Assay of amino acids in individual human lymphocytes by capillary zone electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

Amino acids in individual human lymphocytes were determined by capillary zone electrophoresis with electrochemical detection (ED) at a carbon fiber bundle electrode after on-column derivatization with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA) and CN⁻. In order to inject cells easily, a cell injector was designed. In this method, a single human lymphocyte and then the lysing/derivatizing buffer were electrokinetically injected into the front end of the separation capillary as a chamber to lyse the lymphocyte and derivatize amino acids in the cell. Four amino acids (serine (Ser), alanine (Ala), taurine (Tau), and glycine (Gly)) in single human lymphocytes have been identified. Quantitation has been accomplished through the use of calibration curves.