Eunmi Ban

Recent developments and applications of capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection in biological samples

Since the human genomic project, the analysis of biomolecules using biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals has become increasingly important for the investigation of molecular mechanisms of biological processes and disease, as well as for the discovery of new biomarkers and drug targets. Among a number of analytical tools and technologies, capillary electrophoresis (CE) is emerging as a useful analytical tool for analyzing various biomolecules, as well as for performing genome sequencing in biological studies because of the simple sample preparation involved in the method and the efficient resolution of compounds of various sizes. In particular, CE with laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) detection is a promising and relatively rapidly developing tool with the potential to provide a highly sensitive and specific analysis of biological molecules. This paper gives a short overview of the methodological and instrumental developments and applications of microchip-based CE and CE-LIF for the analysis of DNA, RNA, proteins, and peptides in the past 3 years.

Growing trend of CE at the omics level: The frontier of systems biology - An update

Omics is the study of proteins, peptides, genes, and metabolites in living organisms. Systems biology aims to understand the system through the study of the relationship between elements such as genes and proteins in biological system. Recently, systems biology emerged as the result of the advanced development of high‐throughput analysis technologies such as DNA sequencers, DNA arrays, and mass spectrometry for omics studies. Among a number of analytical tools and technologies, CE and CE coupled to MS are promising and relatively rapidly developing tools with the potential to provide qualitative and quantitative analyses of biological molecules. With an emphasis on CE for systems biology, this review summarizes the method developments and applications of CE for the genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies focusing on the drug discovery and disease diagnosis and therapies since 2009.

Analysis of vasopressin using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detector based on competitive immunoassay

A competitive immunoassay based on CE-LIF has been developed for the determination of vasopressin in biological mixtures. Vasopressin participates in the hormonal control of water metabolism and the constriction of arterioles in humans. Thus, detection of vasopressin is important in diagnosing pathological conditions and physiological water metabolism. The peptides were fluorescently tagged with FITC and purified by HPLC. The purified product was then mixed with the cerebrospinal fluid sample followed with the addition of anti-vasopressin antibody. It was possible to separate antibody-bound and free FITC-tagged vasopressin within 10 min by CE-LIF analysis using uncoated fused-silica capillary with high reproducibility.

Sensitivity enhancement of CE and CE-MS for the analysis of peptides by a dynamic pH junction

An analytical method of CE-MS and CE with an online preconcentration technique induced by a dynamic pH junction, addition of organic solvent and large volume injection was developed for sensitive determination of peptides in biological samples. Leucine enkephalin, methionine enkephalin, dynorphin A, β-endorphin and angiotensin II were used as model peptides. The optimal online preconcentration conditions were obtained at a sample matrix consisting of 100 mM borate buffer (pH 10.0) with 50% v/v acetonitrile and a BGE containing 1 M formic acid at pH 2.0, along with a 25-cm injection length. Under the optimized conditions, a 4.0×10(3)-1.1×10(4)-fold increase in peak intensity was achieved without degrading the peak shape. This online preconcentration method was applied to analyze the intracellular angiotensin II within the peptides extracted from HL1 cells and approximately increase of 1×10(4)-fold sensitivity was achieved compared to normal condition. Thus, the developed method could be applied to the analysis of various peptides for peptidomics study in biological samples.

Competitive immunoassay for recombinant hirudin using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A competitive immunoassay based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) has been developed for the determination of recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) in biological mixtures. Hirudin, a thrombin inhibitor, is a polypeptide of 65 amino acids. To check purity levels and perform pharmacokinetic studies of (r-hirudin), specific and reproducible analysis methods are demanded. The work involved the development of separation conditions allowing for routine analysis of plasma samples. In this study, r-hirudin was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and FITC-labeled r-hirudin was purified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified product was then mixed with the sample followed with the addition of anti-hirudin antibody. Free, antibody-bound, and tagged r-hirudin could be separated within 5 min by CE analysis using uncoated fused-silica capillary with high reproducibility. The developed method can be used to determine r-hirudin with good precision and a detection limit lower than 20 nM. This result demonstrates the feasibility of the CE-LIF immunoassay method for the determination of r-hirudin in plasma samples.

Influence of buffer composition and sample pretreatment on efficiency separation for monitoring neuropeptides in plasma using capillary electrophoresis

More efficient and faster separation conditions for qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of neuropeptides in human plasma using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) have been developed. The analysis method for neuropeptides has been improved specifically to study thyroid hormone related neuropetides for the regulation of thyroid disease. In this study, we investigated the pretreatment methods, composition of the running buffer and rinsing procedures between runs in order to obtain more sensitive and faster separation of trace neuropeptides in plasma by CZE. The tested neuropeptides were somatostatin (SOMA), vasopressin (VP), neurotensin (NT), and thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH). Plasma samples were pretreated by deproteinization and solid‐phase extraction method. The fraction of neuropeptides was reconstituted in 40% acetonitrile followed by ultrafiltration, and then analyzed by CZE. Resolution and sensitivity was improved using the separation buffer composition with 100 mM Tris‐phosphate buffer (pH 2.0) while the sensitivity was further improved via a stacking method using the sample buffer of 40% acetonitrile. These sample pretreatment methods and buffer condition permit quantitative analysis on tested neuropeptides at the 20 ng/mL level. The rinsing procedures between runs using 90% ethanol dramatically shortened the rinsing time to 30 min.

Cyclodextrin-mediated micellar electrokinetic chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the enantiomer separation of racemorphan in human urine

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was successfully and conveniently applied to the chiral separation with the addition of cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selector to the running buffer. Chiral separation depended on the type of CD; in particular, beta-CD was effective for the chiral separation of racemorphan. We investigated the optimal conditions of type and concentration of CD as chiral selector for the routine enantiomeric separation of racemorphan with good reproducibility. The effects of other parameters such as buffer pH and detection wavelength were also investigated to obtain the optimum conditions for the enantiomeric separation of racemorphan. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used for confirmation of racemorphan. The optimal conditions for enantiomeric separation of the racemorphan were as follows: 50 mM borate buffer at pH 9.4 with 50 mM SDS, 10 mM beta-CD and 20% 1-propanol, 57 cm x 50 microns fused-silica capillary column, and UV detection at 192 nm. Based on the developed method, racemorphan in human urine was also separated and determined using solid-phase extraction and MEKC.

Analysis and applications of nanoparticles in capillary electrophoresis

Nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit unique chemical and physical properties that depend on their size, shape, and environment. NPs are emerging as new tools and techniques in the analytical study of various materials and in the biological and biomedical fields, because of their unique properties. Therefore, the quantitative and qualitative characterization of NPs has gathered increasing interest. Additionally, the NPs are being used in rapidly developing techniques to provide highly sensitive and specific analysis of various materials. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been demonstrated as a useful analytical tool for the characterization of NPs and for the evaluation of biological and biomedical studies using NPs because of its simple sample preparation and efficient resolution of a diverse size range of compounds. This paper gives a short overview of the analysis and applications of NPs in CE systems, with an emphasis on biological and biomedical studies.

Capillary electrophoresis methods for microRNAs assays: A review

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that conduct important roles in many cellular processes such as development, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In particular, circulating miRNAs have been proposed as biomarkers for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other illnesses. Therefore, determination of miRNA expression levels in various biofluids is important for the investigation of biological processes in health and disease and for discovering their potential as new biomarkers and drug targets. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is emerging as a useful analytical tool for analyzing miRNA because of its simple sample preparation steps and efficient resolution of a diverse size range of compounds. In particular, CE with laser-induced fluorescence detection is a promising and relatively rapidly developing tool with the potential to provide high sensitivity and specificity in the analysis of miRNAs. This paper covers a short overview of the recent developments and applications of CE systems in miRNA studies in biological and biomedical areas.

Determination of protein phosphorylation by extracellular signal-regulated kinase using capillary electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a key regulatory enzyme mediating cell responses to mitogenic stimulation and is one of the key components in linking growth factor receptor activation to serine/threonine protein phosphorylation processes. Phosphorylation reaction by ERK plays an important role in many signal transduction pathways. ERK phosphorylates numerous substrates such as MBP, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and nuclear protein. In particular, MBP is a substrate commonly employed for the detection of ERK activity and contains the consensus primary sequence PRT97P. In this paper, we compared the degree of the phosphorylation reaction of MBP substrate peptides by ERK with the three different MBP substrate peptides, MBP1(KNIVTPRTPPPSQGK), MBP2(VPRTPGGRR) and MBP3(APRTPGGRR) in order to select an efficient substrate peptide for phosphorylation reaction by ERK. The results showed that the MBP3 peptide is the most efficient substrate for phosphorylation reaction by ERK. Using MBP3 peptide, the phosphorylation reaction of MBP by ERK was monitored with both matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). Our results demonstrate the feasibility of the CE method, the method being a simple and reliable technique in determining and characterizing various kinds of enzyme reaction especially including kinase enzymes.