Sensitive method of detection, quantitation and purification of peptides using pre-column derivatization with phenyl isothiocyanate

A sensitive method for the detection, quantitation and purification of peptides is described. The method is based on pre-column derivatization of peptides with phenyl isothiocyanate to form phenylthiocarbamoyl derivatives (PTC peptides). The derivatized peptides are analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a Zorbax ODS column (5 micron) and detected at 269 nm with a sensitivity limit of 1-5 pmol. The technique was utilized for the separation of a mixture of closely related synthetic peptides. The eluted PTC peptides were collected with an average recovery yield of 75% as determined by amino acid analysis. This method of separation of PTC peptides was also combined with the determination of the complete structure of recovered PTC-dynorphin A-(1-13) using the solid-phase sequenator (Sequemat). The advantages of the derivatization method are the rapidity and completeness of the reaction, the stability of the product, the sensitivity and specificity of the detection of derivatized peptides and the compatibility of the technique with subsequent analytical procedures. A particular application of this method was exemplified by the dosage of enkephalins secreted from perfused bovine adrenal glands.