Facile preparation of biocompatible sulfhydryl cotton fiber-based sorbents by "thiol-ene" click chemistry for biological analysis

Sulfhydryl cotton fiber (SCF) has been widely used as adsorbent for a variety of metal ions since 1971. Thanks to the abundant thiols on SCF, in this study, we reported a universal method for the facile preparation of SCF-based materials using "thiol-ene" click chemistry for the first time. With the proposed method, two types of SCF-based materials, phenylboronic acid grafted sulfhydryl cotton fiber (SCF-PBA) and zirconium phosphonate-modified sulfhydryl cotton fiber (SCF-pVPA-Zr(4+)), were successfully prepared. The grafted functional groups onto the thiol group of SCF were demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The prepared fibrous materials exhibited excellent fiber strength, good stability in aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, and great biocompatibility. Moreover, we developed filter-free in-pipet-tip SPE using these SCF-based materials as adsorbent for the enrichment of ribonucleosides, glycopeptides and phosphopeptides. Our results showed that SCF-PBA adsorbent can selectively capture ribonucleosides and glycopeptides from complex biological samples. And SCF-pVPA-Zr(4+) adsorbent exhibited high selectivity and capacity in the enrichment of phosphopeptides from the digestion mixture of β-casein and bovine serum albumin (BSA), as well as human serum and nonfat milk digest. Generally, the preparation strategy can be a universal method for the synthesis of other functionalized cotton-based adsorbents with special requirement in microscale biological analysis.

The need for vigilance: false-negative screening for adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency caused by deribosylation of urinary biomarkers

OBJECTIVES

Adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency (dADSL) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder. Biochemical diagnosis of the disease is based on the determination of enormously elevated urinary levels of succinylaminoimidazole carboxamide riboside (SAICA-riboside) and succinyladenosine (SAdo). We report a case of false negative screening for dADSL caused by deribosylation of the urinary biomarkers SAICA-riboside and SAdo.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method with Pauly reagent detection of SAICA-riboside was used as a screening method. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) and LC-MS/MS methods were used for the identification and quantitative determination of SAICA-riboside, SAdo, succinylaminoimidazole carboxamide (SAICA) and succinyladenine (SA).

RESULTS

Following a negative TLC screening in a known case of dADSL, we analyzed urine using HPLC-DAD. The concentration of SAICA-riboside was 2.7mmol/mol creatinine (below the TLC detection limit), and we detected the two abnormal metabolites identified by LC-MS/MS as SAICA and SA. We showed that SAICA and SA were produced by deribosylation of SAICA-riboside and SAdo in the patient's urine. Studies performed by monitoring the production of SAICA and SA after the addition of SAICA-riboside and SAdo to the patient's urine and to urine samples from patients with urinary tract infections suggested that deribosylation is facilitated by bacterial enzymes.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening methods for the diagnosis of dADSL may be falsely negative due to bacteria-mediated deribosylation of SAICA-riboside and SAdo. HPLC-DAD or LC-MS/MS analyses allowing for simultaneous detection of SAICA-riboside, SAdo and their deribosylation products SAICA and SA should be preferentially used for the diagnosis of dADSL in urine.

Evaluation of urinary ribonucleoside profiling for clinical biomarker discovery using constant neutral loss scanning liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The patterns and levels of urinary excreted ribonucleosides which reflect RNA turnover and metabolism in humans offer the potential for early detection of disease and monitoring of therapeutic intervention. A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method employing constant neutral loss (CNL) scanning for the loss of the ribose moiety (132 u) was used to detect ribonucleosides in human urine and to evaluate this analytical platform for biomarker research in clinical trials. Ribonucleosides were stable and not influenced by the time spent at room temperature prior to freezing or long-term storage at -80 °C. Matrix effects caused variation in the mass spectrometer response which was dependent on the concentration of the analysed urine sample. For the use of urinary ribonucleoside profiling in clinical biomarker studies, adjustment of the urine samples to a common concentration prior to sample preparation is therefore advocated. Changes in the mass spectrometer response should be accounted for by the use of an internal standard added after sample preparation. Diurnal variation exceeded inter-day variation of an individual's ribonucleoside profile, but inter-person differences were predominant and allowed the separation of individuals against each other in a multivariate space. Due to considerable diurnal variation the use of spot urine samples would introduce unnecessary variation and should be replaced by the collection of multiple spot urine samples across the day, where possible. Should such a protocol not be feasible, biological intra-day and inter-day variation must be considered and accounted for in the data interpretation.

Modulation in concentrative nucleoside transporters-mediated intestinal absorption of mizoribine, an immunosuppressive agent, in lipopolysaccharide-treated rats

The characteristics of intestinal absorption of mizoribine and cephalexin, that are mediated by concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNTs) and PEPT1, respectively, was examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats. LPS treatment is known to modify the expression of some transporters and induce cholestasis. At 24 h after the LPS treatment, averaged concentrations of IL-6 and total bile acids in plasma were 15-fold and 2-fold that in untreated control rats, respectively, and bile flow rate decreased by 40% of control, indicating the induction of inflammatory and cholestatic states. The oral bioavailability, estimated by urinary excretion percentage of unchanged form, of mizoribine in LPS-treated rats was 1.5-fold higher than that in control rats, whereas the bioavailability of cephalexin remained unchanged. When mizoribine and cephalexin were administered into in-situ jejunum loops, there were no differences in the absorption rates between control and LPS-treated rats. These results indicated that the functional expression of CNT1, CNT2, and PEPT1 were not modulated by LPS treatment. When mizoribine (a CNT1/CNT2 substrate) and gemcitabin (a CNT1 substrate) were administered as a solution dissolved in bile into the intestinal loop, their absorption rates decreased significantly. In contrast, the absorption rate of ribavirin (a CNT2 substrate) remained unchanged. In conclusion, LPS treatment exerted no significant effect on the expression of CNT1 and CNT2 in the intestine. Bile was found to suppress the CNT1-mediated intestinal absorption of mizoribine and gemcitabin. The increased oral bioavailability of mizoribine in LPS-treated rats could be ascribed to the less amount of bile or bile acids in the intestine under cholestatic state of rats.

Adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency in a Malaysian patient, with novel adenylosuccinate lyase gene mutations

Most cases of adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL OMIM 103050) deficiency reported to date are confined to the various European ethnic groups. We report on the first Malaysian case of ADSL deficiency, which appears also to be the first reported Asian case. The case was diagnosed among a cohort of 450 patients with clinical features of psychomotor retardation, global developmental delay, seizures, microcephaly and/or autistic behaviour. The patient presented with frequent convulsions and severe myoclonic jerk within the first few days of life and severe psychomotor retardation. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profile of the urine revealed the characteristic biochemical markers of succinyladenosine (S-Ado) and succinyl-aminoimidazole carboximide riboside (SAICAr). The urinary S-Ado/SAICAr ratio was found to be 1.02 (type I ADSL deficiency). The patient was compound heterozygous for two novel mutations, c.445C > G (p.R149G) and c.774_778insG (p.A260GfsX24).

D-ribose therapy in four Polish patients with adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency: absence of positive effect

Deficiency of adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) (OMIM 103050) is an autosomal recessive disorder of the purine de novo synthesis pathway and purine nucleotide cycle, diagnosed so far in approximately 50 patients. The clinical presentation is characterized by severe neurological involvement including hypotonia, seizures, developmental delay and autistic features. Epilepsy in ADSL deficiency is frequent and occurs in approximately two-thirds of patients, beginning either early in the neonatal period or after the first year of life. At present there is no treatment of proven clinical efficacy. Despite of the increasing number of ADSL-deficient patients reported, there are only a few communications of therapeutic considerations or efforts. Among them only two showed some beneficial effects in ADSL-deficient patients. D-ribose, a simple and relatively cheap therapy, has been associated with improvement of behaviour and progressive reduction of the seizure frequency in one 13-year-old patient with ADSL deficiency. In this study we have re-examined D-ribose treatment in four ADSL-deficient patients. Assessments consisted of biochemical markers and neurological outcome. The 12-month trial of D-ribose failed to show any clinical benefit in ADSL patients with both milder and severe phenotype. D-ribose administration was accompanied by neither reduction in seizure frequency nor growth enhancement. Additionally, patients with milder type II presented the first seizure after 4 and 8 months of the D-ribose treatment. Therefore, we could not confirm a positive effect of D-ribose as previously reported.

Diagnosing AICA-ribosiduria by capillary electrophoresis

AICA-ribosiduria is a recently discovered inherited metabolic disease caused by a defect in final steps of purine de novo biosynthesis-5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribotide (AICAR)-transformylase/inosinemonophosphate (IMP)-cyclohydrolase (ATIC). A rapid and selective capillary electrophoretic method for screening of patients with AICA-ribosiduria is described. The method is based on direct ultraviolet detection of 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide (AICA) and 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside (AICAr) in untreated urine. Background electrolyte consists of 100mM malonic acid adjusted with gamma-aminobutyric acid (pH 2.7). Under the given separation conditions both compounds of interest are well separated from other substances with separation efficiency of 1020000 and 130000 theoretical plates/m for AICA and AICAr, respectively. Total analysis time is 3 min with the limits of detection of 3.6 microM and 4.5 microM for AICA and AICAr, respectively. The usefulness of the presented method for screening of patients with ATIC deficiency is demonstrated on samples of Chinese hamster ovary cell line defective in ATIC activity, spiked urine samples and urine samples from patients treated with high-dose MTX which do not excrete increased amounts of AICA and AICAr compared to untreated controls (p<0.05). The described method is fast and effective enough for diagnostic applications.

The nucleotide derivatives inosine and inosinic acid inhibit intestinal absorption of mizoribine in rats

Inosine is absorbed via a N1 transporter that is selective for purine nucleosides. It is conceivable that inosine and inosinic acid might affect the intestinal absorption of mizoribine, an imidazole nucleoside that inhibits the de novo production pathway of guanine ribonucleotide. An in situ loop experiment was performed using four intestinal loop segments prepared by ligation: segment 1, about 6 to 9 cm from the end of the pylorus; segment 2, about 10 to 13 cm; segment 3, about 14 to 17 cm; and segment 4, about 18 to 21 cm. Mizoribine (0.1 mg/ml) or mizoribine+inosine (1 or 10 mg/ml) were infused into each loop. The absorption rate in the most proximal segment of intestinal loop was the highest. In the presence of inosine, this rate decreased significantly. Urinary recovery rates of mizoribine were significantly decreased by pretreatment with inosine or inosinic acid. The Cmax in the group given mizoribine+inosinic acid was significantly lower than that in the group given mizoribine alone. These results strongly indicate that (I) the N1 transporter in the intestine might act to absorb mizoribine; and (II) inosine and inosinic acid might competitively inhibit the absorption of mizoribine via the N1 transporter.

Intrafamilial variability in the phenotypic expression of adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency: a report on three patients

We report on the striking variable expression of adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) deficiency in three patients belonging to a family which originates from Portugal. ADSL deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the de novo purine synthesis which results in accumulation of succinylpurines in body fluids. As a result, patients may have variable combinations of psychomotor retardation and/or regression, seizures, autistic features and cerebellar vermis hypoplasia. However, intrafamilial variable expression of the phenotype has not been documented to date in this disease and is not commonly observed in metabolic disorders. Here, while the proband had marked psychomotor regression and progressive cerebellar vermis atrophy, the other two affected patients presented mainly autistic features. Mutation analysis of the ADSL gene revealed the presence of a homozygous R426H mutation in this family. Finally, although ADSL deficiency is a rare disorder, this diagnosis should be considered and assessed using a simple urinary screening method for the presence of succinylpurines in any patient with mental retardation of unexplained origin.

Clinical, biochemical and molecular genetic correlations in adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency

Adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) deficiency (MIM 103050) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of purine synthesis characterized by the accumulation in body fluids of succinylaminoimidazolecarboxamide (SAICA) riboside and succinyladenosine (S-Ado), the dephosphorylated derivatives of the two substrates of the enzyme. Because ADSL-deficient patients display widely variable degrees of psychomotor retardation, we have expressed eight mutated ADSL enzymes as thioredoxin fusions and compared their properties with the clinical and biochemical characteristics of 10 patients. Three expressed mutated ADSL enzymes (M26L, R426H and T450S) were thermolabile, four (A2V, R141W, R303C and S395R) were thermostable and one (del206-218), was inactive. Thermolabile mutations decreased activities with SAICA ribotide (SAICAR) and adenylosuccinate (S-AMP) in parallel, or more with SAICAR than with S-AMP. Patients homozygous for one of these mutations, R426H, displayed similarly decreased ADSL activities in their fibroblasts, S-Ado:SAICA riboside ratios of approximately 1 in their cerebrospinal fluid and were profoundly retarded. With the exception of A2V, thermostable mutations decreased activity with S-AMP to a much more marked extent than with SAICAR. Two unrelated patients homozygous for one of the thermostable mutations, R303C, also displayed a much more marked decrease in the activity of fibroblast ADSL with S-AMP than with SAICAR, had S-Ado:SAICA riboside ratios between 3 and 4 in their cerebrospinal fluid and were mildly retarded. These results suggest that, in some cases, the genetic lesion of ADSL determines the ratio of its activities with S-AMP versus SAICAR, which in turn defines the S-Ado:SAICA riboside ratio and the patients' mental status.

Quantitation of urinary nucleosides by high-performance liquid chromatography

It is known that some modified, especially methylated, nucleosides originating from RNA degradation are excreted in abnormal levels in the urine of patients with malignant tumours and they have been proposed as tumour markers. Their measurement could provide a non-invasive diagnostic method, be helpful in the identification of different cancers and in the monitoring of therapeutic effects. In this study, we developed and optimized an analytical procedure to isolate and quantify normal and modified ribonucleosides. The extraction of urinary nucleosides was performed by affinity chromatography on a phenylboronic acid column prior to separation. The reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method allowed a complete separation of sixteen urinary ribonucleosides. The recoveries for the different nucleosides ranged from 83 to 100%, except for xanthosine (66%) and pseudouridine (74%). In normal 24 h urine, the mean levels of thirteen nucleosides (in nmol of nucleoside/mumol of creatinine) were found to be as follows: dihydrouridine (6.37), pseudouridine (25.52), cytidine (0.07), uridine (0.21), 1-methyladenosine (2.19), inosine (0.30), guanosine (0.06), xanthosine (0.59), 3-methyluridine (0.11), 1-methylinosine (1.13). 1-methylguanosine (0.74), adenosine (0.21) and 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (0.12). The first results concerning two kinds of tumours, i.e. breast and floor of mouth tumours, showed some abnormal levels of ribonucleosides. Further experiments are now in progress to measure the modified nucleosides in urine of patients with different forms of cancer.

Capillary electrophoresis for screening of adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency

We report a new screening method for adenylosuccinate lyase (ASase) deficiency using capillary electrophoresis (CE). This enzyme defect causes secondary autism and psychomotor retardation in early childhood. In all body fluids of these patients, two succinylpurine metabolites can be found that are normally not detectable: succinyladenosine and succinylaminoimidazole carboxamide (SAICA) riboside. A Beckman P/ACE 2050 capillary electrophoresis system was used with a 47.1 cm capillary, 75 microns ID, and the P/ACE Beckman UV absorbance detector. Untreated urine, injected for 1 s, was separated in a pH 8.63 borate buffer at 20 kV. The two succinylpurines (migration times 13.36 and 13.60 min) were detected at 254 nm only in urine of patients with ASase deficiency but not in control samples.

A new diagnostic technique for adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency

A convenient and simple method of diagnosing adenylosuccinate lyase (ASL) deficiency is described. This method consists of (1) isolation of SAICA riboside and S-Ado with a cation exchange resin; (2) measurement of the UV absorbance of the ammonia eluate at 270 and 250 nm; (3) calculation of the A270/A250 ratio. If the value of this ratio is less than 0.45, the patient has a normal level of ASL activity. If the value of this ratio is greater than 0.70, the patient has ASL deficiency.

Altered RNA turnover in carcinogenesis. The diagnostic potential of modified base excretion

Excretion of urinary modified nucleosides is frequently elevated in patients with oncogenic disease. Increases of urinary pseudouridine excretion are now demonstrated in patients with a variety of brain tumors. The potential use of urinary modified base excretion as a cancer marker is discussed and possible sources of the elevated nucleosides are detailed. The specific steps in RNA metabolism that result in increased levels of RNA nucleoside excretion are poorly understood. This knowledge will be necessary to understand the molecular mechanism and the clinical significance of urinary nucleoside excretion in treatment and diagnosis of oncogenic disease.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of allopurinol riboside

There are no safe and effective oral drugs to treat leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease. The safety, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism of single and multiple oral doses of allopurinol riboside, an investigational antiparasitic agent, were evaluated in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in 32 healthy male volunteers, at levels up to 25 mg/kg q.i.d. for 13 doses. No significant toxicity was detected. Allopurinol riboside peaks in plasma 1.6 hours after administration, has an elimination half-life of 3 hours, and steady-state concentrations in the therapeutic range. However, in contrast to preclinical studies in dogs (plasma levels proportional to oral doses up to 200 mg/kg), we found that plasma levels were unexpectedly low and did not rise with increasing dose. Furthermore, allopurinol and oxypurinol (unanticipated metabolites) were detected at levels proportional to the dose of allopurinol riboside. We present a model that includes incomplete absorption, metabolism of residual drug by enteric flora, and absorption of bacterial metabolites to explain these findings in humans.

Orotidine accumulation in human erythrocytes during allopurinol therapy: association with high urinary oxypurinol-7-riboside concentrations in renal failure and in the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome

1. A compound identified as orotidine has been found in the erythrocytes of all subjects on allopurinol. 2. The erythrocyte orotidine concentrations were much higher in patients with renal failure or with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. 3. In addition, increased amounts of oxypurinol-7-riboside were excreted in the urine by both of these groups compared with control subjects or with patients with normal renal function on allopurinol. 4. A good correlation was found between urinary oxypurinol-7-riboside excretion and erythrocyte orotidine concentrations. 5. Increased erythrocyte levels of the pyrimidine-sugar UDP-glucose were also found in patients with the highest orotidine levels. 6. The combined results suggest a derangement of pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism during allopurinol therapy. We propose that erythrocyte orotidine formation results primarily from inhibition of orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase by oxypurinol-7-ribotide.

On-line sample processing and analysis of diol compounds in biological fluids

We developed a coupled dual column system with an optional post-column derivatization for on-line sample processing, trace enrichment and analysis of aromatic 1,2-diol and aliphatic cis-diol biomolecules (e.g. catecholamines, ribonucleosides). The fully automated high-performance liquid chromatography analyzer tolerates the direct injection of proteinaceous fluids by use of a unique bonded-phase precolumn material which allows the simultaneous performance of covalent affinity and size-exclusion chromatography.

The age dependency of the creatinine-related concentration of ribonucleosides in human urine

We investigated the urinary excretion of ribonucleosides and an unidentified substance in 345 healthy probands from the age of a few weeks to 40 years. The concentration of ribonucleosides, related to the corresponding concentration of creatinine, decreases until nearly 20 years and remains constant between 20 and 40 years. The polynomial functions describing this dependency are presented. The biological significance of our findings is briefly discussed.

Detection of 5'-phosphoribosyl-4-(N-succinylcarboxamide)-5-aminoimidazole in urine by use of the Bratton-Marshall reaction: identification of patients deficient in adenylosuccinate lyase activity

The Bratton-Marshall reaction can be used to identify patients with adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency. These patients excrete in their urine the dephosphorylated derivative of the de novo purine synthesis intermediate 5'-phosphoribosyl-4-(N-succinylcarboxamide)-5-aminoimidazole (SAICAR). The test described here depends on a coupling reaction of N-1-naphthylethylenediamine with diazotized ribosyl-4-(N-succinylcarboxamide)-5-aminoimidazole giving rise to a fast developing purple chromaphore with a maximum absorbance at 555 nm. Using the closely related compound ribosyl-5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide (AICA riboside) as a standard, concentrations as low as 1.0 microM produce a visible color change. The absorption at 555 nM of the azo compound increases as a linear function of the concentration of AICA riboside in the reaction. The use of a filter-paper dipstick for urine sampling and storage is also described. The two metabolites which are present in increased concentration in biological fluids of adenylosuccinate lyase deficient patients are stable on the dipstick for at least 60 days when stored at room temperature (25 degrees C).

Direct clean-up and analysis of ribonucleosides in physiological fluids

We describe the group-selective separation and quantification of unmodified, modified and hypermodified ribonucleosides in physiological fluids (urine, serum) by on-line multidimensional high-performance affinity chromatography (HPAC)-reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). The excretion levels and patterns of ribonucleosides such as N1-methyladenosine, N1-methylinosine, N2-methylguanosine, N2-dimethylguanosine, N6-carbamoylthreonyladenosine and 2-pyridone-5-carboxamido-N-ribofuranoside were determined in urines from a control group and from patients with different diseases. The HPAC-RPLC method applied represents a powerful tool, e.g. as a non-invasive screening test, a method to investigate disorders in ribonucleoside and/or RNA metabolism, a method for drug monitoring during nucleoside chemotherapy, and a method to study renal ribonucleoside reutilization.

Diagnosis of inherited adenylosuccinase deficiency by thin-layer chromatography of urinary imidazoles and by automated cation exchange column chromatography of purines

Patients with inherited adenylosuccinase deficiency excrete large quantities of succinyloaminoimidazolecarboxamide riboside (SAICAR) and succinyloadenosine (SAdo). A two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography method for the detection of SAICAR is described. The method consists of isolation of imidazoles with a cation exchange resin; TLC on cellulose plates, solvent I, isopropanol-ammonia 10% (4:1) and II, butanol-acetic acid-water (4:1:1); detection with Pauly reagent. SAICAR gives rise to an isolated spot with a characteristic bluish color. Also a simple one-dimensional thin-layer chromatography method using urine without any pretreatment for screening of high risk populations is given. Four new cases could be diagnosed. Clinical and chemical data, including concentrations of SAICAR and SAdo in urine, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, determined by cation exchange column chromatography, are presented.

Detection of inherited adenylosuccinase deficiency by two dimensional thin layer chromatography of urinary imidazoles

Patients with inherited adenylosuccinase deficiency excrete large quantities of succinyloaminoimidazolecarboxamide riboside (SAICAR) and succinyloadenosine (SAdo). A two dimensional thin layer chromatography method for the detection of SAICAR is described. The method consists of 1: isolation of imidazoles with a cation exchange resin; 2: tlc on cellulose plates, solvent I: isopropanol-ammonia 10% (4:1) and II: butanol-acetic acid-water (4:1:1); detection with Pauly reagent. SAICAR gives rise to an isolated spot with a characteristic bluish color. Also a simple one dimensional thin layer chromatography method for screening of high risk populations is given. Four new cases could be diagnosed. Clinical and chemical data, including concentrations of SAICAR and SAdo in urine, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, determined by column chromatography, are presented.

Development of a chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of minor ribonucleosides in physiological fluids. Characterization and quantitative determination of minor ribonucleosides in physiological fluids, Part I

We describe an on-line multi-column high performance liquid chromatographic method for the selective clean-up and analysis of major and minor ribonucleosides in physiological fluids. Quantitative data obtained for the determination of some methylated ribonucleosides in human urines are compared with those obtained with the traditional off-line method. The on-line technique developed in our laboratory is distinguished from the off-line method by the following features: Sample clean-up and analysis of the target-compounds can easily be automatized, Total time of analysis, for example of urinary ribonucleosides, is decreased to 35 minutes, Laborious and error-prone evaporation and redissolution steps are avoided, Reliability of the overall analytical system can be controlled with ease, Small sample-volumes can be applied directly, Sensitive samples can be processed very rapidly under mild conditions, Results obtained with the on-line and off-line-techniques compare well.

On-line high-performance liquid affinity chromatography-high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of monomeric ribonucleoside compounds in biological fluids

We describe an on-line multi-dimensional column chromatography system. It consists of a high-performance liquid affinity chromatography perfractionation column for cis-diol compounds and a series-connected reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography system for the analysis of ribonucleosides. This on-line procedure allows the rapid and direct analysis of methylated ribonucleic acid catabolites in biological fluids (serum, urine) and therefore might be useful in pathobiochemistry.

Relationship of urinary excretion of modified nucleosides to disease status in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The levels of urinary excretion of five modified nucleosides were quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography for 15 normal children and 24 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Excretion of each nucleoside decreased linearly with age when quantitation was based on urine creatinine content. Patients with childhood ALL at initial diagnosis or in relapse had significantly higher concentrations of 1-methylinosine, N2,N2-dimethylguanosine, 1-methylguanosine, and pseudouridine in their urine when compared to the concentrations in either patients in remission (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.001, P less than 0.01, and P less than 0.05, respectively) or normal controls (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.02, P less than 0.01, and P less than 0.001, respectively). Excretion of 2-pyridone-5-carboxamide-N'-ribofuranoside did not show significant differences. Urinary excretion of 1-methylinosine demonstrated a positive linear relationship with the percentage of blast cells in the bone marrow [correlation coefficient (r) = 0.90]; the other nucleosides had lower degrees of correlation. In comparison, the absolute blast cell count in the peripheral blood showed less correlation to the percentage of blast cells in the bone marrow (r = 0.47) than did four of the five nucleosides. The data demonstrate that excretion of modified nucleosides reflects disease activity in childhood ALL and that the urinary nucleosides could be useful clinical markers for this disease.

On the metabolism of allopurinol. Formation of allopurinol-1-riboside in purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency

Allopurinol-1-riboside, a major metabolite of allopurinol, is commonly thought to be directly synthesized by purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) in vivo. As this enzyme is otherwise believed to function in vivo primarily in the direction of nucleoside breakdown, we have determined by high performance liquid chromatography and a conventional chromatographic method the urinary metabolites of allopurinol in a child deficient of PNP. In this patient approximately 40% of urinary allopurinol metabolites consisted of allopurinol-1-riboside, thus proving the possibility of indirect formation of allopurinol-1-riboside via allopurinol-1-ribotide in vivo, catalysed by hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) and a phosphatase.

Biological markers and small cell carcinoma of the lung: a clinical evaluation of urinary ribonucleosides

Five minor base ribonucleosides, primarily degradation products of transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA), were evaluated as potential biological markers for patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung. The urinary concentration for pseudouridine, 1-methyladenosine, 1-methylinosine, N2-methylguanosine, and N2,N2-dimethylguanosine was determined by means of reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and quantitatively expressed as a function of creatinine excretion. Comparisons were made with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) plasma levels. The total frequency of elevated values for the five nucleosides in pretreatment urine samples was directly related to stage of disease with 24/60 (40%) determinations increased in 12 patients with limited disease and 69/85 (81%) in 17 patients with extensive disease. For these same patients, CEA levels were elevated respectively in 2/11 (18%) of the former and 9/17 (53%) of the latter group. The frequency and degree of elevation of the nucleoside/creatinine ratios in pretreatment samples from patients with extensive disease was correlated directly with increasing number of metastatic sites. Of the five nucleosides, the mean number elevated was two for limited disease, 3-4 for extensive disease with one metastatic site, 4 for two or three, and 5 for four or more sites of metastases. Based on a summation of pretreatment nucleoside/creatinine ratios, a discriminant for survival was derived giving curves separating patients (P = 0.086) similar to the discriminant based on stage of disease. Although discordant results were noted, an overall correlation of 75% agreement with clinical assessment was estimated in response categories when monitoring changes associated with therapy.

Comparison of urinary modified nucleosides and bases in rats with hepatomas and nephroblastomas

Hepatomas were induced in rats with aflatoxin B1, and nephroblastomas with dimethylnitrosamine. Microscopic examination of livers of aflatoxin-treated rats revealed multinodular hepatocyte hyperplasia at 8 months, and by 13 months all rats had hepatomas. Nephroblastomas were observed by 4 months and by 8 months all rats had developed them. The urinary excretion of several modified nucleosides and bases by normal rats is dependent on body weight and reflects, to a certain extent, their concentrations in tissue tRNA. Increased levels of several modified nucleosides and bases were found in all rats that had cancer. Rats with hepatomas excreted essentially the same modified nucleosides and bases as did those with nephroblastomas; the quantitative patterns of excretion were different, however, suggesting that the urinary modified nucleosides and bases may be used to differentiate between neoplasms. Although the increase in urinary modified nucleosides and bases by tumor-bearing animals results primarily from more rapid turnover of neoplastic tRNAs, the data indicate that increased turnover of mRNA and possibly rRNA may occur in neoplastic tissue. Preliminary data suggest that increases in urinary modified nucleosides and bases may occur during a precancerous stage. The urinary pattern of modified nucleosides and bases by rats with hepatomas is altered if another primary tumor is present. The results obtained from these studies support the use of modified nucleosides and bases in urine as biochemical markers of cancer.

Multivariate analysis of urinary RNA catabolites in malignancies: cross-sectional and longitudinal studies

Urinary RNA catabolites, especially modified nucleosides and nucleobases, have turned out to represent valuable new criteria for diagnosis and follow-up of malignancies. Here we show for the first time that multivariate analysis of urinary RNA catabolites can distinguish between tumor carriers and controls who, if examined by univariate procedures, would remain undifferentiated. Two such models have been demonstrated. We hope that a continuation of this work will support primary clinical diagnostic procedures, the control of therapy effects, and the long-term follow-up of patients, which should be regarded as special medical applications of the general principles of molecular biology.

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of the antineoplastic agent tricyclic nucleoside 5'-phosphate and its disposition in rabbit

Anion-exchange and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic procedures are described for the assay of the antineoplastic agent tricyclic nucleoside 5'-phosphate (TCNP) and its metabolite tricyclic nucleoside (TCN) in biological fluids. Disposition of TCNP has been studied in rabbit. TCNP is eliminated from blood and plasma with a biologic half-life of about 7.5 h. Apparent volume of distribution is 43.2 l/m2 and total body plasma TCNP clearance is 67.8 ml/min/m2. TCNP is hydrolyzed by plasma and probably other tissues to TCN which is present in blood and plasma at about one-tenth the concentration of TCNP. There is no accumulation of TCNP or TCN in blood or plasma over 2 days of administration. In 24 h 2.4% of a dose of TCNP is excreted in bile of a rabbit with a cannulated bile duct as unchanged TCNP and 30.7% as TCN. TCN is excreted in bile at an initial concentration half the maximum solubility of TCN in rabbit bile. Excretion of TCNP and TCN over 24 h in the urine of a rabbit with a cannulated bile duct is 1.5% and 5.2% of the dose, respectively.

Modified ribonucleosides as biological markers for patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung

A variety of individual modified ribonucleosides may be elevated in the urine of cancer patients. They can be readily measured quantitatively in a single reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic run. A total of 41 patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung were studied. For 5-ribonucleosides determined in the pretreatment urine of 28 patients, the respective frequency of elevation was directly related to stage of disease. One or more nucleosides were evaluated in the pretreatment urine of 27 out of 28 patients (96%). Included were 11 patients with limited disease and 10 (91%) had 2 or less than 2 nucleosides elevated, whereas 16 out of 17 (94%) with extensive disease had 3 or more elevated. Based on this same discriminant, median survival was significantly extended for patients with 2 or less nucleosides elevated (24 months) in contrast to 3 or more (10 months). Using a single number to represent the summation of equally weighted individual nucleoside values as a composite score, a direct relationship was found between increasing extent of disease or tumor burden. This was in contrast to more variable results for carcinoembryonic antigen analyzed in plasma samples obtained at the same time. When determined serially the composite score paralleled in general the clinical response categories for individual patients.

Biological markers and small cell carcinoma of the lung: a clinical evaluation of urinary ribonucleosides

Five minor base ribonucleosides, primarily degradation products of transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA), were evaluated as potential biological markers for patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung. The urinary concentration for pseudouridine, 1-methyladenosine, 1-methylinosine, N2-methylguanosine, and N2,N2-dimethylguanosine was determined by means of reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and quantitatively expressed as a function of creatinine excretion. Comparisons were made with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) plasma levels. The total frequency of elevated values for the five nucleosides in pretreatment urine samples was directly related to stage of disease with 24/60 (40%) determinations increased in 12 patients with limited disease and 69/85 (81%) in 17 patients with extensive disease. For these same patients, CEA levels were elevated respectively in 2/11 (18%) of the former and 9/17 (53%) of the latter group. The frequency and degree of elevation of the nucleoside/creatinine ratios in pretreatment samples from patients with extensive disease was correlated directly with increasing number of metastatic sites. Of the five nucleosides, the mean number elevated was two for limited disease, 3-4 for extensive disease with one metastatic site, 4 for two or three, and 5 for four or more sites of metastases. Based on a summation of pretreatment nucleoside/creatinine ratios, a discriminant for survival was derived giving curves separating patients (P = 0.086) similar to the discriminant based on stage of disease. Although discordant results were noted, an overall correlation of 75% agreement with clinical assessment was estimated in response categories when monitoring changes associated with therapy.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of purine and pyrimidine bases, ribonucleosides, deoxyribonucleosides and cyclic ribonucleotides in biological fluids

A method is presented for the separation and quantitative determination of compounds normally related to purine and pyrimidine metabolism in biological material. The retention behaviour of nucleobases, ribonucleosides, deoxyribonucleosides and cyclic ribonucleotides has been systematically investigated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a non-linear gradient. Ultimately a separation of the purine and pyrimidine compounds was achieved in a 35-min run with an average detection limit of 5-10 pmol per injection. Recoveries of standards added to urine, plasma or serum were 96 +/- 5%.

Elevated urinary excretion of RNA catabolites as an early signal of tumor development in mice

Determination of the urinary excretion rates of 12 modified nucleosides and bases in mice after tumor induction by application of a single dose of 3-methylcholanthrene revealed that mice bearing tumors in advanced stages excrete many-fold amounts of these nucleic acid catabolites compared with the control values. The excretion rate of several of these nucleic acid constituents like ac4C, m1A, PsU, and m2Gua increased before the tumor was diagnosable. Untreated control mice as well as mice having received the carcinogen, but not developing a tumor, did not show an alteration in the excretion values of any of the modified nucleosides and bases determined.

Multiple biological markers and breast carcinoma: a preliminary study in the detection of recurrent disease after primary therapy

The use of a selected group of biological markers in breast cancer patients who are disease free but at risk of relapse after mastectomy has potential for detecting recurrent tumor before there is clinical evidence. In this preliminary study, multiple materials were serially analyzed in the body fluids of patients without overt tumor but receiving adjuvant chemotherapy because of positive axillary nodes at surgery. The total frequency of elevated levels was determined and compared for those patients who remained disease free, for those who subsequently relapsed, and for a third group of patients with proven metastases. Frequency of elevation was directly proportional to increasing disease. Although differences in the relative frequency of individual materials was observed, the same trends with increasing tumor burden were found. The results suggest that the serial measurement of biological markers has potential for indicating the presence of occult disease. A nucleus of biological markers to be considered should include carcinoembryonic antigen, urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio for bone lesions, and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase for liver involvement.

A new method for the simultaneous analysis of unmodified and modified urinary nucleosides and nucleobases by high performance liquid chromatography

Details are given of a new, rapid and simple pre-fractionation method and an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography system suitable for parallel analysis of nucleosides and nucleobases from urine and other biological fluids. The quantitative recovery and excellent reproducibility of the method is demonstrated by analysis of representative standard RNA catabolites. The advantage of this new method for application to biological samples is discussed.

Patterns of urinary excretion of modified nucleosides

A recently developed high-performance liquid chromatography method permits quantitative measurement of low levels of modified nucleosides in urine. We report on the patterns of excretion of seven modified nucleosides by normal subjects and cancer patients. It was found that the excretion of these nucleosides expressed as a function of creatinine concentration was constant, not episodic nor related to diet. Thus, randomly collected samples of urine are satisfactory sources for measurement of nucleosides, and the level of nucleosides is of significance when related to creatinine excretion. The constancy of the excretion of the modified nucleosides in normal subjects is quite remarkable. It implies strict metabolic control of transfer RNA turnover. The values for the individual nucleoside/creatinine ratios were found to be significantly elevated in the urine of colon cancer patients.

Quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography of nucleosides in biological materials

A rigorous, comprehensive, and reliable reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the analysis of ribonucleosides in urine (psi, m1A, m1I, m2G, A, m2(2)G). An initial isolation of ribonucleosides with an affinity gel containing an immobilized phenylboronic acid was used to improve selectivity and sensitivity. Response for all nucleosides was linear from 0.1 to 50 nmoles injected and good quantitation was obtained for 25 microliter or less of sample placed on the HPLC column. Excellent precision of analysis for urinary nucleosides was achieved on matrix dependent and independent samples, and the high resolution of the reversed-phase column allowed the complete separation of 9 nucleosides from other unidentified UV absorbing components at the 1-ng level. Supporting experimental data are presented on precision, recovery, chromatographic methods, minimum detection limit, retention time, relative molar response, sample clean-up, stability of nucleosides, boronate gel capacity, and application to analysis of urine from patients with leukemia and breast cancer. This method is now being used routinely for the determination of the concentration and ratios of nucleosides in urine from patients with different types of cancer and in chemotherapy response studies.

Modified nucleosides in urine: selective removal and analysis

Because excretion of certain nucleosides increases in all types of cancer, detection and treatment of the disease would be enhanced by rapid, simple quantitation of such nucleotides. To facilitate these analyses in urine, we have prepared a specific adsorbent for nucleosides. The affinity adsorbent gel contains an immobilized phenylboronic acid group that specifically binds cis-diols, as in ribonucleosides, which can then be quantititatively recovered by elution with acetic acid. The advantage of this boronate gel over other preparations lies in its high capacity in the swollen state (0.26 mmol/ml), so that only small volumes (less than 1 ml) of gel are required for assays. Nucelosides containing a free diol group on the ribosyl group are retained at pH 8.8 in 0.25 mol/liter salt solution with a retention volume of 15 or larger, as compared with values of 1 to 2 for the free bases. Negatively charged species (not including the boronate complex) are eluted earlier than neutral or cationic species. Added nucleosides (neutral, cationic, or anionic) are quantitatively recovered. Because pseudouridine is eluted in a unique position, this property has been used to measure it in urine. The procedures used are chemically mild. For example, we have confirmed the observation of Fink and Adams [Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 126, 27 (1968)] that urine contains N1-methyladenosine and not N6-methyladenosine, the alkaline rearranged product.