Chemical analysis of microcystins RR and LR in cyanobacterium using a prepacked cyano cartridge

Summary A new method for the determination of microcystins PR and LR in cyanobacterium was developed using cyano-type prepacked cartridges. The microcystins were extracted with 10% acetic acid and the extract applied to a Baker 10 cyano cartridge. After elution from the cartridge with 0.5M acetic acid-acetonitrile (19) the microcystins were determined by HPLC. Better recoveries and chromatograms were observed than with ODS cartridges.     

Selective determination of total normal microcystin by colorimetry, LC/UV detection and/or LC/MS

Microcystins, hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides, are produced by freshwater cyanobacteria, and are classified four groups according to the amino acid structure at unit 7. Normal microcystins contain N-methyldehydroalanine (Mdha) or dehydroalanine (Dha) at unit 7, and command the great part of all microcystins. As unusual microcystin classes, [Dhb⁷]microcystins, [ - and -Ala⁷, or N-MeAla⁷]microcystins and [ -Ser⁷]microcystins have been found.

On tumor initiation and/or promotion activities of microcystins, the tumor promotion activity of normal microcystins has been found, but cancer-related activities of microcystins belonging in the other classes have not been clear.

To determine normal microcystins as hepatotoxic tumor promoters, a selective determination method was developed. Only Mdha or Dha in normal microcystins was reacted with glutathione (GSH). The GSH-normal microcystins conjugates were reacted with trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS). The TNB–GSH-normal microcystin conjugate can be determined as the total normal microcystin by colorimetry. After methanolysis of the conjugate, dimethyl TNB–glutamate from the conjugate was determined by liquid chromatography/ultraviolet detection (LC/UV) and/or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The detection limits of the total normal microcystin by colorimetry, LC/UV and/or LC/MS were 1 μg, 10 and 0.1 ng, respectively.     

鱼肉中微囊藻毒素的高效液相色谱法分析

应用反相高效液相色谱法分析了鱼肉中藻毒素的含量。用BDS C18色谱柱,以水（含1％三氟乙酸）：甲醇＝30：70（V／V）溶液为流动相,238nm紫外检测。鱼肉样品用甲醇－水和丙酮混合溶剂提取,经正已烷萃取后,将有机相弃去,水相用固相萃取柱净化后进行高效液相色谱分析。该法检测限为10ng/g,峰面积标准曲线在50－250ng范围内有良好线性关系,平均回收率为85．1％－88．2％。     

Validation of an Ion-Interaction Chromatography Analysis of Underivatized Amino Acids in Commercial Preparation Using Evaporative Light Scattering Detection

A liquid chromatographic procedure using ion interaction reagent and evaporative light scattering detection was developed and validated for the direct quantification of 8 underivatized amino acids (threonine, lysine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and tryptophan) present simultaneously in a commercial preparation. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Purospher RP-18e column with an acetonitrile gradient and using heptafluorobutyric acid as volatile ion interaction reagent. Acceptable levels of linearity, specificity, precision, accuracy, robustness and limits of detection were achieved during the validation of the method. Detection limits varied from 1 mg.L^–1 to 2 mg.L^–1 depending on the amino acid being analyzed. The results of this method agree to within 98.6%–102.5% when compared to the manufacturers certificate of analysis obtained with the standard amino acid autoanalyser method. This approach yields a simple, universal method that is well suited for amino acid analysis, when a sufficient quantity is available. Only basic LC instrumentation with an ELSD is necessary for this procedure.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of microcystins, cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins: modulation of charge states and [M+H]+ to [M+Na]+ ratio

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to develop a rapid, sensitive, and accurate method for determination and identification of hepatotoxic microcystins, cyanobacterial cyclic heptapeptides. To optimize the electrospray ionization conditions, factors affecting charge state distribution, such as amino acid components of sample, proton affinity of the additives, and additive concentration, were investigated in detail and a method for controlling charge states was developed to provide molecular-related ions for assignment of molecular weight and reasonably abundant precursor ions for MS/MS analysis. A procedure for identification of microcystins consisting of known amino acids was proposed: for microcystins giving abundant [M + 2H]2+ ions, the addition of nitrogen-containing bases to the aqueous sample solution is effective to obtain an increased intensity of [M + H]+ ions, whereas the addition of Lewis acids containing nitrogen can produce increased abundances of [M + 2H]2+ ions for microcystins giving weak [M + 2H]2+ ions. Microcystins possessing no arginine residue always give sodium adduct ions [M + Na]+ as the base peak, and these are difficult to fragment via low energy collision-induced dissociation to yield structurally informative products; the addition of oxalic acid increases [M + H]+ ion abundances, and these fragment readily.     

通过型固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱法同时快速测定鱼肉中7种微囊藻毒素

采用通过型固相萃取净化去除样品基质中脂类物质的干扰,建立了鱼肉中7种微囊藻毒素的液相色谱-串联质谱快速分析方法。样品经80℃水浴热处理后用体积分数为90%的甲醇水溶液进行提取,使用Oasis PRiME HLB通过型固相萃取柱净化。净化后的样品采用Waters XSelect HSS T3色谱柱分离,以0.1%(体积分数)甲酸乙腈溶液和0.1%(体积分数)甲酸水溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,多反应监测正离子模式扫描,采用基质匹配溶液外标法定量。研究了7种微囊藻毒素的质谱离子化特征,结果表明,酸能显著增加双电荷离子的响应强度。7种目标物在相关范围内线性关系良好,相关系数不低于0.99,定量限为0.30~2.0μg/kg,基质加标回收率为70.6%~96.1%,相对标准偏差为3.4%~9.6%。该方法前处理操作简便,灵敏度和准确度高,可实现鱼肉中多种微囊藻毒素的同时快速测定。     

Method validation of microcystins in water and tissue by enhanced liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI–MS/MS) method has been developed and validated to identify and quantify trace levels of cyanotoxins or microcystins (MC) in water, bivalves and fish tissue with enhanced sensitivity and specificity. The method enables confirmation and quantification of six MCs (MC-LA, LF, LR, LW, RR and YR) with a single chromatographic run. The applied chromatography also allows determination of certain MC metabolites (Desmethyl-LR and -RR). By using LC-ESI–MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, the limit of detection and quantitation for the microcystins studied, were determined to be between 0.2 and 1 pg on column (5:1 S/N ratio). These values are below the 2 pg detection limits found in the available literature.     

Chirality in microcystins

A new method has been developed to identify the isomers of amino acids by derivatization of the corresponding standards with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5-l-alanine amide (Marfey’s reagent or FDAA) and analysis of the diastereomeric derivatives by a liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry technique. Quantification of the FDAA derivatives that originate from standards was possible by using l-phenylalanine as the internal standard. The procedure was applied to determine the chiralities of the amino acids present in some previously uncharacterized blue-green algal peptides (microcystins).     

C18柱串联冠醚手性柱高效分离3种芳香族氨基酸对映体

将C18柱与手性冠醚柱串联,建立了一种反相高效液相色谱法用于3种芳香族氨基酸对映体同时拆分的方法.考察了反相色谱流动相的组成、pH值、柱温、流速对对映体拆分的影响.实验结果表明,当流动相为HClO4-乙睛溶液(86:14,V/V,pH 2.0)、柱温20℃、流速0.4 mL/min时,3种氨基酸对映体可获得基线分离.进一步对比了C18柱、冠醚手性柱和串联顺序不同的4种分离模式,结果表明,C18柱不能拆分氨基酸对映体,仅能分离不同种类氨基酸;冠醚手性柱可分离氨基酸映体,但不同种类氨基酸色谱峰出现重叠;串联模式能实现3种氨基酸对映体的基线分离,实现双柱优势互补,而串联顺序对分离影响不大,仅影响色谱峰的峰形.     

Simultaneous analysis of amino acids and amines as their o-phthalaldehyde-ethanethiol-9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate derivatives in cheese by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) with combined diode array and fluorescence detection of amino acids and amines in various cheese samples is described. The proposal is based on acidic deproteinization, derivatization and gradient optimization studies, resulting in the identification and quantification of 21 amino acids and 9 amines from a single solution, by one injection. The optimized, simple protocol consists of deproteinization (1M perchloric acid), centrifugation, filtration and the subsequent derivatization with the o-phthalaldehyde-ethanethiol-9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (OPA-ET-FMOC) reagent. The method can be characterized with a linearity of wide concentration range (6.25-1000pM/injection), a good chromatographic reproducibility (average: 2.69% RSD) and an excellent recovery (average: 100.2%; average 3.84% RSD). The developed method was successfully applied in the determination of the amino acid and amine contents of port salut cheese, blue cheese and smoked cheese samples.     

Analysis of amino acids as their tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

A gas-liquid chromatographic procedure is described which will separate and quantitate the seventeen amino acids typically found in protein acid hydrolyzates. If present, tryptophan, cysteine and carboxymethylcysteine can also be simultaneously assayed via this method. The amino acids, as their tert.-butyldimethylsilylated derivatives, are readily separable on SE-30 (wall-coated open-tubular) and OV-17 (bonded) capillary columns, as well as on packed gas-liquid chromatographic columns coated with the same liquid phases. Retention times and responses for all amino acids and internal standards are given. Mass spectral analysis of all tert.-butyldimethylsilylated amino acids is presented and displays a characteristic and unique [M- 57] fragment ion for each amino acid which often dominates the mass spectrum. Application of this method is demonstrated using four well characterized proteins.     

Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of domoic acid and analogues in shellfish: effect of pH

Domoic acid (DA) is a naturally-occurring amino acid that causes a form of human intoxication called amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) following the consumption of shellfish. A rapid and sensitive HPLC-UV method has been developed for analysis of DA and analogues in shellfish without the need for SPE clean-up. Isocratic chromatographic separation of DA and its isomers from shellfish matrix interferences and from the prevalent amino acid, tryptophan, was achieved by careful control of the mobile phase pH. The optimised pH was found to be 2.5 when using a Luna(2) C₁₈ column. Sample extraction was verified with control extracts from shellfish spiked at 5.0 and 10.0 g/g of DA and with certified reference material. The average extraction efficiency was 98.5%. The calibration, based on mussel tissue spiked with DA standard, was linear in the range 0.05–5.0 g/ml (r=0.9999) and the detection limit (signal:noise 3:1) was better than 25 ng/ml. The DA assay achieved good precision; %RSD=1.63 (intra-day, n=6) and %RSD=3.7 (inter-day, n=8). This method was successfully applied to a variety of shellfish species, allowing the rapid screening of a large number of samples per day (20–30), without the need for SPE clean-up. Quantitative data were obtained for shellfish samples containing domoic acid in the concentration range 0.25–330 g/g. Using the same chromatographic conditions, LC-MS³ was used to determine DA and its isomers, isodomoic acid D and epi-domoic acid, in scallop tissues.     

亲和柱色谱原位酶切法纯化重金属镉结合的金属硫蛋白-3

按照人金属硫蛋白-3(hMT-3)的基因序列,选用大肠杆菌偏爱的密码子合成了全长hMT-3基因,并将其插入大肠杆菌融合表达质粒pALEX的多克隆位点中,在谷胱甘肽-硫-转移酶(GST)下游与GST融合表达。通过异丙基-β-D-硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导在大肠杆菌表达菌株BL21（DE3）LysS中表达了与重金属离子镉结合的融合蛋白GST-Cd2+-hMT-3。经十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)分析表明融合蛋白主要在超声上清液中。分别通过“先纯化、后酶切”和“亲和柱色谱原位酶切”两种方法纯化了Cd2+-hMT-3,比较了两种方法的纯化效率和得率,表明原位酶切法操作简便,较之“先纯化、后酶切”法减少了洗脱、透析、冻干等步骤,从而也减少了样品的损失,提高了样品的纯度和得率。从摇瓶培养菌液中纯化获得了结合有Cd2+的完整的人金属硫蛋白-3,得率为1.8%。氨基酸组成分析结果表明所获得的Cd2+-hMT-3不含芳香族氨基酸和组氨酸,符合金属硫蛋白的特征;直读电感耦合等离子体发射光谱分析其硫镉原子比为21∶(7.5±0.1),与理论值21∶7基本吻合。     

Chromatographic Enantioseparation of Ten Amino Acid Amide Derivatives on Three Polysaccharide-Based Chiral Stationary Phases

Enantioseparation of ten kinds of amino acid amide derivatives bearing aniline moieties on three polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) was first systematically investigated. The chromatographic experiments were performed in the normal phase mode, namely, with n-hexane and 2-propanol as mobile phase. The effects of chiral columns, concentration of 2-propanol and column temperature on the enantioseparation were studied in detail. These compounds can be well resolved on Chiralcel OD-H column with the resolution above 1.5. Enantioseparation mechanism of chiral analytes and the CSPs are proposed based on the thermodynamic analysis of the experimental data. Our study establishes a simple, fast and efficient analytical method for amino acid amide derivatives by chiral HPLC, and provides a reference for enantioseparation of chiral amino acid amide derivatives and similar chiral compounds.     

Amino acid and vitamin determinations by TLC/HPTLC: review of the current state

Several methods to determine amino acids and vitamins in biological and pharmaceutical samples have been reported. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) finds its place when the relatively costly equipment required by other methods is unavailable. This review covers the 1991–2010 literature on TLC/HPTLC (high performance thin layer chromatography) amino acid and vitamin determinations. It gives an overview of the special features as well as the problems in TLC/HPTLC determinations of amino acids and vitamins. Various chromatographic systems useful in amino acid and vitamin identification, separation and quantitation of are presented in tabular form. Future prospects of TLC/HPTLC for amino acid and vitamin determinations are also discussed.      

Generic microcystin immunoassay based on monoclonal antibodies against Adda.

A monoclonal antibody (clone AD4G2) was generated against a common part of microcystins and nodularins, the unusual amino acid Adda [(2S,3S,8S,9S)-3-amino-9-methoxy-2,6,8-trimethyl-10-phenyldeca-4E,6E-dienoic acid]. A direct competitive ELISA based on this antibody was developed and the cross-reactivity pattern was measured. Different toxins showed a very similar response. The assay provides therefore a sum parameter of microcystins, nodularins and peptide fragments containing Adda. The IC50 for microcystin-LR was 0.33 microg L(-1) which leads to a detection limit of 0.07 microg L(-1). This is well below the concentration of 1 microg L(-1) proposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the limit for drinking water. Microcystin-LR spiked water samples in the concentration range between 0.1 and 1 microg L(-1) were measured and a mean recovery of 113+/-23% was found. The antibody is well suited for the determination of microcystins in drinking as well as surface water.     

Capillary electrophoresis and column chromatography in biomedical chiral amino acid analysis

Free amino acids are typically quantified as the sum of their enantiomers, because in terrestrial organisms they mainly exist in the left-handed form. However, with increasing understanding of the biological significance of right-handed amino acids interest in enantioselective quantification of amino acids has steadily increased. Initially, electrophoretic and chromatographic methods using chiral (pseudo)-stationary phases or chiral eluents were applied to the separation of amino acid enantiomers. Later, derivatization of amino acids prior to chromatography with chiral reagents gained in popularity, because the diastereomers formed can be resolved on conventional reversed-phase columns. Novel multi-interaction chiral columns turned attention back to direct chiral chromatographic methods. Hyphenation to mass spectrometry has increasingly replaced optical detection because of superior selectivity, although this has not obviated the need for baseline resolution of amino acid enantiomers. Despite the progress made, enantioselective separation and quantification of amino acids remains an analytical challenge owing to frequently incomplete resolution of all naturally occurring enantiomers and insufficient sensitivity for the determination of the trace amounts of d-amino acids typically found in biological fluids and tissues. Chiral GC-MS analysis of heptafluorobutanol/pentafluoropropionanhydride amino acid derivatives on an Rt-gDEXsa column     

Simultaneous determination of cysteine, cystine and 18 other amino acids in various matrices by high-performance liquid chromatography

An extraction protocol and a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of cysteine, cystine and 18 other amino acids in biological and vegetable samples are described. Among the different methods proposed for amino acid determination, phenylisothiocyanate was used as the reagent for derivatization. Chromatograms obtained in the analysis of standard solutions and actual samples are reported, together with regression equation, correlation coefficient (> 0.999 for all), limit of detection and recoveries (between 86 and 102% for all the examined matrices) for each amino acid. Practical protocol and method applications in normal patients and patients affected by different pathologies, and in algal products are discussed.     

稳定同位素iTRAQ标记/高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时定量分析人体中42种氨基酸及典型病例

建立稳定同位素iTRAQ标记/高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时定量分析人体中42种氨基酸的方法.人生物样本经磺基水杨酸沉淀蛋白,稳定同位素iTRAQ-115衍生化后,加入iTRAQ-114同位素标记的氨基酸内标液进样,选用AAA-C18色谱柱,以水乙腈(含有0.01％七氟丁酸、0.1％甲酸)为流动相,采用梯度洗脱进行分离,选用3200QTRAP型质谱仪的多重反应监测(MRM)扫描方式进行检测.同位素内标消除了系统误差,实现了氨基酸的定量分析,42种氨基酸及同分异构体均能基线分离.本方法快速、灵敏、专属性强、高通量,可用于临床氨基酸代谢疾病的诊疗和营养评估.     

Modification of a micellar system for amino acid separation by MEKC--application for amino acid profiling in formulations for parenteral use

The paper proposes a new method for amino acid determination which can be applied for amino acid profiling in solutions for parenteral nutrition. The MEKC method based on a mixed micellar system was developed for the separation of 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) derivatized amino acids. Background electrolyte was based on tris-borate buffer with high alkaline pH. Sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles were modified using 1,2-hexanediol as a co-surfactant. The effect of the modifier on amino acid migration was studied with respect to hydrophobicity of the analytes. The modifier appeared to be suitable to improve the separation of AQC-tagged amino acids without an adverse effect on buffer ionic strength or EOF velocity. The method was successfully validated and applied for amino acid profiling in medicinal preparations for parenteral nutrition. The results obtained were compared with a reference chromatographic method (amino acid analyser).