Spectrofluorimetric determination of thiols by use of N-[P-(2-benzoxazolyl)- phenyl]maleimide

The weak fluorescence of N-P-2-benzoxazolyl)phenyl]maleimide (BOPM) can be greatly enhanced by thiol-containing compounds. A sensitive and simple spectrofluorimetric method based on the use of BOPM has been developed for the determination of thiols such as cysteine (Cys) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Calibration plots were linear in the concentration range from 0 to 1.6 × 10^–7 mol L^–1 for Cys and 0 to 1.7 × 10^–7 mol L^–1 for GSH. The detection limits (3σ) were 2.36 × 10^–10 mol L^–1 for Cys and 1.49 × 10^–10 mol L^–1 for GSH. Many other amino acids (present at 100-fold greater concentrations) did not interfere with the determination. The proposed method has been used for the determination of Cys in protein hydrolysate and cystine electrolyte or GSH in serum, with recoveries of 95.4–103.7%.