Showing papers by "Tyge Greibrokk published in 2006"

Fractionation and separation of human salivary proteins by pH-gradient ion exchange and reversed phase chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

Abstract: In the present work, a 2-D capillary liquid chromatography method for fractionation and separation of human salivary proteins is demonstrated. Fractionation of proteins according to their pI values was performed in the 1-D employing a strong anion exchange (SAX) column subjected to a wide-range descending pH gradient. Polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) RP columns were used for focusing and subsequent separation of the proteins in the 2-D. The SAX column was presaturated with a high pH buffer (A) consisting of 10 mM amine buffering species, pH 9.0, and elution was performed with a low pH elution buffer (B) having the same buffer composition and concentration as buffer A, but pH 3.5. Isoelectric point fractions eluting from the 1-D column were trapped on PS-DVB trap columns prior to back-flushed elution onto the PS-DVB analytical column for separation of the proteins. The 1-D fraction eluting at pH 9.0-8.7 was chosen for further analysis. After separation on the RP analytical column, nine RP protein fractions were collected and tryptic digested for subsequent analyses by MALDI TOF MS and column switching capillary LC coupled to ESI TOF MS and ESI QTOF MS. Eight proteins and two peptides were identified in the pH 9.0-8.7 fraction using peptide mass fingerprinting and uninterpreted MS/MS data.

Controlling LC–SPE–NMR systems

Abstract: There are several stages of the LC-SPE-NMR process that should be monitored closely to ensure an efficient isolation and concentration of the target analyte, for instance analyte break-through and compound transfer from the LC-SPE to the NMR probe. In this study, analyte break-through monitoring was performed with a UV detector and a mass spectrometer placed after the SPE unit. Easy break-through was a problem when attempting multiple trapping of various compounds using C 18 SPE cartridges with the original commercial system. However, on lowering the flow rate over the SPE system and using SPE cartridges packed with porous carbon, the number of trappings possible increased five-fold. To increase control over the on-line SPE-NMR transfer, a gradient pump-UV system was used to elute compounds trapped on an SPE to an NMR probe. The analyte band was placed in the active volume of the probe by a stop-flow mechanism. The modified LC-SPE system was also coupled with off-line NMR analysis for determination of a degradation product of the insecticide monuron, present in the low ppm range.

The influence of stop-flow on band broadening of peptides in micro-liquid chromatography

Abstract: Stop-flow techniques are occasionally needed in combinations of LC-NMR and LC-MS. During the interval when there is no flow on the column, axial diffusion of components not yet eluted can be expected to take place. In this paper the size of the band broadening which is caused by diffusion during stop-flow has been determined for two peptides on reversed-phase packed micro columns. Within a temperature range of 20–40 °C, stop-flow could be extended to 30 minutes for peptides having k values in the range of 0.7–5.1 with little increase in band width on 1.0 mm i.d. columns at isocratic conditions. Stop-flow for 6 h at 20 °C increased the peak width of bradykinin and leucine-enkephalin by 25% and 60%, respectively, depending on the secondary interactions of the peptides. The peak broadening increased with increasing temperature (from 20 to 40 °C), as expected, and the impact was significant at stop-flow times larger than 2 h. Stop-flow during gradient elution resulted in less increase in peak width than isocratic elution due to the peak compression obtained when re-entering the gradient. At 20 °C the effective diffusion coefficients of leucine-enkephalin and bradykinin were determined to 6.5 × 10−7cm 2/s and 5.5 × 10−7 cm2/s, respectively, on the packed micro column.

Determination and removal of impurities in 2-D LC-MS of peptides.

Abstract: Problems occurring during operation of a 2-D LC-MS system for separation and identification of neuropeptides, such as contamination of the used salts and column bleed, are described. When using polysulfoethyl aspartamide, which is widely used as a strong cation exchange stationary phase in the first dimension, interfering peaks were observed in the second-dimension reversed-phase chromatograms. The observed peaks, found to be caused by column bleeding, had abundance above the threshold value and influenced the quality of the analyses. The origin of the peaks was verified and appropriate measures are proposed. Additionally, peaks caused by polyethylene glycols (PEGs), covering approximately 5 min of feasible chromatographic time in every fraction, were observed. The commercial ammonium formate salts used to prepare the first-dimension mobile phase were found to contain PEG impurities, and in subsequent work the salt solutions were prepared from formic acid and ammonia to avoid any additional contaminations.

Temperature effects in liquid chromatography.

Abstract: Temperature has a large effect on retention, selectivity, and column efficiency and has long been accepted as an important parameter in liquid chromatography (LC). Despite this fact, temperature has not been very actively utilized in the past, mainly because of reported stability problems of the most commonly used stationary phases. However, more interest in the application of temperature for retention control has come of late because of the trend of miniaturization in chromatography and the availability of temperature-stable stationary phases. This work gives an overview of temperature effects on retention and selectivity in chromatography, especially on reversed-phase columns. Instrumental requirements, especially with respect to performing temperature gradient elution, are discussed and applications on both conventional-sized analytical columns and capillary columns are included.

Epimerization and stability of two new cis-benzo[a]pyrene tetrols by the use of liquid chromatography-fluorescence and mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Quantitative determination of the hydrolysis products from proteins and DNA gives valuable information regarding the reactive metabolite that forms the protein and DNA adduct. Quantification of protein-benzo[a]pyrene (BP) adducts represents a more sensitive method than quantification of BP-DNA adducts. The aim of the present study was to identify two hydrolysis products from BP-derived protein adducts found in vitro and in vivo in a previous study. Male Wistar rats were injected i.p. with BP, and serum albumin was isolated and subjected to acid hydrolysis at 70 degrees C for 3 h. The hydrolysate was subjected to LC separation, and fractions of the two unknown compounds were collected. The molecular masses of the two unknown compounds were in accordance with being tetrols as judged by LC electrospray mass spectrometry. The fragmentation patterns were characteristic of tetrols with formation of the molecular ion and the loss of water molecules. In addition, the compounds were subjected to acid hydrolysis at 70 degrees C with 0.1 M HCl for 3 h. We observed that two of the known tetrols epimerized to the two unknown tetrols and vice versa. This is probably a characteristic epimerization involving not only position C(10)-OH but also another site like position C(7)-OH. The in vivo findings of the two unknown adducts are probably the result of the formation of BPDE III in the metabolism of BP. These two tetrols must then have the C(7)-OH and C(8)-OH groups in a cis position.