Micellar capillary electrophoresis separation and thermo-optical absorbance detection of products from manual peptide sequencing

Rapid method for the determination of amino acids in serum by capillary electrophoresis

A rapid method for the determination of amino acids in serum is presented. The derivatization of amino acids with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene was performed in 0.5 M sodium borate (pH 9.5). The complete separation of derivatives of 16 amino acids and an internal standard (D-norleucine) was achieved within 8 min by capillary zone electrophoresis. The running buffer consisted of 30 mM sodium tetraborate (pH 9.8)-isopropanol-30% Brij 35 (825:150:25, v/v). The capillary used had an internal diameter of 75 microm and an effective length of 300 mm. A voltage of 28 kV was applied. Temperature was maintained at 15 degrees C. Detection was 360 nm. The assay was linear from 10 to 700 microM. The minimal detection limit was 2.5-7.9 microM. The recovery of amino acids added to serum samples was 86.3-107.4%. Within-run precision was 2.8-10.3%, and between-run precision was 3.5-11.6%. The concentrations of amino acids in serum of 32 patients with chronic renal failure were measured. Among them, the levels of serine, isoleucine and valine were significantly lower than those of healthy volunteers (P<0.01), but the concentrations of cystine, tryptophan and phenylane were significantly higher than those of healthy volunteers (P<0.01). The result showed that the method could be used for determining amino acids in clinical practice and scientific research.

Amino acid sequence and D/L-configuration determination methods for D-amino acid-containing peptides in living organisms

D-amino acid-containing peptides with biological activities have been isolated from invertebrates and amphibians, and partial racemization of amino acid residues in mammalian peptides associated with aging and diseases have been discussed. Here, we review the amino acid configuration determination methods in these peptides and recent progress of simultaneous determination method for sequence and configuration of amino acid residues. The applicability of C-terminus sequence analysis and mass spectrometry to configuration determination of amino acids is also discussed.

Detection in capillary electrophoresis

A review of the four major, on-line, capillary electrophoresis (CE) detection modalities is presented. It is shown that each detection method, fluorescence, absorbance (conventional and nonconventional), electrochemical and refractive index, have distinct advantages and limitations when applied to analysis in a CE format. Various aspects of CE detection are considered and a perspective regarding the applicability of the technique is provided. It is shown that because of widely varying detection limits (ranging from single molecule to 10(-5) M) and detection scheme complexity, the particular application should dictate the selection of detection methodology in CE.

Migration time correction for the analysis of derivatized amino acids and oligosaccharides by micellar capillary electrochromatography

Migration-time reproducibility is essential in the use of capillary electrophoresis to identify components in mixtures. Two methods based on the migration time of either one or two reference markers are proposed for improving migration time reproducibility. These methods were evaluated to determine the migration time reproducibility for phenylthiohydantoin-amino acids, fluorescein thiohydantoin-amino acids, and tetramethylrhodamine labeled oligosaccharides. In the best case, the relative standard deviation of the migration time was reduced from >3% without correction to <0.04% with the two-marker correction.

New approaches for innovations in sensitive Edman sequence analysis by design of a wafer-based chip sequencer

In the last few years the development of new mass spectrometric techniques enabled fast and sensitive protein analysis by the introduction of mass spectrometry (MS) fingerprinting and MS/MS sequencing. For these methods mixtures of peptide fragments of the proteins can be employed, whereas the Edman degradation method requests purified peptides. On the other hand, Edman sequencing has the advantages that interpretation of the data is more simple, extended sequences can be derived, and reliable sequence information on unknown proteins is possible. Hence, Edman chemistry as an alternative technique to MS is still valuable. But higher sensitivity of the sequencers is needed in order to meet modern demands, e.g. in proteomics research. We designed a wafer-based chip sequencer for protein and peptide sequencing in the femto- to attomole range. The main advantage of our new design is the complete integration of dead volume free valves together with reactor and converter and volume-measuring loops within one wafer-based system. In this system aggressive chemicals and solvents for the Edman degradation can be delivered in sub-microliter amounts, which allows a considerable shortening of the degradation cycles. Further, we developed sensitive maintenance and tightness tests to prove a precise and reproducible delivery of the chemicals and the reduction of drying times as compared with conventional sequencers. Real parallel processing of several samples can easily be implemented. The system is designed to serve future needs in protein research.

Capillary electrochromatography with thermo-optical absorbance detection for the analysis of phenylthiohydantoin-amino acids

Capillary columns were packed with 3 microns C18 stationary phase, interfaced with an ultraviolet-laser based thermo-optical absorbance detector, and evaluated for separation of a mixture of phenylthiohydantoin-amino acids. These columns demonstrated consistent performance with a relative standard deviation (RSD) for migration time of less than 1.5% and a separation efficiency of 216,000 plates/m for the electroosmotic flow marker, thiourea. The thermo-optical absorbance detector was based on a 248 nm krypton-fluoride excimer laser. Detection limits (3 sigma) ranged from 1.6 to 4.8 x 10(-7) M phenylthiohydantoin (PTH)-amino acid injected onto the column, which is a factor of three superior to those obtained in micellar electrokinetic chromatographic analysis of these compounds. A mixture of 17 PTH amino acids was injected onto the capillary; 13 components were nearly baseline resolved in 14 min.

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoretic separation and thermo-optical absorbance detection of five tricyclic antidepressants and metabolism of amitriptyline by Cunninghamella elegans

We developed a technique based on nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis and laser-based thermo-optical absorbance detection to assay five antidepressants with similar structures and mass-to-charge ratios. A mixture of methanol and acetonitrile with ammonium acetate was essential to achieve baseline resolution of these compounds. We investigated the effects of ammonium acetate concentration, temperature, applied voltage, and capillary length on separation efficiency. The nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis and laser-based thermo-optical absorbance detection technique was used to study the metabolism of amitriptyline by Cunninghamella elegans. Sample preparation procedures were simplified for fast screening of the parent drug and its metabolites. Reproducible electropherograms were obtained from replicate cultures of C. elegans growing in the presence of amitriptyline.

High sensitivity analysis of proteins and peptides by capillary electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry: recent developments in technology and applications

Analytical biochemistry, in particular the analysis of regulatory proteins that control biological systems and pathways, is dependent on methods of ever-increasing sensitivity. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has long been recognized as an ultrasensitive analytical technique. In spite of the high sensitivity, CE has not penetrated protein discovery research as a standard analytical method. In this review article we summarize recent technical developments which have significantly enhanced CE as a tool for the analysis of trace amounts of proteins. Specifically, we review recent advances in the development and application of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) and on-line analyte concentration techniques, and introduce the emerging field of microfluidics as a front end to mass spectrometry (MS).