometry allowed the development of a highly sensitive and specific method for the quantitative analysis of trace levels of amino acids and peptides from biological and natural environmental samples.     

LC-Fluorescence Detection Analysis of Amino Acids from Stellera chamaejasme L. Using 2-[2-(Dibenzocarbazole)-ethoxy] Ethyl Chloroformate as Labeling Reagent

A pre-column derivatization method for the sensitive determination of amino acids using the tagging reagent 2-[2-(dibenzocarbazole)-ethoxy] ethyl chloroformate (DBCEC) followed by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection has been developed. Identification of DBCEC-amino acids derivatives was by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS–MS). DBCEC can easily and quickly label amino acids, and derivatives are stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by LC. Separation of the derivatized amino acids had been optimized on Hypersil BDS C₁₈ column. A perfect baseline separation for 20 amino acid derivatives was achieved with a ternary gradient elution program. The chromophore of dibenzocarbazole group, which comprise a large rigid planar structure with p–π conjugation system, resulted in a sensitive fluorescence detection for amino acid derivatives. The derivatized amino acids were detected with fluorescence detector with excitation maximum and emission maximum at 300 and 390 nm, respectively. Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients of >0.9993, and detection limits were in the range of 0.78–5.13 fmol (signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The mean accuracy ranged from 83.4 to 98.7% for fluorescence detection. The mean inter-day precision for all standards was <4.2% of the expected concentration. Therefore, the proposed method was a highly sensitive and specific method for the quantitative analysis of amino acids from biological and natural environmental samples.     

Selective and sensitive determination of peptides using 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid as a fluorogenic reagent

A novel fluorescence (FL) reaction for N-terminal Gly-containing peptides has been developed using 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (3,4-DHPAA). The reaction of the peptides with 3,4-DHPAA was carried out in borate buffer (pH 8.0) in the presence of sodium periodate at 37 °C for 10 min, and the FL was measured with a spectrofluorimeter at the excitation and emission wavelengths of 370 nm and 465 nm, respectively. The 3,4-DHPAA reagent generated particularly strong FL for peptides containing Gly at their N-termini. When various other bio-substances, such as amino acids, sugars, nucleic bases, nucleotides, and proteins, were reacted with 3,4-DHPAA, no FL was observed. Under optimized reaction conditions, the lower detection limit of 0.25 μmol L⁻¹ was obtained for the N-terminal Gly-containing peptides of Gly-Pro (GP) and Gly-Pro-Pro (GPP), which gave 3 times greater FL intensity than that observed for the reagent blank. The proposed reaction with 3,4-DHPAA as a fluorogenic reagent is selective and sensitive for the detection of N-terminal Gly-containing peptides, and therefore, this method could be a useful tool for the determination of these particular oligopeptides.     

Determination of Amino Acids in an Individual Erythrocyteby Capillary Electrophoresis with Intracellular FITC-derivatization and Laser-induced Fluorescence Detection

A novel approach for analysis of amino acids in individual erythrocytes was established.In this method, the derivatization reagent was in~oduced into the living cells by electroporation.After derivatization, the amino acids in a single cell were determined by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection.     

Analysis of free amino acids in islets of Langerhans by high-performance liquid chromatography using pre-column derivatization with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method with pre-column derivatization and fluorescence detection was developed and used for the analysis of free amino acids in islets of Langerhans; 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl) served as pre-column derivatization reagent. Islets of Langerhans were separated from the pancreas of normal and obese rats, treated with pre-cooling methanol-water (80:20, v/v), and ultrasonicated to fragmentize the islets and effect deproteination. Several parameters influencing the derivatization reaction and chromatographic separation were optimized. Amino acid derivatives obtained under optimal conditions were separated on a C18 column with acetonitrile-acetate buffer as mobile phase and detected at 470 nm/540 nm (Ex/Em). Matrix effects were investigated and good linearities with correlation coefficients better than 0.9972 were obtained over a wide range of 0.42-42.11 microM for most of the amino acids. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were within the range of 6.1-51 nM. The precision of the method and recoveries were in the ranges of 1.43-10.76% (RSD%) and 85.07-108.82%, respectively. The analytical results showed that the serine content was markedly higher in normal rats than in obese rats, whereas methionine was of relatively lower content in both normal and obese rats.     

Fluorimetric determination of secondary amino acids by 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole

The fluorigenic reaction of proline with 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-l,3-diazole (NBD—F) is superior, in terms of reactivity and fluorescence yield, to the reactions with the analogous 7-chloro and 7-bromo derivatives. With NBD—F, the reagent blank fluorescence can be suppressed by adjusting the medium to around pH 1 with hydrochloric acid. Many secondary amino acids can be determined by reaction with NBD—F at pH 7.5 at 70°C for 5 min and subsequent acidification to pH 1. The detection limits for proline, hydroxyproline and sarcosine are 0.08, 0.04 and 0.17 nmol ml^-1, respectively. Under the same conditions, the primary amino acids, alanine, arginine and aspartic acid, are detected at 1.7, 1.7 and 3.4 nmol ml^-1, respectively.     

HPLC of amino acids and oligopeptides by pre-column fluorescence derivatization with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-α-(9-phenanthrene)-acetate

Summary A sensitive LC method for the detection of amino acids and oligopeptides with pre-column fluorescence derivatization has been developed. Glycine, glycylglycine, triglycine, glutathione, glutamic acid, and cysteine were separated on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column with methanol-water-triethylamine eluent, derivatization and chromatographic conditions were optimized. The six derivatives were eluted in 20 min with good reproducibility. The relative standard derviations (n=6) at an analytical concentration of 2×10⁻⁶ M are <5%. Detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio=3) for the six derivatives are 23–68 fmol.     

N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺-3-吲哚乙酸酯柱前衍生高效液相色谱分离及荧光测定肽及其水解物

本文首次报道了一种新的羧酸活性酯试剂,N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺-3-吲哚乙酸酯作为柱前荧光衍生试剂,流动相为10mmol/L柠檬酸-Na₂HPO₄－pH 3.6的甲醇/水(20/80,V/V)溶液,C₁₈柱,于λ_cx/λ_cm＝278nm/355nm处进行荧光检测,高效液相色谱分离测定了谷胱甘肽、二甘肽、谷氨酸、胱氨酸、甘氨酸.当S/N＝3时,检出限为0.2至2.5Pmol.     

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic separation and fluorescent detection of amino acids derivatized with 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole

Another method has been developed for the separation of amino acids (1 min derivatization plus 22 min separation) by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) with laser-induced fluorescence detection. Interestingly enough, such work has never been performed on essential amino acids derivatized by 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F). Fifteen L-amino acid standards were labelled with NBD-F at 60 degrees C for 1 min, and separated in a buffer system containing 20 mM borate, 25 mM sodium cholate, 10 mM Brij 35 and 2.5% methanol. Methanol was employed to expand the MECC migration time window; whereas Brij 35 was used to improve the fluorescence intensity of amino acid derivatives. This method also indicates that bile salt is effective for MECC separation of ionic analytes. Surprising though, improvements in resolution, sensitivity and speed for amino acids analysis are obtained in this work, which are not initially apparent in just employing another derivatizing reagent. Under optimal conditions, 15 amino acids were separated in a short 22 min analysis time, the shortest ever reported, and detection limits of nanomolar concentration and attomole mass were obtained. Furthermore, RSDs of migration time and peak height are better than 1% and 1.8%, respectively, again the smallest ever reported in the literature.     

6-oxy-(acetyl piperazine) fluorescein as a new fluorescent labeling reagent for free fatty acids in serum using high-performance liquid chromatography

A new fluorescein-based fluorescent derivatizating reagent, 6-oxy-(acetyl piperazine) fluorescein (APF), has been designed, synthesized and developed for carboxylic acid labeling. It was used as a pre-column derivatizing reagent for the determination of seven free fatty acids (lauric acid, myristic acid, arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid) with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The derivatization reaction of APF with seven fatty acids was completed at 60 degrees C for 1 h using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) as the condensing reagent. On a C18 column, the derivatives of APF with seven free fatty acids could be separated completely in 22 min using a mobile phase of methanol-water (88:12, v/v) containing 7 mmol L(-1) pH 6.5 Na2HPO4-H3Cit3 buffer with fluorescence detection at lambdaex/lambdaem=467/512 nm. The detection limits could reach 0.1-6.4 nmol L(-1) (signal-to-noise=3). This reagent was applied to the determination of the free fatty acids in human serum samples with satisfying recovery efficiencies varying from 93 to 105%.     

Enantioselective micellar electrokinetic chromatography of dl‐amino acids using (+)‐1‐(9‐fluorenyl)‐ethyl chloroformate derivatization and UV‐induced fluorescence detection

Chiral analysis of dl ‐amino acids was achieved by micellar electrokinetic chromatography coupled with UV‐excited fluorescence detection. The fluorescent reagent (+)‐1‐(9‐fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate was employed as chiral amino acid derivatizing agent and sodium dodecyl sulfate served as pseudo‐stationary phase for separating the formed amino acid diastereomers. Sensitive analysis of (+)‐1‐(9‐fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate‐amino acids was achieved applying a xenon‐mercury lamp for ultraviolet excitation, and a spectrograph and charge‐coupled device for wavelength‐resolved emission detection. Applying signal integration over a 30 nm emission wavelength interval, signal‐to‐noise ratios for derivatized amino acids were up to 23 times higher as obtained using a standard photomultiplier for detection. The background electrolyte composition (electrolyte, pH, sodium dodecyl sulfate concentration, and organic solvent) was studied in order to attain optimal chemo‐ and enantioseparation. Enantioseparation of 12 proteinogenic dl ‐amino acids was achieved with chiral resolutions between 1.2 and 7.9, and detection limits for most derivatized amino acids in the 13–60 nM range (injected concentration). Linearity (coefficients of determination > 0.985) and peak‐area and migration‐time repeatabilities (relative standard deviations lower than 2.6 and 1.9%, respectively) were satisfactory. The employed fluorescence detection system provided up to 100‐times better signal‐to‐noise ratios for (+)‐1‐(9‐fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate‐amino acids than ultraviolet absorbance detection, showing good potential for d ‐amino acid analysis.     

Simultaneous analysis of sulfur-containing excitatory amino acids using micellar electrokinetic chromatography with diode array and laser-induced fluorescence detection

The suitability of micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) coupled with diode array or laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection to analyze the four sulfur-containing excitatory amino acids (SEAA), homocysteine sulfinic acid (HCSA), homocysteic acid (HCA), cysteine sulfinic acid (CSA), and cysteic acid (CA) was investigated. 5-Carboxy-fluorescein succinimidyl ester was chosen as fluorescent reagent to derivatize HCSA, HCA, CSA, and CA. During method development, the yield of reaction dependent on pH and incubation time as well as the stability of the products were analyzed. The maximum yield was obtained after 30 min using a 0.1 M borate buffer (pH 8.9) as derivatization buffer. Each labeled amino acid exhibited high stability at room temperature over a period of 5 days. Baseline separation of labeled HCSA, HCA, CSA, and CA was obtained using a buffer consisting of 0.1 M borate, 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and 5% v/v methanol (pH 9.0). By applying LIF detection, limits of detection ranged from 0.9 x 10(-10) M for HCSA to 6.0 x 10(-10) M for CA, respectively. Slightly modified separation conditions enabled the analysis of SEAA in cerebrospinal fluid in the presence of the neurotransmitters glutamate and aspartate. In conclusion, MEKC coupled with LIF detection is a suitable technique for the simultaneous and sensitive analysis of SEAA. Further work will focus on the validation of the method with cerebrospinal fluid as sample matrix.     

Application of a fluorescent derivatization reagent 9-chloromethyl anthracene on determination of carboxylic acids by HPLC

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is proposed for the analysis of some carboxylic acids in food samples and the environment. The use of 9-chloromethyl anthracene as a fluorescence-labeling reagent has been investigated. The derivatization reagent reacts with unitary carboxylic acids and tetrabutylammonium bromide as a catalyst within 50 min in acetonitrile to give esters, which can be separated by HPLC employing fluorescence detection at λ(ex) = 365 and λ(em) = 410 nm. The optimum conditions for derivatization, fluorescence detection and chromatographic separation are established. The method shows good sensitivity, with a detection limit from 0.18 to 2.53 pmol, and good linearity between 1-250 nmol/mL of each analyte. The practical applicability of the method was demonstrated by analyzing samples that were spiked with the acid standards, environment and food samples.