BRCA1 mutation screening using restriction endonuclease fingerprinting-single-strand conformation polymorphism in an automated capillary electrophoresis system

Efficient mutation scanning techniques are needed for the rapid detection of novel disease-associated mutations and rare-sequence variants of putative importance. The large size of the breast cancer 1 gene (BRCA1) and the many mutations found throughout its entire coding sequence make screening for mutations in this gene particularly challenging. We have developed a method for screening exon 11 of the BRCA1 gene based on restriction enzyme digestion of fluorescence-labeled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) using an automated capillary electrophoresis system, denoted capillary restriction endonuclease fingerprinting (REF)-SSCP electrophoresis. Using this strategy on a control set of samples, we were able to detect 17 of 18 known sequence alterations. The method was then applied to screen 73 Norwegian females with family histories of breast and/or ovarian cancer. A total of 172 sequence alterations were detected, including substitutions, insertions, and deletions. One novel substitution of unknown function was identified. Sequencing of all samples negative in the capillary REF-SSCP system gave no additional mutations confirming the high sensitivity of the described methodology. Capillary REF-SSCP electrophoresis appeared as a technically convenient technique, requiring amplification of fewer PCR fragments than traditional SSCP. The novel strategy allows high-throughput mutation scanning without radioactive labeling and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).     

Cavitands bearing four fluorophores

The synthesis of novel cavitands containing four fluorophores [tert-butoxycarbonyl protected 2,2′-bis(furyl)benzidine (t-BOC FurylBz) or 5,5′-bis(4-aminophenyl)-2,2′-bifuryl (t-BOC PFDA)] and ionophoric functional groups on the upper rim is reported. The cavitands bearing the four fluorophores emit blue light photoluminescence. In particular, the cavitand containing PFDA moieties exhibits a high photoluminescence quantum yield.     

Contactless Conductivity Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis: A Review

The popularity of contactless conductivity detection in capillary electrophoresis has been growing steadily over the last few years. Improvements have been made in the design of the detector in order to facilitate its handling, to allow easy incorporation into available instruments or to achieve higher sensitivity. The understanding of its fundamental working principles has been advanced and the detection approach has also been transferred to lab‐on‐chip devices. The range of applications has been extended greatly from the initial work on small inorganic ions to include organic species and biomolecules. Concurrent determination of cations and anions by dual injection from opposite ends has been demonstrated as well as sample introduction by using flow‐injection systems for easy automation of the process.     

Single-molecule fluorescence detection in microfluidic channels—the Holy Grail in μTAS?

Both single-molecule detection (SMD) methods and miniaturization technologies have developed very rapidly over the last ten years. By merging these two techniques, it may be possible to achieve the optimal requirements for the analysis and manipulation of samples on a single molecule scale. While miniaturized structures and channels provide the interface required to handle small particles and molecules, SMD permits the discovery, localization, counting and identification of compounds. Widespread applications, across various bioscience/analytical science fields, such as DNA-analysis, cytometry and drug screening, are envisaged. In this review, the unique benefits of single fluorescent molecule detection in microfluidic channels are presented. Recent and possible future applications are discussed.Dedicated to the memory of Wilhelm Fresenius     

Quantitative analysis of perchlorate in extracts of whole fish homogenates by ion chromatography: comparison of suppressed conductivity detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The perchlorate anion (ClO ₄ ^– ) is an anthropogenic contaminant of increasing concern in water supplies, and has been shown to disrupt thyroid activity. Most perchlorate analyses are currently carried out by ion chromatography (IC) with suppressed conductivity detection (SCD). While this procedure has been demonstrated to provide acceptable performance for analysis of water samples, the determination of perchlorate in high-conductivity aqueous extracts of plant or animal material is not readily accomplished by IC-SCD unless lengthy cleanup protocols are applied. With the addition of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to IC, it was hypothesized that the interference imposed by various ionic species could be significantly reduced without the need for purification; however, the analysis of perchlorate in relatively unpurified extracts of biologically derived homogenates by IC-ESI-MS has not previously been described in the literature. The research presented here represents a comparison of the capabilities of IC-SCD and IC-ESI-MS to detect perchlorate in reagent water and in crude extracts of perchlorate-exposed fish (threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus). ESI-MS was found to compare favorably to SCD for the detection of perchlorate in deionized water, and to exceed SCD performance in perchlorate analysis of fish-derived extracts.     

PEO-LiClO_4-ZSM5 composite polymer electrolyte (IV): Polarized optical microscopy study

All solid-state lithium polymer batteries may be one of the best choices for the future electrochemical power source, characterized by high energy densities, good cyclability, reliability and safety[1,2]. Owing to its potential capability to replace the t…     

On-line sorption preconcentration of metals based on mixed micelle cloud point extraction prior to their determination with micellar chemiluminescence: Application to the determination of chromium at ng l levels

The on-line incorporation of cloud point extraction (CPE) to flow injection analysis (FIA) is modified to extract and preconcentrate metal species rapidly, avoiding the formation of hydrophobic complexes, using a mixed micellar medium. Coupling the procedure with chemiluminescence (CL) detection based on the catalytic activity of metal species on the luminol-hydrogen peroxide reaction and enhancing the signal with the presence of a micellar carrier containing bromide ions produces a powerful tool for the preconcentration and determination of metal species at ng l⁻¹ levels. As an analytical demonstration ultratrace concentrations of chromium were conveniently detected and quantified in samples with a complex matrix such as seawater and wastewater. The figures of merit for the determination of chromium were: 0.9-1.6% R.S.D. (n=5) with detection and quantification limits 0.5 and 2.0 ng l⁻¹, respectively. The calibration graph was rectilinear from 2 to 200 ng l⁻¹ (r=0.9996, n=6). Several other metal ions were determined in ideal situations, with analogous results.     

Determination of thiol by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection with 5-methyl-(2-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-iodoacetylaminophenyl)benzoxazole

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for measuring low molecular weight (LMW) thiol-containing compounds, including cysteine (CysH), glutathione (GSH), N-acetylcysteine (Nac), penicillamine (PA), and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), has been developed by using 5-methyl-(2-(m-iodoacetylaminophenyl)benzoxazole (MIPBO) as fluorescence-labeling reagent. The derivatization and separation conditions have been investigated in detail. Detection limits ranging from 3.5 to 15.0 fmol were achieved for the thiols investigated in a 16 min separation with detection wavelengths 310 and 375 nm for the excitation and emission, respectively. The utility of the proposed method has been validated by measuring CysH in human urine samples.     

Quantification of volatile PAHs present at trace levels in air flow by aqueous trapping—SPE and HPLC analysis with fluorimetric detection

In the context of a European project, a new approach of sampling of volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from air was developed. In fact, the aim of this project was to test the efficiency of an air cleansing prototype reactor, which was operating by non-thermal plasmolysis. With an eye to model the atmosphere ejected by the prototype, we needed to vaporise the volatile PAHs in an air stream at concentrations as low as those recommended by European Directives (96/62/CE) for PAHs in ambient air (i.e. 1 ng m⁻³). Our strategy was based on the analysis of PAHs trapped in an aqueous medium, in order to avoid important losses of volatile compounds observed during the delicate desorption-concentration step when classical solid supports are used. Then a study was carried out to determine: the design of the collecting part, the flow-rate of the air sampling, the nature and concentration of chemical additives used to enhance PAH solubility in water. The very highly diluted aqueous media obtained after the bubbling step were concentrated by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on hydrophobic cartridges and analysed on-line by reversed-phase HPLC with UV and fluorimetric detections. Lastly, the sampling technique was directly applied to the outlet of the air cleansing prototype and the analysis after 3-6 h of non-thermal plasmolysis showed that the target volatile PAHs were not present in an air stream initially polluted by volatile organic compounds.     

Separation and Determination of Clenbuterol,Cimaterol and Salbutamol by Capillary Electrophoresis with Amperometric Detection

Capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection was applied to determine some β₂‐agonists, such as clenbuterol, cimaterol and salbutamol in this paper. The working electrode used was a 0.3 mm diameter carbon disk electrode. In this work, the pH 6.0–6.4 borax‐potassium dihydrogen phosphate was used as running buffer (150 mmol/L), 10 kV as the separation voltage and 1.05 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3 mol/L KCl) as the detection potential. Under the optimum conditions, the analytes were baseline separated within 16 min. Linear range for cimaterol, clenbuterol and salbutamol was 1.0–2000, 2.0–2000 and 1.0–2000 ng/mL, respectively. The detection limits (define as 3σ/k) were 0.5, 1.0 and 0.4 ng/mL for cimaterol, clenbuterol and salbutamol, respectively. The developed method has been applied to determine these three analytes in feed and urine by standard addition. The mean recoveries for these three analytes ranged from 89.0% to 102.0%.