Development of infrared optical sensor for selective detection of tyrosine in biological fluids

In this paper, a new and simple evanescent wave type of infrared biosensor is described for the selective detection of tyrosine in biological fluids. This sensor is based on the formation of copper complexes between the sensing phase and tyrosine. To demonstrate that this principle was applicable to the selective detection of tyrosine, a proline-modified sensing phase was synthesized on the surface of the internal reflection elements. This sensing phase was saturated with copper ions to allow it to interact with tyrosine units in aqueous solution through the formation of stable proline-Cu2+-tyrosine complexes. Tyrosine exhibits a unique spectral feature in its absorption band at 1515 cm-1. This band significantly differs from those of other amino acids and provides a further method for the discrimination of tyrosine. By investigating the signals from 12 amino acids, only three amino acids, each containing a phenyl group, could be sensed selectively by this sensing phase. Based on the unique absorption of tyrosine located at 1515 cm-1, tyrosine can be selectively detected. To perform quantitative analyses of tyrosine using this sensing phase, a theoretical working equation was developed and correlated with the experimental data. The analytical results indicated that the developed equations do explain and predict the detection behaviors of the proposed sensing scheme. Using the optimal conditions, the regression coefficients for standard curves of tyrosine recorded in the region of concentrations below 600 microM were higher than 0.996 under either equilibrium or non-equilibrium conditions. Detection limit of tyrosine when using this method was ca. 3 microM.     

Chiral separation of amino acids in biological fluids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A method is presented for the chiral analysis of amino acids in biological fluids using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The amino acids are derivatized with the chiral reagent (+/−)-1-(9-anthryl)-2-propyl chloroformate (APOC) and separated using a mixed micellar separation system. No tedious pre-purification of samples is required. The excellent separation efficiency and good detection capabilities of the MEKC-LIF system are exemplified in the analysis of urine and cerebrospinal fluid. This is the first time MEKC has been reported for chiral analysis of amino acids in biological fluids. The amino acids -alanine, -glutamine, and -aspartic acid have been observed in cerebrospinal fluid, and -alanine and -glutamic acid in urine. To the best of our knowledge no measurements of either -alanine in cerebrospinal fluid or -glutamic acid in urine have been presented in the literature before.     

Destabilization of tyrosine aminotransferase by amino acids

Summary Several L-amino acids (tyrosine, glutamate, methionine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine) and penicillamine destabilized purified tyrosine aminotransferase by removing enzyme-bound pyridoxal 5-phosphate. The destabilization was measured as a progressive loss of enzyme activity in samples taken at intervals from a primary mixture that was incubated at 37°C. Each destabilizing amino acid either served as a substrate for this enzyme or was a product of transamination. In contrast, L-cysteine destabilized the enzyme only if liver homogenate was added, which generated polysulfide by desulfuration. Cysteine complexed free pyridoxal-5-phosphate but did not remove it from the enzyme. Other amino acids did not destabilize tyrosine aminotransferase at the concentrations tested.Abbreviations TyrAT tyrosine aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.5) - PLP pyridoxal-5-phosphate     

Action of the phosphonic analogue of tyrosine and of other tyrosine derivatives on rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase

Summary Tyrosine transamination has been investigatedin vitro with a preparation of rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase in the presence of several structural derivatives of the substrate, including the phosphonic analogue. The transamination by tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) needs the presence in the substrate molecule of free amino and carboxylic groups, a three-carbon aliphatic chain, a para-phenolic hydroxylic function and al-configuration. Some tyrosine analogues can markedly disturb the Tyr-TAT association: the chief structural modifications are (i) the removal of the free amine function in a compound still possessing a para-hydroxylic and a carboxylic group, (ii) the change of the carboxylic function by another acidic group, especially a phosphonic one, (iii) a disubstitution in positions 3 and 5. In every situation, the presence of a parahydroxylic group is compulsory to observe an inhibitory effect.     

The effect of ovariectomy on phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism

Summary Although the regulatory activity of steroid hormones on amino acid metabolism has been described, no information is published on the effect of ovariectomy. We studied the influence of ovariectomy in Wistar rats determining the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine in liver, kidney, plasma and urine. 32 animals were used in the study, 12 animals were sham operated, 9 animals were ovariectomized and 11 rats were ovariectomized and supplemented with estradiol. No quantitative changes were detected comparing liver and kidney phenylalanine and tyrosine between the groups (sham operated rats liver phenylalanine 2,53nM/mg ± 1,07; liver tyrosine 1.95nM/mg ± 0.92; kidney phenylalanine 2.16nM/mg ± 0.53; kidney tyrosine 1.80nM/mg ± 0.39. Ovariectomized rats showed liver phenylalanine 3.07nM/mg ± 1.14; liver tyrosine 2.63nM/mg ± 1.01; kidney phenylalanine 2.30 nM/mg ± 0.74; kidney tyrosine 1.93nM/mg ± 0.63. Ovariectomized and estradiol supplemented rats presented with liver phenylalanine 2.84nM/mg ± 1.40; liver tyrosine 2.35nM/mg ± 1.28; kidney phenylalanine 1.91nM/mg ± 0.26, kidney tyrosine 1.67nM/mg ± 0.23.). When, however, the phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio in the liver was evaluated, ovariectomized rats showed a significant decrease of the quotient (p = 0.001). The phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio was restored by estradiol replacement. Our findings show that phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism is under estradiol control. The effect on the metabolic changes could be mediated by enzyme systems as phenylalanine hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase and tyrosine aminotransferase. Our results would be compatible with previous reports on the stimulatory effect of estradiol on these enzymes. The kidney phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio was unaffected by ovariectomy and/or estradiol replacement which can be easily explained by different pools, enzyme activities, filtration/reabsorption effects, etc.The urinary P/T ratio was decreased by ovariectomy and restored by estradiol replacement indicating endocrine control of renal reabsorption and secretion mechanisms.     

Effect of the phosphonic analogue of tyrosine on tyrosine iodination

Summary Depositing ofdl-1-amino-2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylphosphonic acid (Tyr-P) on the chicken embryo induced a dose dependent decrease of the iodine uptake by the embryonic thyroid. Tyr-P interfered on iodination of tyrosine when tested with hog thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and with bovine lactoperoxidase (LPO); the analogue was recognized by the two enzymes but its affinity for TPO and LPO was respectively 3 and 7 fold higher compared with that of the natural substrate, suggesting that Tyr-P may act as an iodine trap.     

Production of tyrosine and other aromatic compounds from phenylalanine by rumen microorganisms

Summary Rumen contents from three fistulated Japanese native goats fed Lucerne hay cubes (Medicago sativa) and concentrate mixture were collected to prepare the suspensions of mixed rumen bacteria (B), mixed protozoa (P) and a combination of the two (BP). Microbial suspensions were anaerobically incubated at 39°C for 12h with or without 1 MM ofl-phenylalanine (Phe). Phe, tyrosine (Tyr) and other related compounds in both supernatant and microbial hydrolysates of the incubations were analyzed by HPLC. Tyr can be produced from Phe not only by rumen bacteria but also by rumen protozoa. The production of Tyr during 12h incubation in B (183.6 mol/g MN) was 4.3 times higher than that in P. One of the intermediate products between Phe and Tyr seems to bep-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. The rate of the net degradation of Phe incubation in B (76.O mol/g MN/h) was 2.4 times higher than in P. In the case of all rumen microorganisms, degraded Phe was mainly (>53%) converted into phenylacetic acid. The production of benzoic acid was higher in P than in B suspensions. Small amount of phenylpyruvic acid was produced from Phe by both rumen bacteria and protozoa, but phenylpropionic acid and phenyllactic acid were produced only by rumen bacteria.     

Improved method for the measurement of large neutral amino acids in biological matrices

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for measuring neutral amino acids in rat sera, brain tissues, and perfusates was developed by using o-phthalaldehyde sulfite as a pre-column derivatization reagent. With the present method, it was possible to separate the neutral amino acids within a single run in 25 min, while the acidic amino acids were eluted near or at the solvent front. The recovery was above 88.8% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) below 4.2%. The within- and between-day assay reproducibility for the determination of rat serum amino acids showed RSDs below 1.35 and 7.61%, respectively. In the present study, the neutral amino acids were assayed with high sensitivity, accuracy and good reproducibility in a relatively short time and on a small sample size.     

High-performance liquid chromatography determination of pipecolic acid after precolumn ninhydrin derivatization using domestic microwave

A novel procedure to specifically quantify low amounts of pipecolic acid and structurally related compounds in several types of biological materials has been characterized. From crude extracts of various types of biological material, the first step was to clear all low-molecular-weight compounds containing primary amino groups by a treatment of nitrous acid. Using a microwave-assisted reaction, the remaining substances containing secondary amino groups were then derivatized with ninhydrin and made soluble in glacial acetic acid. The derivatives produced were resolved by reverse-phase HPLC and detected by spectrophotometry at 570nm. This procedure allowed more rapid determination of pipecolic acid since microwave heating shortened the time needed for derivatization compared with heating at 95 degrees C in a water bath. The complete analysis of the chromogens for pipecolic acid and related substances was achieved in 20min. Under such conditions, the detection threshold for pipecolic acid was about 20pmol. The suitability of the technique was assessed in various biological matrices known to contain significant amounts of this amino acid. The data obtained are in accordance with those available in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first method using the ninhydrin reaction in a precolumn, microwave-assisted derivatization procedure for detection and determination of heterocyclic alpha-amino acids.     

Optimization of a free separation of 30 free amino acids and peptides by capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect absorbance detection: a potential for quantification in physiological fluids

This report describes a rapid, single-run procedure, based on the optimization of capillary electrophoresis (CE) and indirect absorbance detection capabilities, which was developed for the separation and quantification of 30 underivatized physiological amino acids and peptides, usually present in biological fluids. p-Aminosalicylic acid buffered with sodium carbonate at pH 10.2+/-0.1 was used as the running electrolyte. Electrophoresis, carried out in a capillary (87 cm x 75 microm) at 15 kV potential (normal polarity), separated the examined compounds within 30 min. Limits of detection ranged from 1.93 to 20.08 micromol/l (median 6.71 micromol/l). The method was linear within the 50-200 micromol/l concentration range (r ranged from 0.684 to 0.989, median r=0.934). Within run migration times precision was good (median C.V.=0.7%). Less favorable within run peak area precision (median C.V.=6.6%) was obtained. The analytical procedure presented was successfully tested for separation and quantification of amino acids in physiological fluids, such as plasma or supernatant of macrophage cultures. Sample preparations require only a protein precipitation and dilution step.     

Diagnosis and follow-up of inborn errors of amino acid metabolism: Use of proton magnetic resonance of biological fluids

Summary Proton magnetic resonance spectra of biological fluids such as urine, plasma and cerebro-spinal fluid can be used for multi-component analysis of highly concentrated species, thus providing information about the general metabolism of the patient. Hydrogen containing analytes in concentration higher than 10µM are indeed often detectable in biological fluid in 15 minutes by means of an unexpensive 200 MHz spectrometer essentially without sample manipulation. Amino acids, keton bodies, organic acids and other metabolites can be easily estimated by this approach; consequently this technique represents a powerful tool particularly in the diagnosis of inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, when improving the prognosis often depends on a very early diagnosis and on an effective method for monitoring the effects of therapy.In the present paper, several cases of inherited diseases related to amino acid impaired metabolism will be presented to illustrate the importance in the diagnosis. Phenylketonuria, tyrosinemia, cystinuria, ornithinemia, argininosuccinic aciduria, maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), alkaptonuria, lysinuria and other genetic pathologies were in fact unambiguously and rapidly diagnosed by means of the identification in the biological fluids of the relevant accumulating amino acids and/or of their metabolites. The proposed technique is suitable to become, in the future, a useful routine tool for a wide neonatal screening.     

Gorgoderina attenuata: uptake and incorporation of tyrosine, thymidine, and adenosine

In autoradiographic and scintillation counting studies, tritiated tyrosine, thymidine, and adenosine were found to be absorbed and incorporated by Gorgoderina attenuata in in vitro exposures of up to 12 hr. Tyrosine was incorporated into all tissues with the highest levels found in the intestinal epithelium. No evidence for selective incorporation of tyrosine into vitellaria was found. Thymidine was incorporated mainly into nuclei of gonial cells of the reproductive system and developing miracidia within eggs. Autoradiograms indicated assimilation of tyrosine and thymidine was highly variable among individual worms of a treatment group. Adenosine was absorbed and incorporated by worm tissues in large amounts within 3 hr. Variability of labeling on autoradiograms was not as great as with tyrosine and thymidine. Results of scintillation counting and grain counts of autoradiograms on ligated worms indicated all three compounds can enter the worm through the tegument. Adenosine was considered the best possible compound of the three to use for labeling cells for studies on the reproductive system.     

Direct extract derivatization for determination of amino acids in human urine by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and accurate analytical method to determine amino acids in urine samples. The developed method involves the employment of an extract derivatization technique together with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Urine samples (300 microl) and an internal standard (10 microl) were placed in a screw tube. Ethylchloroformate (50 microl), methanol-pyridine (500 microl, 4:1, v/v) and chloroform (1 ml) were added to the tube. The organic layer (1 microl) was injected to a GC-MS system. In this proposed method, the amino acids in urine were derivatized during an extraction, and the analytes were then injected to GC-MS without an evaporation of the organic solvent extracted. Sample preparation was only required for ca. 5 min. The 15 amino acids (alanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, tyrosine, tryptophan, valine) quantitatively determined in this proposed method. However, threonine, serine, asparagine, glutamine, arginine were not derivatized using any tested derivatizing reagent. The calibration curves showed linearity in the range of 1.0-300 microg/ml for each amino acid in urine. The correlation coefficients of the calibration curves of the tested amino acids were from 0.966 to 0.998. The limit of detection in urine was 0.5 microg/ml except for aspartic acid. This proposed method demonstrated substantial accuracy for detection of normal levels. This proposed method was limited for the determination of 15 amino acids in urine. However, the sample preparation was simple and rapid, and this method is suitable for a routine analysis of amino acids in urine.     

A viscosity-dependent affinity sensor for continuous monitoring of glucose in biological fluids

We present a viscometric affinity biosensor for continuous monitoring of glucose in biological fluids such as blood and plasma. The sensing principle of this chemico-mechanical sensor is based upon the viscosity variation of a sensitive fluid with glucose concentration. Basically, this device includes both an actuating and a sensing piezoelectric diaphragms as well as a flow-resistive microchannel. In order to confine the sensitive fluid and allow glucose diffusion into the sensor, a free-standing alumina nanoporous membrane is also used as size-selective interface. Measurements carried out at nominal temperatures of 25 and 37 °C reveal that this sensor topology exhibits a high resolution in the current range of physiological blood glucose concentrations, i.e. 2-20 mM. In addition, complete reversibility was also demonstrated for at least 3 days. Finally, measurements performed in human blood serum confirm that this sensor fulfils all basic requirements for a use in continuous glucose monitoring of biological fluids.     

Megalodiscus temperatus: absorption and incorporation of tritiated tyrosine, thymidine, and adenosine

Autoradiographic and liquid scintillation counting studies indicate adults of Megalodiscus temperatus can absorb large amounts of thymidine and adenosine, but use little of the thymidine in in vitro exposures of up to 72 hr. Labeling of worms exposed to ³H-adenosine in periods as short as 3 hr was achieved especially over young eggs, testes, and the ovary. Large amounts of tyrosine are found in the free amino acid pool of this worm but little is incorporated into tissues for exposure periods of up to 24 hr. Ligation experiments and autoradiograms of frozen-dried worms show thymidine and adenosine can enter via the tegument. Adenosine added to the exposure medium did not inhibit absorption of tyrosine but did markedly reduce the uptake of ³H-thymidine in 8-hr in vitro exposures. Bacteria adhering to the glycocalyx of M. temperatus were identified as Escherichia coli, but their role in uptake phenomena is unknown. The association of thymidine with the lymph vessels indicates a circulatory or excretory role for this system in M. temperatus. Adenosine was considered the best compound of the three to use for labeling cells for studies on the reproductive system.     

Evidence for a functionally important histidine residue in human tyrosine hydroxylase

Summary Recombinant human tyrosine hydroxylase isozyme 1 (hTH1) shows a time- and concentration-dependent loss of catalytic activity when incubated with diethylpyrocarbonate (DEP) after reconstitution with Fe(II). The inactivation follows pseudo-first order kinetics with a second order rate constant of 300 M^–1 min^–1 at pH 6.8 and 20°C and is partially reversed by hydroxylamine. The difference absorption spectrum of the DEP-modified vs native enzyme shows a peak at 244 nm, characteristic of mono-N-carbethoxy-histidine. Up to five histidine residues are modified per enzyme subunit by a five-fold excess of the reagent, and two of them are protected from inactivation by the active site inhibitor dopamine. However, derivatization of only one residue appears to be responsible for the inactivation. Thus, no inactivation by DEP was found when the apoenzyme was preincubated with this reagent prior to its reconstitution with Fe(II), modifying four histidine residues.Abbreviations BH₄ (6R)-l-erythro-tetrahydrobiopterin - DEP diethylpyrocarbonate - DOPA 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine - hTH1 human tyrosine hydroxylase isoenzyme 1 - apo-hTH1 apoenzyme of hTH1 - Fe(II)-hTH1 holoenzyme (iron reconstituted) of hTH1 - dopamine-Fe(III)-hTH1 holoenzyme of hTH1 with dopamine bound - TH tyrosine hydroxylase     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of gentamicin in biological fluids

A selective and sensitive method for the determination of gentamicin in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed. Following deproteinization, the gentamicin is reacted with fluorescamine to produce a fluorescent derivative. This reaction mixture is directly chromatographed on a cation-exchange column using as mobile phase acetonitrile—phosphoric acid (7:3). The gentamicin components elute as a single peak. Using 0.1 ml of plasma, quantitation of gentamicin concentrations as low as 1 mg/l are possible. Possible interference from other aminoglycosides and antibiotics is discussed.