Capillary isoelectric focusing-mass spectrometry for shotgun approach in proteomics

We report on capillary isoelectric focusing-mass spectrometry (CIEF-MS) of complex peptide mixtures in the absence of carrier ampholytes. Furthermore, the use of low concentrations of carrier ampholytes as mere spacers is investigated. Carrier ampholytes are complex mixtures of amphoteric compounds with high buffering capacity. Since all peptides are amphoteric compounds by themselves, the use of carrier ampholytes may be superfluous to establish a stable pH gradient in CIEF analysis of protein digests. Our research showed that when carrier ampholytes are omitted, the analyte ions are not focused at their isoelectric point. The analytes are charged, leading to electrophoretic mobility uncharacteristic for CIEF. The method was tested for a five-protein-mixture at 0.02 mg/mL per protein and 0.05 mg/mL per protein. At the lower concentration, the analytes were stacked during the focusing process in only a limited length of the capillary. Therefore, the higher concentration led to better separation efficiency. It was found that at low concentration (0.20%) the carrier ampholytes could work as spacers. Though it led to sensitivity losses of 15-45%, this was compensated by the higher separation efficiencies seen. The method was evaluated with an eight-protein-mixture, of which all could be identified after performing MS/MS.     

The effect of electroosmotic and hydrodynamic flow profile superposition on band broadening in capillary electrophoresis

The effect of the superposition of electroosmotic flow and pressureinduced hydrodynamic counterflow on efficiency has been investigated for different capillary electrophoretic systems. Results are shown for 50 and 75 μm internal diameter capillaries at several voltage and counterpressure levels. Hydrodynamic counterflows were successfully applied in electrokinetic chromatography in order to delay the entry of a UV-active pseudostationary phase, tetraphenyl porphyrintetrasulfonate, into the detection zone allowing the separation of neutral nitroaromatics. The separations are based on the weak charge-transfer interactions between the porphyrin and the analytes.     

The solvent venting injection technique in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

A solvent venting technique for injection of volumes up to 1 μl on 50 μm i.d. SFC columns has been compared to direct injection methods. The peak broadening and peak splitting observed with direct injection have been examined and found to be related to the starting pressure, the column temperature, and the sample solvent, in addition to the sample volume. The solvent venting technique removed peak splitting and improved the column efficiency. With a proper selection of experimental conditions, the sample recovery was 100%. The major part of the solvent was eluted in 15–20 s. Several applications have been demonstrated.     

Separation, identification, and interaction of heparin oligosaccharides with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor using capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed for the separation of heparin oligosaccharides compatible to study the interactions between the oligosaccharides and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Unfractionated heparin was eliminitively degraded to heparin oligosaccharides by an endolytic heparinase. The degraded smaller oligosaccharides (M(r) < 1000) were baseline-separated by CE under a 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 9.0) in 10 min. Standard heparin disaccharides and larger oligosaccharides (1000 < M(r) < 8000) were all separated under optimized separation conditions. Compared with standard heparin disaccharides, smaller oligosaccharides contained one nonsulfated, two monosulfated, and two disulfated disaccharides, but trisulfated disaccharides were not found. The smaller oligosaccharides were also identified and molecular mass was deduced by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Furthermore, interactions between G-CSF and the oligosaccharides were studied by using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) under the above separation conditions. It was found that larger oligosaccharides could interact with G-CSF while smaller oligosaccharides were not observed to bind to G-CSF under the experimental conditions. In conclusion, the purified heparinase could selectively degrade heparin into oligosaccharides and the interaction between G-CSF and heparin was correlated with the chain length of heparin.     

Highly sensitive determination of haloperidol in human serum by capillary gas chromatography using a surface ionization detector

A method has been developed for highly sensitive determination of haloperidol in human serum involving a simple extraction procedure followed by gas chromatographic separation. Target components were separated from the extracting solvents with a Van den Berg type solventless sample injector before introduction Into a DB-1 capillary separation column. A surface ionization detector (SID), which has highly selective sensitivity for Substituted amines, was employed for quantitation using bromperidol as an internal standard. Chloroform proved to be the best extracting solvent, yielding a quantitative detection limit of 5 ng/ml (S/N = 2). Comparison of the response to target compounds obtained by the SID, FTD (flame thermionic detector), and FID (flame ionization detector) showed the SID to be superior.     

Light-emitting diode-induced fluorescence detection of native proteins in capillary electrophoresis

A continuous-wave 280 nm light-emitting diode (LED) was used as the excitation source for native fluorescence detection of proteins in CE. The operating current and temperature of the LED were optimized in order to achieve high luminescence power. It was found that a forward current of 30 mA and a temperature of approximately 5 degrees C gave the best S/N. By using a set of two ball lenses to focus light from the LED, we achieved a spot of approximately 200 mum with a power of 0.1-0.2 mW on the detection window. Fluorescence was collected with a ball lens at 90 degrees angle through a bandpass filter onto a photomultiplier tube. In CZE an LOD of 20 nM for conalbumin was reached. In capillary gel electrophoresis all eight proteins from a commercial standard kit were detected with high S/N. For a 10 microg/mL total protein mixture, S/N was better than 3 for all proteins in solution. Further improvement in LOD should be possible on utilization of an LED with higher luminescence power.     

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.     

Capillary electrophoresis: An integrated system with a unique split-flow sample introduction mechanism

The performance of an integrated capillary electrophoresis system with a novel split-flow sample injection mechanism and special high sensitivity UV absorbance detector is described. Sample introduction into the capillary is accomplished with a standard HPLC-type microliter syringe. The injected sample is divided proportionally between the separation capillary and an adjustable splitvent. The volume of sample introduced into the capillary can be manipulated by varying the length or the i.d. of the splitvent tubing; or the volume of sample injected. Data are presented showing reproducibility of retention time, peak height, and peak area; minimum detectability; and operation at short UV wavelengths.     

Effect of film thickness and supercooling on the performance of cholesteryl cinnamate liquid crystal capillary columns

Improved separations of the isomers of olefinic aliphatic insect pheromones were obtained on cholesteryl cinnamate glass capillary columns by operating in the supercooled temperature range of the liquid crystal. Capillary columns were prepared with varying film thickness of the stationary phase; choice of the correct film thickness ensured optimum retention for a wide range of compounds within the most effective temperature range of the liquid crystal. The deactivation procedures described made the liquid crystal columns suitable for separation of the geometric isomers of polar and nonpolar compounds.     

Capillary electrophoresis with end-column amperometric detection of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine

Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) is an excellent marker of oxidative DNA damage. Until now, urinary 8OHdG has been measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. A simple and sensitive method for the analysis of urinary 8OHdG by capillary electrophoresis with end-column amperometric detection has been developed in our laboratory. A single-step solid-phase extraction procedure was optimized and used for extracting 8OHdG from human urine. To improve the sensitivity of this method, a new focusing technique based on a dynamic pH junction was used. The limit of detection was 20 nM (signal-to-noise ratio S/N = 3), the linear range was 50 nM-10 microM, and the correlation coefficient was better than 0.999. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was found to be 0.57% for migration time, and 4.79% for peak current. To show the usefulness of the method, the urinary concentration of 8OHdG in nine healthy persons and ten cancer patients was determined. The urinary concentration of 8OHdG in cancer patients was significantly higher than that in healthy persons.