Yourui Suo

Simultaneous determination of monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitters in rat endbrain tissues by pre-column derivatization with high-performance liquid chromatographic fluorescence detection and mass spectrometric identification

A sensitive and efficient method for simultaneous determination of glutamic acid (Glu), gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in rat endbrains was developed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection and on-line mass spectrometric identification following derivatization with 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC). Different parameters which influenced derivatization and separation were optimized. The complete separation of five neurotransmitter (NT) derivatives was performed on a reversed-phase Hypersil BDS-C(18) column with a gradient elution. The rapid structure identification of five neurotransmitter derivatives was carried out by on-line mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) source in positive ion mode, and the BCEOC-labeled derivatives were characterized by easy-to-interpret mass spectra. Stability of derivatives, repeatability, precision and accuracy were evaluated and the results were excellent for efficient HPLC analysis. The quantitative linear range of five neurotransmitters were 2.441-2x10(4) nM, and limits of detection were in the range of 0.398-1.258 nM (S/N=3:1). The changes of their concentrations in endbrains of three rat groups were also studied using this HPLC fluorescence detection method. The results indicated that exhausting exercise could obviously influence the concentrations of neurotransmitters in rat endbrains. The established method exhibited excellent validity, high sensitivity and convenience, and provided a new technique for simultaneous analysis of monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitters in rat brain.

Development of a sensitive fluorescent derivatization reagent 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC) and its application for determination of amino acids from seeds and bryophyte plants using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and identification with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A pre-column derivatization method for the sensitive determination of amino acids and peptides using the tagging reagent 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection has been developed. Identification of derivatives was carried out by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). The chromophore of 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate (CEOC) reagent was replaced by 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole functional group, which resulted in a sensitive fluorescence derivatizing reagent BCEOC. BCEOC can easily and quickly label peptides and amino acids. Derivatives are stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The derivatives showed an intense protonated molecular ion corresponding m/z (M+H)(+) under electrospray ionization (ESI) positive-ion mode with an exception being Tyr detected at negative mode. The collision-induced dissociation of protonated molecular ion formed a product at m/z 246.2 corresponding to the cleavage of CO bond of BCEOC molecule. Studies on derivatization demonstrate excellent derivative yields over the pH 9.0-10.0. Maximal yields close to 100% are observed with a 3-4-fold molar reagent excess. Derivatives exhibit strong fluorescence and extracted derivatization solution with n-hexane/ethyl acetate (10:1, v/v) allows for the direct injection with no significant interference from the major fluorescent reagent degradation by-products, such as 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethanol (BDC-OH) (a major by-product), mono-1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl carbonate (BCEOC-OH) and bis-(1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl) carbonate (BCEOC)(2). In addition, the detection responses for BCEOC derivatives are compared to those obtained with previously synthesized 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate (CEOC) in our laboratory. The ratios AC(BCEOC)/AC(CEOC)=2.05-6.51 for fluorescence responses are observed (here, AC is relative fluorescence response). Separation of the derivatized peptides and amino acids had been optimized on Hypersil BDS C(18) column. Detection limits were calculated from 1.0pmol injection at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, and were 6.3 (Lys)-177.6 (His) fmol. The mean interday accuracy ranged from 92 to 106% for fluorescence detection with mean %CV<7.5. The mean interday precision for all standards was <10% of the expected concentration. Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients of >0.9999. Good compositional data could be obtained from the analysis of derivatized protein hydrolysates containing as little as 50.5ng of sample. Therefore, the facile BCEOC derivatization coupled with mass spectrometry allowed the development of a highly sensitive and specific method for the quantitative analysis of trace levels of amino acids and peptides from biological and natural environmental samples.

A sensitive fluorescence reagent for the determination of aldehydes from alcoholic beverage using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and mass spectrometric identification

A pre-column derivatization method for the sensitive determination of aldehydes using the tagging reagent 2-[2-(7H-dibenzo[a,g] carbazol-7-yl)-ethoxy] ethyl carbonylhydrazine (DBCEEC) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and APCI-MS identification has been developed. The chromophore of fluoren-9-methoxy-carbonylhydrazine (Fmoc-hydrazine) reagent was replaced by 2-[2-(7H-dibenzo[a,g] carbazol-7-yl)-ethoxy] ethyl functional group, which resulted in a sensitive fluorescence tagging reagent DBCEEC. DBCEEC could easily and quickly labeled aldehydes. The maximum excitation (300nm) and emission (400nm) wavelengths did not essentially change for all the aldehyde derivatives. Derivatives were sufficiently stable to be efficiently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The derivatives showed an intense protonated molecular ion corresponding m/z [M+(CH(2))(n)](+) in positive-ion mode (M: molecular weight of DBCEEC, n: corresponding aldehyde carbon atom numbers). The collision-induced dissociation of protonated molecular ion formed fragment ions at m/z 294.6, m/z 338.6 and m/z 356.5. Studies on derivatization demonstrated excellent derivative yields in the presence of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) catalyst. Maximal yields close to 100% were observed with a 10 to 15-fold molar reagent excess. Separation of the derivatized aldehydes had been optimized on ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C(8) column with aqueous acetonitrile as mobile phase in conjunction with a binary gradient elution. Excellent linear responses were observed at the concentration range of 0.01-10nmolmL(-1) with coefficients of >0.9991. Detection limits obtained by the analysis of a derivatized standard containing 0.01nmolmL(-1) of each aldehyde, were from 0.2 to 1.78nmolL(-1) (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3).

2-(5-Benzoacridine)ethyl-p-toluenesulfonate as sensitive reagent for the determination of bile acids by HPLC with fluorescence detection and online atmospheric chemical ionization-mass spectrometric identification

Abstract2-(5-Benzoacridine)ethyl-p-toluenesulfonate (BAETS), a dual-sensitive probe, was reacted with bile acids in the presence of K2CO3 catalyst in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent to give BAETS–bile acid derivatives. Derivatives exhibited intense fluorescence (FL) with an excitation maximum at λex 270xa0nm and an emission maximum at λem 510xa0nm. MS analysis using APCI-MS indicated that derivatives had excellent APCI-MS ionizability with percentage ionization δ values changing from 0 to 88.83% in aqueous acetonitrile and from 0 to 89.15% in aqueous methanol. The collision induced dissociation spectra of m/z [M + H]+ contained specific fragment ions at m/z [M + H−H2O]+, [M + H−2H2O]+, [M + H−3H2O]+, 347.3, and 290.1. Repeatability was good for LC separation of BAETS–bile acid derivatives with aqueous acetonitrile as mobile phase. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of retention time and peak area at 6.6xa0nmol mL−1 levels with fluorescence detection (FL) were from 0.045 to 0.072% and from 2.16 to 2.73%, respectively. Excellent linear responses were observed, with regression coefficients >0.9995. The FL detection limits (S/Nu2009=u20093) were in the range of 18.0–36.1 fmol. The online APCI-MS detection limits are in the range of 500–790 fmol (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3).n FigureSchematic diagram of derivatization procedure

Determination of amines using 2-(11H-benzo[a]carbazol-11-yl) ethyl chloroformate (BCEC-Cl) as labeling reagent by HPLC with fluorescence detection and identification with APCI/MS

A pre-column derivatization method for the sensitive determination of amines using a labeling reagent 2-(11H-benzo[a]-carbazol-11-yl) ethyl chloroformate (BCEC-Cl) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection has been developed. Identification of derivatives was carried out by LC/APCI/MS in positive-ion mode. The chromophore of 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC-Cl) reagent was replaced by 2-(11H-benzo[a]-carbazol-11-yl) ethyl functional group, which resulted in a sensitive fluorescence derivatizing reagent BCEC-Cl. BCEC-Cl could easily and quickly label amines. Derivatives were stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by HPLC and showed an intense protonated molecular ion corresponding m/z [M+H](+) under APCI/MS in positive-ion mode. The collision-induced dissociation of the protonated molecular ion formed characteristic fragment ions at m/z 261.8 and m/z 243.8 corresponding to the cleavages of CH(2)O-CO and CH(2)-OCO bonds. Studies on derivatization demonstrated excellent derivative yields over the pH 9.0-10.0. Maximal yields close to 100% were observed with three- to four-fold molar reagent excess. In addition, the detection responses for BCEC-derivatives were compared to those obtained using 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC-Cl) and 9-fluorenyl methylchloroformate (FMOC-Cl) as labeling reagents. The ratios I(BCEC)/I(BCEOC)=1.94-2.17 and I(BCEC)/I(FMOC)=1.04-2.19 for fluorescent (FL) responses (here, I was relative fluorescence intensity). Separation of the derivatized amines had been optimized on reversed-phase Eclipse XDB-C(8) column. Detection limits calculated from 0.50pmol injection, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, were 1.77-14.4fmol. The relative standard deviations for within-day determination (n=11) were 1.84-2.89% for the tested amines. The mean intra- and inter-assay precision for all amines levels were <3.64% and 2.52%, respectively. The mean recoveries ranged from 96.6% to 107.1% with their standard deviations in the range of 0.8-2.7. Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients of >0.9996.

An improved reagent for determination of aliphatic amines with fluorescence and online atmospheric chemical ionization－mass spectrometry identification

An improved reagent named 2-[2-(dibenzocarbazole)-ethoxy] ethyl chloroformate (DBCEC-Cl) for the determination of aliphatic amines by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection and post-column online atmospheric chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) identification has been developed. DBCEC-Cl could easily and quickly label aliphatic amines. Derivatives were stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by HPLC and showed an intense protonated molecular ion corresponding m/z [M+H](+) under APCI-MS in positive-ion mode. The ratios for fluorescence responses were I(DBCEC-amine)/I(BCEC-amine)=1.02-1.60; I(DBCEC-amine)/I(BCEOC-amine)=1.30-2.57; and I(DBCEC-amine)/I(FMOC-amine)=2.20-4.12 (here, I was relative fluorescence intensity). The ratios for MS responses were IC(DBCEC-amine)/IC(BCEC-amine)=4.16-29.31 and IC(DBCEC-amine)/IC(BCEOC-amine)=1.23-2.47 (Here, IC: APCI-MS ion current intensity). Detection limits calculated from 0.0244 pmol injection, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, were 0.3-3.0 fmol. The relative standard deviations for within-day determination (n=6) were 0.045-0.081% for retention time and 0.86-1.03% for peak area for the tested aliphatic amines. The mean intra- and inter-assay precision for all amine levels were <3.64% and 4.67%, respectively. The mean recoveries ranged from 96.9% to 104.7% with their standard deviations in the range of 1.80-2.70 (RSDs%). Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients of >0.9991.

HPLC-fluorimetric method for analysis of free fatty acids in Stellera chamaejasma L.

A sensitive HPLC method for the determination of fatty acids using 2-(2-(pyren-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl) ethyl-p-toluenesulfonate (PBIOTs) as a novel labeling reagent with fluorescence detection has been developed. PBIOTs could easily and quickly label fatty acids in the presence of the K2CO3 catalyst at 90°C for 30 min in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent. Fatty acids derivatives were separated on a reversed phase Eclipse XDB-C8 column by HPLC in conjunction with gradient elution. The corresponding derivatives were identified by post-column APCI-MS in positive ion detection mode. PBIOTs-fatty acid derivatives gave an intense molecular ion peak at m/z [M + H]+; with MS/MS analysis, the collision induced dissociation spectra of m/z [M + H]+ produced the specific fragment ions at m/z [M + H–319]+ and m/z 319.0 (here, m/z 319 is the core structural moiety of the PBIOTs molecule). The fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths of the derivatives were λex = 350 nm and λem = 402 nm, respectively. Linear correlation coefficients for all fatty acid derivatives were ≥0.9985. Detection limits for the labeled fatty acids, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1, were in the range of 10.32– 44.28 fmol. From the extracts of Stellera chamaejasma L, free fatty acids were sensitively determined.

DETERMINATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ALIPHATIC AMINES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL WATER WITH HPLC-FLD AND APCI/MS USING 1-[1,2,5,6-DIBENZOCARBAZOL-9-YL]PROPAN-2-YL CHLOROFORMATE (DBCPC-CL) AS NOVEL LABELING REAGENT

A novel fluorescent probe, 1-[1,2,5,6-dibenzocarbazol-9-yl]propan-2-yl chloroformate (DBCPC-Cl) has been designed and synthesized for amine labeling in HPLC. Using 12 aliphatic amines as the models, the derivatization conditions were optimized. In 0.2 mol/L borate buffer (pH 9.0), amines reacted with DBCPC-Cl at 30°C to form the derivatives in 3 min, and the derivatives were stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by HPLC. The separation of these amine derivatives was achieved with a C8 column and gradient elution by using 30% acetonitrile (containing 20 mmol/L formic acid) and 100% acetonitrile, and online APCI/MS identification of the derivatives was carried out in positive-ion mode. The fluorescence responses for DBCPC-derivatives were higher relative to those obtained using previously reported reagents. With fluorescence detection at an emission wavelength of 390 nm and an excitation wavelength of 300 nm, the detection limits of aliphatic amines were 0.3 – 5.1 fmol (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1). The relative standard deviations for within-day determination (n = 12) were 0.051–0.079% for retention time and 0.84–1.12% for peak area for the tested aliphatic amines. The mean intra- and inter-assay precision for all amines levels were <2.52% and 3.74%, respectively. The mean recoveries ranged from 86.9 to 104.7%. Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients >0.9991.

A sensitive fluorescence reagent, 2‐[2‐(7H‐dibenzo[a,g]carbazol‐7‐yl)‐ethoxy]ethyl chloroformate, for amino acids determination in Saussurea involucrate and Artemisia capillaris Thunb using high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and identification with mass spectroscopy/electrospray ionization source

Recent researches shows that amino acids (AA) are not only cell signaling molecules but are also regulators of gene expression and the protein phosphorylation cascade. More precise analysis of AA composition is reckoned to be one of the most important applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. In this paper, we develop a sample, sensitive and mild method using 2-[2-(7H-dibenzo[a,g]carbazol-7-yl)-ethoxy]ethyl chloroformate (DBCEC) as A labeling reagent for AA determination by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FLD) and identification with mass spectroscopy. The maximum excitation and emission wavelengths for DBCEC-AA derivatives were 300 and 395 nm, respectively. This method, in conjunction with a gradient elution, offered a baseline resolution of 20 AA on a reversed-phase Hypersil BDS C(18) column. LC separation for the derivatized AA showed good reproducibility, and all AA were found to give excellent linear responses with correlation coefficients > 0.9993. The calculated detection limits with a 25.0 fmol injection of each AA (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1) ranged from 2.62 to 22.6 fmol. This method was applied to determine the AA composition in Saussurea involucrate and Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Meanwhile, this method exhibits a powerful potential for trace analysis of AA from biomedicine, foodstuff and other complex samples.