High pressure reverse phase liquid chromatography of fatty acid p-bromophenacyl esters

Mycolic acid analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography for identification of Mycobacterium species

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the etiologic agent of tuberculosis and can be accurately detected by laboratories using commercial genetic tests. Nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) causing other mycobacterioses can be difficult to identify. The identification processes are confounded by an increasing diversity of newly characterized NTM species. The ubiquitous nature of NTM, combined with their potential to be opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised as well as nonimmunodeficient patients, further complicates the problem of their identification. Since clinical case management varies depending on the etiologic agent, laboratories must identify the species in a timely manner. However, only a few identification methods can detect the species diversity within the Mycobacterium genus. Over the last decade, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the mycolic acids has become an accepted method for identification of mycobacteria. In this review, we assess its development and usefulness as an identification technique for Mycobacterium species.

Rapid quantitation of free fatty acids in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

We report a rapid and sensitive method for separation and quantitation of free fatty acids (FFAs) in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two established techniques of lipid extraction were investigated and modified to achieve maximal FFA recovery in a reasonably short time period. A modified Dole extraction method exhibited greater recovery (approximately 90%) and short processing times (30 min) compared to the method of Miles et al. Reversed-phase HPLC using UV detection was used for plasma FFA separation and quantitation. Two phenacyl ester derivatives, phenacyl bromide and p-bromophenacyl bromide, were investigated in order to achieve optimal separation of individual plasma FFAs (saturated and unsaturated) with desirable detection limits. Different chromatographic parameters including column temperature, column type and elution profiles (isocratic and gradient) were tested to achieve optimal separation and recovery of fatty acids. Phenacyl bromide esters of plasma fatty acids were best resolved using an octadecylsilyl column with endcapped silanol groups. An isocratic elution method using acetonitrile-water (83:17) at 2 ml/min with UV detection at 242 nm and a column temperature of 45 degrees C was found to optimally resolve the six major free fatty acids present in human plasma (myristic [14:0], palmitic [16:0], palmitoleic [16:1], stearic [18:0], oleic [18:1] and linoleic [18:2]), with a run time of less than 35 min and detection limits in the nmol range. The entire process including plasma extraction, pre-column derivatization, and HPLC quantitation can be completed in approximately 90 min with plasma samples as small as 50 microl. Over a wide physiological range, plasma FFA concentrations determined using our HPLC method agree closely with measurements using established TLC-GC methods (r2 < or = 0.95). In addition, by measuring [14C] or [3H] radioactivity in eluent fractions following HPLC separation of plasma FFA, this method can also quantitate rates of FFA turnover in vivo in human metabolic studies employing isotopic tracers of one or more fatty acids.

Fatty acid profiles of lipid samples

Most lipids are best characterized by their fatty acids which differ in chain length, the degree of unsaturation, configuration and position of the double bonds, and the presence of other functionalities. The fatty acid profiles are currently most frequently determined by capillary gas chromatography of the methyl esters which are prepared by a variety of methods. These are discussed with an emphasis on more recent developments, along with the stationary phases used for the separations and the methods employed for identification of the fatty acids. HPLC is applied less frequently for ascertaining fatty acid profiles than GC, but a very large number of derivatives for ultraviolet and fluorescence detection have been proposed. This method continues to evoke increasing interest, particularly in conjunction with fluorescence detection. This technique enables attainment of greater sensitivities than with standard GC methods employing flame ionization detection. Extensive applications of it to the analysis of free fatty acids in blood and other biomedical samples are clearly discernible. Other methods, including supercritical fluid chromatography, have found only limited application for fatty acid profiling.

Analytical-scale high-performance liquid chromatography of omega-3 fatty acid esters derived from fish oils

Fish oil triglycerides were transesterified to their corresponding methyl and ethyl esters. The esters were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a 10-cm column of 5-microns octadecylsilyl silica, using a ternary mobile phase of acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran-water (9:5:11). The separation of principal saturated and unsaturated C14-C22 fatty acid esters was accomplished in 60 min. For the polyenoic acid esters, detection limits of ca. 26 micrograms were observed, and baseline resolution of the important critical pair of esters of the omega 3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 omega 3) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 omega 3) was achieved. However, to obtain baseline resolution of the esters from minor fatty acid esters, a urea crystallization procedure was required prior to chromatographic analysis. The influence on the reversed-phase chromatographic retention of four different ester moieties on the fatty acids were also studied. The n-alkyl esters exhibited an increase in ln k' with increasing chain length and with increasing lipophilic character of the alkyl ester moieties; however, with the aromatic benzyl derivatives there was a decrease in ln k' compared with the alkyl esters.

Determination of fatty acids as phenacyl esters in rat adipose tissue and blood vessel walls by high-performance liquid chromatography

Twenty-two biologically relevant (6:0-22:6) saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with phenacyl bromide. An optimal resolution of the critical combinations linolenic-myristic, docosahexaenoic-palmitoleic-arachidonic and palmitic-oleic acids and cis and trans isomers of octadecenoic (n9) and octadecadienoic (n9, 12) acids was achieved by continuous gradient elution with methanol-acetonitrile-water. Elution of mixtures of 6:0-22:1 fatty acids was completed within 80 min at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. By the use of UV detection at 242 nm the detection limits for short- and long-chain fatty acids were found to be about 0.8 and 12 ng per injection, respectively. Linearity was tested up to 100 ng. The method was applied to the determination of fatty acids in rat adipose tissue and blood vessel walls of animals fed hydrogenated fat diets. The results are comparable to those obtained by gas chromatography and surpass the latter for the resolution of oleic and elaidic acids.

Method for evaluating the bioconversion of radioactive polyunsaturated fatty acids by use of reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a thermostatted octadecylsilyl column was used to separate mixtures of labelled polyunsaturated fatty acids (as their methyl esters) formed by successive desaturations and elongations of labelled linoleic (18:2 n - 6) or linolenic (18:3 n - 3) acid by rat liver microsomes. Acetonitrile-water mixtures were used for elution of the esters. Unsaturated and saturated esters were detected by their refractive indices. The order of elution of fatty acid methyl esters in complex mixtures varies as a function of the chain length and unsaturation, analysis temperature, water concentration and solvent flow-rate. The peak areas vary as a function of the unsaturation. Specific radioactivities of 14C-labelled fatty acids and the percentage distribution of radioactivity among fatty acids from complex mixtures can be efficiently determined by collection and direct measurement of the radioactivity in the solvent by liquid scintillation counting. The method can be applied to complete compositional analysis, but is especially useful for determination of specific radioactivities during studies on the metabolic conversion of labelled polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Separation and quantitation of plasma free fatty acids as phenacyl esters by HPLC

We have developed a rapid method for the separation of plasma free fatty acids as their phenacyl esters by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a reversed-phase (C18) column. The derivatives of series of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (C12:0-C22:6) are simultaneously separated within 45 min and detected with ultraviolet at 241 nm. The limit of detection of fatty acids was approximately 0.5 nmol in 20 microL injected volume of extracts, and the coefficient of variation of the present method did not exceed 3.0%. Comparison of the results of the present HPLC method with those of gas chromatography, gave very good correlations for all fatty acids in human plasma.

Separation and quantitation of fatty acids by high-performance liquid chromatography

To facilitate the determination of the fatty acid composition of tissues and the investigation of fatty acid metabolism, we developed a method for the rapid separation by high-performance liquid chromatography and quantitation (by ultraviolet light absorption) of p-bromophenyl esters of fatty acids which vary in chain length from 10 to 22 carbon atoms. The utility of the method was demonstrated by evaluating the fatty acid composition of human uterine decidua vera tissue and human endometrial stromal cells that are maintained in monolayer culture.

High-performance liquid chromatography of mycolic acids as a tool in the identification of Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and Mycobacterium species

High-performance liquid chromatography of bromophenacyl esters of mycolic acid was used as an aid to assign a particular organism to one of four mycolic acid-containing genera. A gradient elution system, with methanol and chloroform, was used to distinguish representative mycolic acid patterns for the genera Corynebacterium, Rhodococcus, Nocardia, and Mycobacterium.

Determination of the amounts of free arachidonic acid in resident and activated rabbit alveolar macrophages by fluorometric high performance liquid chromatography

An improved method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed for the separation and quantitation of low levels of free fatty acids as they occur in mammalian tissues. The fatty acid analysis is based on the esterification of the carboxylic group with 9-anthryldiazomethane (ADAM). HPLC separation and fluorescence measurement of fatty acid ADAM esters allow the determination of pmole amounts of fatty acids. The amounts of free fatty acids of resident and activated alveolar macrophages were determined by the fluorometric HPLC method. There were approximately 2 micrograms/10(6) cells of free fatty acids. In resident macrophages, free 20:4 was a minor component (0.8% of total free fatty acids), while significant amounts of 20:4 were found in the total glycerophospholipids, representing 16.6% of the total fatty acids. A marked increase in amounts of 20:4 (8 times) occurred in activated macrophages stimulated for 1 hr with opsonized zymosan. Small but significant increases (1.5 times) also occurred in other fatty acids. These results show that the release reaction of fatty acids was not selective for 20:4 in alveolar macrophages after the challenge with opsonized zymosan.

Release of arachidonate from membrane phospholipids in cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells during adenosine triphosphate depletion. Correlation with the progression of cell injury

The present study utilized a cultured myocardial cell model to evaluate the relationship between the release of arachidonate from membrane phospholipids, and the progression of cell injury during ATP depletion. High-energy phosphate depletion was induced by incubating cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells with various combinations of metabolic inhibitors (deoxyglucose, oligomycin, cyanide, and iodoacetate). Phospholipid degradation was assessed by the release of radiolabeled arachidonate from membrane phospholipids. In this model, the current study demonstrates that (a) cultured myocardial cells display a time-dependent progression of cell injury during ATP depletion; (b) the morphologic patterns of mild and severe cell injury in the cultured cells are similar to those found in intact ischemic canine myocardial models; (c) cultured myocardial cells release arachidonate from membrane phospholipids during ATP depletion; and (d) using two separate combinations of metabolic inhibitors, there is a correlation between the release of arachidonate, the development of severe cellular and sarcolemmal damage, the release of creatine kinase into the extracellular medium, and the loss of the ability of the myocardial cells to regenerate ATP when the metabolic inhibitors are removed. Thus, the present results suggest that during ATP depletion, in cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells, the release of arachidonate from myocardial membrane phospholipids is linked to the development of membrane defects and the associated loss of cell viability.

Mevinolinic acid biosynthesis by Aspergillus terreus and its relationship to fatty acid biosynthesis

Mevinolinic acid, the open acid form of mevinolin, which is a metabolite of Aspergillus terreus, has been shown to be a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (Alberts et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77:3957-3961, 1980). The biosynthesis of mevinolinic acid was studied by examining the incorporation of [1-14C]acetate and [methyl-14C]methionine into the molecule. These isotopes were rapidly incorporated into mevinolinic acid, with [1-14C]acetate and [methyl-14C]methionine incorporation being linear for at least 10 and 30 min, respectively. A comparison of acetate incorporation into mevinolinic acid and fatty acids indicated that mevinolinic acid biosynthesis increased with a maximum between days 3 and 5 of growth; at this time cell growth had ceased and fatty acid biosynthesis was negligible. Hydrolysis of the mevinolinic acid and isolation of the products showed that [1-14C]acetate and [methyl-14C]methionine were incorporated into the 2-methylbutyric acid side chain as well as into the main (alcohol) portion of the molecule.

Simultaneous separation and sensitive determination of free fatty acids in blood plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

Fatty acids are separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with a fluorescence reagent, 4-bromomethyl-7-acetoxycoumarin. Each derivative eluted from a column is successively hydrolysed by mixing it with an alkaline solution, and the produced fluorescence is detected. The derivatives of series of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (C6:0--C20:4) are simultaneously separated by a continuous gradient elution method using a methanol-based solvent containing acetonitrile. The quantitative detection of fatty acids is over a range of 5-1000 pmol per derivatization mixture. This method is applicable to the quantitative analysis of free fatty acids in normal human blood samples and blood samples from diabetic patients. Ten microliters of blood plasma are sufficient to carry out the determination. The analytical results show good recovery and good reproducibility. This sensitive method is very useful for the analysis of fatty acids in very low concentrations.

Accumulation of unesterified arachidonic acid in ischemic canine myocardium. Relationship to a phosphatidylcholine deacylation-reacylation cycle and the depletion of membrane phospholipids

Studies in ischemic canine left ventricle have shown that the depletion of membrane phospholipids is a critical event in the development of a sarcolemmal calcium permeability defect and associated irreversible myocyte injury. The mechanism of phospholipid loss is unclear, but may be due to the activation of endogenous phospholipases. Since arachidonic acid is a fatty acid found almost entirely in phospholipid, increases in arachidonate provide evidence for increased phospholipase activity. The present study was designed to examine the temporal relationship of the accumulation of free arachidonate with the onset of phospholipid depletion during fixed ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in canine myocardium. The following results were demonstrated in ischemic canine myocardium: (1) the accumulation of unesterified arachidonate is minimal during 10-30 minutes of ischemia, but is significantly increased after prolonging the duration of ischemia to 1-3 hours; (2) significant increases in arachidonate precede the development of a significant decrease in total phospholipid content; (3) the decrease in the arachidonate content of phosphatidylcholine is accompanied by similar decreases in all of the fatty acyl moieties; (4) the arachidonate content of lysophosphatidylcholine and diacylglycerol are unchanged during myocardial ischemia; (5) there is evidence of a deacylation-reacylation cycle in phosphatidylcholine prior to the accumulation of free arachidonate; (6) the fatty acyl specificity of the lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase corresponds to the pattern of fatty acyl remodeling of phosphatidylcholine during early myocardial ischemia. These data suggest that the accumulation of arachidonate may be a more sensitive measure of phospholipid degradation than the decrease in total phospholipid content in ischemic canine myocardium. It is postulated that the defective reacylation of arachidonate into phosphatidylcholine may contribute to the net loss of membrane phospholipid during myocardial ischemia.

High-performance liquid chromatography of fatty acid isopropylidene hydrazides and its application in lipid analysis

Fatty acid isopropylidene hydrazides, prepared by stepwise treatment of acyl lipids with hydrazine and acetone, were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase column. These derivatives could be easily eluted with 15% water in methanol and monitored by measuring absorbance at 229 nm with a uv detector. Their elution behavior, in general, was similar to that of methyl esters and some commonly used ultraviolet-absorbing derivatives of fatty acids. The new method has been used for fatty acid analysis of some oils.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of egg yolk phospholipids

A rapid and efficient method for the separation of egg yolk phospholipids by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed. The separation is accomplished on an Ultrasil-NH2 column using hexane, isopropanol, methanol and water mixtures with direct ultraviolet detection at 206 nm. Phospholipids from a methanol extract of fresh lyophilized egg yolks were analyzed providing complete separation of (in order of elution) neutral lipids, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Identification of eluting species was accomplished by comparative retention times of standard samples by thin-layer chromatographic analyses of collected fractions. Furthermore, a mixture of naturally occurring phospholipid standards from bovine and egg sources has been separated by this method. In addition to separating the individual classes of phospholipids, in some instances, separation of molecular species within a class was achieved as in the case of cerebrosides, sphingomyelin and partially with phosphatidylethanolamine.

Fractionation of fish oil fatty acid methyl esters by means of argentation and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and its utility in total fatty acid analysis

The utility of reversed-phase and argentation high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as pre-fractionation methods in fatty acid analysis is discussed. Both HPLC modes were applied to cod liver oil fatty acid methyl esters. Apart from positional isomers, the fractions obtained by reversed-phase HPLC were analysed by gas-liquid chromatography and appear to be free of the usually occurring "critical pairs". The mechanism of retention of the fatty acid methyl esters on low-loaded silver nitrate-impregnated silicas is discussed. It is shown that argentation HPLC is a rapid semi-preparative pre-fractionation method for highly unsaturated fatty esters with 3-6 double bonds.