Identification and quantification of components in extracts of Uncaria tomentosa by HPLC-ES/MS

The two main classes of secondary metabolites, alkaloids and quinovic acid glycosides, of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. (Rubiaceae), a Peruvian plant commonly known as ‘uña de gato’, have been analysed. Separation of the alkaloidal fraction was achieved using a solid phase extraction method based on cationic exchange, and an analytical method employing HPLC‐ES/MS has been developed. Quantitative data for commercial wild bark, cultivated bark and leaves are reported. The analysis of quinovic acid glycosides was performed directly on the crude extract using both a fast analytical method based on ?ow injection ES/MS, and a more complete analytical technique using HPLC‐MS. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quality control in LC-MS/MS

In the last 15 years, MS-based protein characterization has expanded at a rapid rate. This success is built upon constantly improving instrumentation and a variety of ingenious methods applied to numerous biological questions. However, the reproducibility of mass spectrometric results is considered by many as insufficient. In part, inadequate quality control might be responsible for the lack of reproducibility. Quality control is rarely discussed in scientific publications. Here, we briefly present measures undertaken in our laboratory to foster a general discussion of the subject.     

Improving sensitivity by probabilistically combining results from multiple MS/MS search methodologies

Database-searching programs generally identify only a fraction of the spectra acquired in a standard LC/MS/MS study of digested proteins. Subtle variations in database-searching algorithms for assigning peptides to MS/MS spectra have been known to provide different identification results. To leverage this variation, a probabilistic framework is developed for combining the results of multiple search engines. The scores for each search engine are first independently converted into peptide probabilities. These probabilities can then be readily combined across search engines using Bayesian rules and the expectation maximization learning algorithm. A significant gain in the number of peptides identified with high confidence with each additional search engine is demonstrated using several data sets of increasing complexity, from a control protein mixture to a human plasma sample, searched using SEQUEST, Mascot, and X! Tandem database-searching programs. The increased rate of peptide assignments also translates into a substantially larger number of protein identifications in LC/MS/MS studies compared to a typical analysis using a single database-search tool.     

Bacterial proteome of streptococcus pneumoniae through multidimensional separations coupled with LC-MS/MS

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human respiratory pathogen causing considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. In order to better understand the pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae, we employed SDS-PAGE combined with LC-MS/MS analysis and in-solution digestion coupled with 2D-LC-MS/MS to obtain the whole-cell proteome of the bacterium. Among the identified 1,210 proteins, 345 proteins were annotated for cellular components, 613 for biological processes, and 421 for molecular functions. Important virulence-associated surface proteins such as Eno, ZmpB, and PrtA were identified. Classification analysis and protein-protein interaction map revealed that these identified proteins are involved in many biological processes including protein biosynthesis, protein folding and proteolysis, cell cycle, or regulation and carbohydrate metabolism. These data represent a comprehensive reference map of S. pneumoniae proteome, providing a useful source for further analysis of the virulence factors and the regulatory network involved in the pathogenesis of the bacterium.     

LC-MS/MS quantitation of plasma progesterone in cattle

Quantitation of progesterone (P₄) in biological fluids is often performed by radioimmunoassay (RIA), whereas liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been used much less often. Due to its autoconfirmatory nature, LC-MS/MS greatly minimizes false positives and interference. Herein we report and compare with RIA an optimized LC-MS/MS method for rapid, efficient, and cost-effective quantitation of P₄ in plasma of cattle with no sample derivatization. The quantitation of plasma P₄ released from three nonbiodegradable, commercial, intravaginal P₄-releasing devices (IPRD) over 192 h in six ovariectomized cows was compared in a pairwise study as a test case. Both techniques showed similar P₄ kinetics (P > 0.05) whereas results of P₄ quantitation by RIA were consistently higher compared with LC-MS/MS (P < 0.05) due to interference and matrix effects. The LC-MS/MS method was validated according to the recommended analytical standards and displayed P₄ limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 0.08 and a 0.25 ng/mL, respectively. The high selective LC-MS/MS method proposed herein for P₄ quantitation eliminates the risks associated with radioactive handling; it also requires no sample derivatization, which is a common requirement for LC-MS/MS quantitation of steroid hormones. Its application to multisteroid assays is also viable, and it is envisaged that it may provide a gold standard technique for hormone quantitation in animal reproductive science studies.     

Characterization of pertussis toxin by LC-MS/MS

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with a dual spray electrospray ionization source has been used to measure the molecular weights of pertussis toxin (PT) subunits. Measurement accuracy better than 0.4 Da was achieved for all PT subunits in the molecular weight range of 11,000 to 27,000 Da. At this mass assignment accuracy level, the sequences of the PT subunits investigated in this study are easily determined based on molecular weight alone. The subunits 1, 2, and 5 of PT were observed to undergo oxidation under normal storage conditions as ammonium sulfate suspension at 2 to 8 degrees C. These oxidized subunits can be separated completely or partially by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from their native counterparts. For the determination of oxidation sites, the oxidized subunits and their nonoxidized counterparts were fraction collected, trypsin digested, and mapped by LC-MS. The oxidized peptides and their nonoxidized counterparts were further studied by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to confirm their identities. The methionines at position 212 of subunit 1, at position 89 of subunit 2, and at position 40 of subunit 5 were found to be the primary sites of oxidation.     

Strategies for improving sensitivity and selectivity for the quantitation of biotherapeutics in biological matrix using LC-MS/MS

In recent years, the applicability of using LC-MS/MS as a complementary technique to traditional ligand binding assays in the absolute quantitation of therapeutic proteins in biologic matrix has been demonstrated. Protein quantitation workflow via LC-MS/MS is primarily based on a enzymatic digestion model and recent works seek to improve selectivity and sensitivity. This review focuses on recent innovations in this field and discusses the following in detail: the applicability of two-dimensional liquid chromatography and its use to improve sensitivity and alleviate matrix ion suppression; the use of derivatization agents after digestion to improve extraction and MS ionization efficiency; techniques to reduce excess protein background and their positive effects on sensitivity, selectivity, and extraction consistency; the application of immunoaffinity extraction of proteins to enrich the analyte(s) of interest while improving selectivity and sensitivity.     

A rapid and quantitative LC-MS/MS method to profile sphingolipids

Sphingolipids comprise a highly diverse and complex class of molecules that serve not only as structural components of membranes but also as signaling molecules. To understand the differential role of sphingolipids in a regulatory network, it is important to use specific and quantitative methods. We developed a novel LC-MS/MS method for the rapid, simultaneous quantification of sphingolipid metabolites, including sphingosine, sphinganine, phyto-sphingosine, di- and trimethyl-sphingosine, sphingosylphosphorylcholine, hexosylceramide, lactosylceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate, and dihydroceramide-1-phosphate. Appropriate internal standards (ISs) were added prior to lipid extraction. In contrast to most published methods based on reversed phase chromatography, we used hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and achieved good peak shapes, a short analysis time of 4.5 min, and, most importantly, coelution of analytes and their respective ISs. To avoid an overestimation of species concentrations, peak areas were corrected regarding isotopic overlap where necessary. Quantification was achieved by standard addition of naturally occurring sphingolipid species to the sample matrix. The method showed excellent precision, accuracy, detection limits, and robustness. As an example, sphingolipid species were quantified in fibroblasts treated with myriocin or sphingosine-kinase inhibitor. In summary, this method represents a valuable tool to evaluate the role of sphingolipids in the regulation of cell functions.     

LC-MS/MS法测定大鼠血浆中的野黄芩苷含量

目的:建立LC-MS/MS的分析方法测定大鼠血浆中的野黄芩苷,研究灯盏生脉胶囊中野黄芩苷在大鼠体内的药动学行为。方法:以噻氯匹定为内标,血浆样品经1%甲酸乙腈沉淀蛋白处理后,用LC-MS/MS法测定血浆中的野黄芩苷浓度。结果:野黄芩苷线性范围为1.31～670.00 ng·mL-1(γ0.999),最低定量浓度为1.31 ng·mL-1,回收率、日内、日间考察均符合生物样品分析要求。实验结果显示,野黄芩苷在大鼠体内出现多峰现象。结论:建立的LC-MS/MS定量分析方法灵敏、准确,可用于大鼠血浆中野黄芩苷的测定及其药代动力学研究。     

Clinical determination of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in serum by LC-MS/MS: comparison to Coat-A-Count RIA method

17alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone is a metabolic precursor of cortisol; elevated levels of 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone are indicative of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Traditional determination by immunoassay is plagued by poor antibody specificity, resulting in significant interferences. This study explores an LC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of 17OHP in serum. Deuterated 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone was added as internal standard, followed by solid-phase extraction, HPLC separation with a C16-amide reverse-phase column with run time of 7 min, and quantification by MS/MS (positive electrospray ionisation) in the selected reaction monitoring mode (SRM). Transitions monitored were 331>109 for the analyte and 339>113 for the deuterated internal standard. Intra-assay precision (%R.S.D.) was 7.4% at 7 nmol/L, inter-assay precision (%R.S.D.) at 2, 7 and 27 nmol/L was 15.4, 10.0 and 7.9% and accuracy at 0.9 nmol/L was 100%. The method was linear from 0.156 to 80 nmol/L. Lower limit of quantitation was 0.2 nmol/L, providing meaningful data for patients within normal range as well as those with elevated levels.     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱分析微量格尔德霉素类似物

安莎类抗生素例如利福霉素和安丝菌素,通常由一组化学结构相似的组分组成。格尔德霉素为苯安莎类抗生素,已经发现4个组分。本研究采用高效液相色谱-串联质谱方法对格尔德霉素(GDM)制品中的微量组分进行了分析,发现5个新的和1个已知的GDM类似物。依据质谱数据、结合GDM生物合成机制,对6个GDM类似物的化学结构进行了推测:分子式为C29H42N2O10的新化合物3个,分别为GDM安莎链上C2-C3、C4-C5和C8-C9之间的C-C双键变为单键并同时单羟基化的GDM衍生物;分子式为C28H38N2O8的新化合物2个,其中1个为17(或12,或4)-去甲氧基格尔德霉素,另1个为4,5-双氢-10,11-脱水-17-去甲基-17-羟基格尔德霉素;分子式为C29H42N2O9的已知化合物1个,为4,5-双氢格尔德霉素。这些GDM类似物的发现有助于加深对GDM生物合成的认识,并对通过基因阻断、组合生物合成技术获得GDM衍生物的研究有启示作用。     

LC-MS/MS detection of peroxynitrite-derived 3-nitrotyrosine in rat microvessels

3-Nitrotyrosine (3NT) is used as a biomarker of nitrative pathology caused by peroxynitrite (PN), myeloperoxidase (MPO)-, and/or eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)-dependent nitrite oxidation. 3NT measurements in biological materials are usually based on either antibody staining, HPLC detection, or GC detection methodologies. In this report, a procedure is described for the measurement of 3NT and tyrosine (TYR) by LC-MS/MS that is simple, direct, and sensitive. Though highly specialized in its use as an assay, LC-MS/MS technology is available in many research centers in academia and industry. The critical assay for 3NT was linear below 100 ng/ml and the limit of detection was below 100 pg/ml. Regarding protein digested samples, we found that MRM was most selective with 133.1 m/z as the daughter ion. In comparison, LC-ECD was 100 times less sensitive. Basal levels of 3NT in extracted digests of rat brain homogenate were easily detected by LC-MS/MS, but were below detection by LC-ECD. The LC-MS/MS assay was used to detect 3NT in rat brain homogenate that was filtered through a 180 micron nylon mesh. Three fractions were collected and examined by phase contrast microscopy. The mass ratio (3NT/TYR) of 3NT in fractions of large vessel enrichment, microvessel enrichment, and vessel depletion was 0.6 ng/mg, 1.2 ng/mg, and 0.2 ng/mg, respectively. Ultimately, we found that the basal 3NT/TYR mass ratio as determined by LC-MS/MS was six times greater in microvessel-enriched brain tissue vs. tissue devoid of microvessels.     

LC-MS/MS检测癫痫患者神经递质类氨基酸

目的：建立液相色谱串联质谱同位素内标法检测神经递质类氨基酸并用于癫痫患者临床评价。方法：选用AAA-C18柱色谱柱,以乙腈水（含有0.01%七氟丁酸、0.1%甲酸）为流动相,采用梯度洗脱进行分离,血浆样品用iTRAQ-115衍生化试剂处理后,加入iTRAQ-114衍生化的氨基酸内标并进样,选用3200QTRAP型质谱仪的多重反应监测（MRM）扫描方式进行检测。疾病组与健康组的统计采用t检验和主成份分析。结果：疾病组和健康组氨基酸测定结果显示：Trp、GABA两组间没有显著性差异（P〉0.05）,Arg、Gly、Ser、Tau、Asp、Glu、EtN、两组间有显著性差异（P〈0.05）,通过PCA分析显示,疾病组与健康组之间差异明显,Asp、Glu、Ser等是引起差异的主要氨基酸。结论：试验方法灵敏、专属性强,并初步的用于癫痫患者体内氨基酸评价。     

LC-MS/MS 检测癫痫患者神经递质类氨基酸

目的:建立液相色谱串联质谱同位素内标法检测神经递质类氨基酸并用于癫痫患者临床评价.方法:选用AAA-C18柱色谱柱,以乙腈水(含有0.01%七氟丁酸、0.1%甲酸)为流动相,采用梯度洗脱进行分离,血浆样品用iTRAQ-115衍生化试剂处理后,加入iTRAQ-114衍生化的氨基酸内标并进样,选用3200QTRAP型质谱仪的多重反应监测(MRM)扫描方式进行检测.疾病组与健康组的统计采用t检验和主成份分析.结果:疾病组和健康组氨基酸测定结果显示:Trp、GABA两组间没有显著性差异(P＞0.05),Arg、Glv、Ser、Tau、Asp、Glu、EtN、两组间有显著性差异(P＜0.05),通过PCA分析显示,疾病组与健康组之间差异明显,Asp、Glu、Ser等是引起差异的主要氨基酸.结论:试验方法灵敏、专属性强,并初步的用于癫痫患者体内氨基酸评价.     

Analysis of anabolic steroids in human hair using LC-MS/MS

New highly sensitive, specific, reliable, reproducible and robust LC-MS/MS methods were developed to detect the anabolic steroids, nandrolone and stanozolol, in human hair for the first time. Hair samples from 180 participants (108 males, 72 females, 62% athletes) were screened using ELISA which revealed 16 athletes as positive for stanozolol and 3 for nandrolone. Positive samples were confirmed on LC-MS/MS in selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The assays for stanozolol and nandrolone showed good linearity in the range 1-400 pg/mg and 5-400 pg/mg, respectively. The methods were validated for LLOD, interday precision, intraday precision, specificity, extraction recovery and accuracy. The assays were capable of detecting 0.5 pg stanozolol and 3.0 pg nandrolone per mg of hair, when approximately 20 mg of hair were processed. Analysis using LC-MS/MS confirmed 11 athletes’ positive for stanozolol (5.0 pg/mg to 86.3 pg/mg) and 1 for nandrolone (14.0 pg/mg) thus avoiding false results from ELISA screening. The results obtained demonstrate the application of these hair analysis methods to detect both steroids at low concentrations, hence reducing the amount of hair required significantly. The new methods complement urinalysis or blood testing and facilitate improved doping testing regimes. Hair analysis benefits from non-invasiveness, negligible risk of infection and facile sample storage and collection, whilst reducing risks of tampering and cross-contamination. Owing to the wide detection window, this approach may also offer an alternative approach for out-of-competition testing.     

A LC-MS/MS methodology to determine furaltadone residues in the macroalgae Ulva lactuca

Presently, the rise of new contaminants in the environment has widened the scope of pharmaceutical analyses as to face the demanding new challenges. An increasing tendency for the interconnection and overlap of research fields, such as ecology and biochemistry, is intensifying the demand for new methodologies to be applied to the survey of drugs in unconventional matrices. Integrated in this group are macrophytes, such as the green macroalgae Ulva lactuca, which are under study as to ascertain their ability as indicators of contamination for many substances. Nonetheless, methodologies for extraction and determination of drugs in such matrices are scarce and new studies on the subject are pressing. A new methodology for the determination of the antibiotic furaltadone in U. lactuca by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) procedure was developed, optimized and validated following the guidelines of the EC Decision 2002/657. The calibration curves showed linearity above 0.99 (R(2)). The relative standard deviations obtained for repeatability, expressed as CV, were between 15.3 and 20.5 and for reproducibility 25.3 and 28.2 whereas accuracy was in the interval of 88.9-95.5 (%). The limit of decision (CCα) and the detection capability (CCβ) were respectively 5.57 μg kg(-1) and 10.97 μg kg(-1). The method was successfully applied to experimental samples.     

Simultaneous analysis of angiotensin peptides by LC-MS and LC-MS/MS: metabolism by bovine adrenal endothelial cells

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were developed to simultaneously determine the concentrations of angiotensin (Ang) II, Ang 1-7, Ang III, and Ang IV in biological samples. The samples were extracted with C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges and separated by a reverse-phase C18 column using acetonitrile in water with 0.1% formic acid as a mobile phase. Ang peptides were ionized by electrospray and detected by triple quadrupole MS in the positive ion mode. (M+3H)(3+) and (M+2H)(2+) ions were chosen as the detected ions in the single ion recording (SIR) mode for LC-MS. The limits of detection (signal/noise [S/N]=3) using SIR are 1 pg for Ang IV and 5 pg for Ang 1-7, Ang III, and Ang II. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for LC-MS/MS. The limits of detection (S/N =3) using MRM are 20 pg for Ang IV and 25 pg for Ang 1-7, Ang III, and Ang II. These methods were applied to analyze Ang peptides in bovine adrenal microvascular endothelial cells. The results show that Ang II is metabolized by endothelial cells to Ang 1-7, Ang III, and Ang IV, with Ang 1-7 being the major metabolite.     

Increase of the LC-MS/MS sensitivity and detection limits using on-line sample preparation with large volume plasma injection

Large volume injection (LVI) has systematically been studied to improve LC-MS/MS sensitivity (signal-to-noise ratio, or S/N) and detection limits. The method of LVI was combined with on-line solid phase extraction (on-line SPE) and LC-MS/MS detection for analysis of compounds directly in plasma. It was demonstrated that LVI of plasma with on-line SPE-LC-MS/MS allows for improvement of sensitivity and detection limits without compromising chromatographic peak shape and resolution and inducing significant matrix and signal suppression effects. Furthermore, sensitivity and detection limits improve linearly with the injection volume up to 100 microL. Quantification of the model compounds in plasma demonstrated comparable calibration curve statistics, precision and accuracy for 5, 50 and 100 microL plasma injections.     

Characterization of the human tear metabolome by LC-MS/MS

The tear film overlying the epithelial cells of the eye's surface is vital to visual function, and its composition is reflective of ocular surface health. The ultrasmall volume of tears poses challenges in its analysis, contributing to the limited number of reports on the tear metabolome. In addition, using a standard clinical method of tear collection posed some confounding factors in metabonomic analysis. We sought to establish an analytical platform for the global characterization of human tear metabolites. Following information dependent acquisition (IDA) directed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), isotope pattern matched peak mining was performed using Extracted Ion Chromatogram (XIC) manager within the PeakView software. Sixty metabolites representing diverse compound classes were identified in human tears, most of which have not been previously reported. Selected metabolites were verified using pure standards. Unsupervised chemometric analysis showed good separation between tear samples and blanks (PC1 = 87%, R(2) = 0.91, Q(2) = 0.87). The results demonstrated the potential of our platform for untargeted metabonomic studies of eye diseases.     

A sensitive LC-MS/MS method for determination of levamisole in human plasma: application to pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and rapid LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of levamisole in human plasma. The assay was based on liquid-liquid extraction of analytes from human plasma with ethyl ether. Chromatographic separation was carried on an Agilent HC-C(8) column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) at 40°C, with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-10 mM ammonium acetate (70:30, v/v), a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min and a total run time of 6 min. Detection and quantification were performed by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization m/z at 205.1→178.2 for levamisole, and m/z 296.1→264.1 for mebendazole (internal standard). The assay was linear over a concentration range of 0.1-30 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 0.1 ng/mL. The coefficient of variation of the assay precision was less than 8.5%. The assay was successfully used to analyze human plasma samples in a pharmacokinetic study where levamisole was administered as a liniment.