Phenyl-bonded monolithic silica capillary column liquid chromatographic separation and detection of fluorogenic derivatized intact proteins

Prior to the identification of proteins for proteomics analysis in human cells, separation of fluorogenic derivatized proteins with a fluorogenic reagent, 7-chloro-N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole-4-sulfonamide, has typically been performed by using a conventional reversed-phase HPLC column. However, the number of proteins in human cells (HepaRG) that are separated by this conventional approach is limited to approximately 500. In this study, a nanoflow liquid chromatography system with an evaluated phenyl-bonded monolithic silica capillary column (0.1 mm i.d., 700 mm length) was used to increase the number of separated fluorogenic derivatized proteins. This system was used to separate derivatized human cell proteins (K562) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) proteins as model cell proteomes. More than 1,300 protein peaks were separated/detected from both cell proteomes. We present a straightforward comparison of multiple separation profiles using a novel chromatogram display approach, termed the "spiderweb" chromatogram. In addition, to validate that the detected peaks are derived from proteins, a mass spectrometer was connected to the capillary column and deconvolution of the obtained mass spectra was performed. Furthermore, different molecular weight distribution profiles of the expressed proteins were observed between the two cell proteomes.

Performance of Optimized Wide Pore Superficially Porous Particles for Separation of Proteins and Immunoglobulin G Antibodies

In this study, we studied the chromatographic performance of this newly developed wide pore superficially porous particles (SPPs) with 3.5 μm particle size and 450 Å pore size, for the separation of proteins and Immunoglobulin G antibodies. We studied the selectivity of different phases (C4, SB-C18 and Diphenyl), the effect of temperature, column carryover and column chemical lifetime. We also compared our SPPs with other wide pore SPPs in similar particle sizes and sub 2 µ wide pore totally porous particles by van Deemter studies and gradient separations of proteins and immunoglobulin G antibodies. The results showed that the SPPs containing larger pore size gave better chromatographic performance.

Application of Porous Materials to Carbohydrate Chemistry and Glycoscience

There is a growing interest in using a range of porous materials to meet research needs in carbohydrate chemistry and glycoscience in general. Among the applications of porous materials reviewed in this chapter, enrichment of glycans from biological samples prior to separation and analysis by mass spectrometry is a major emphasis. Porous materials offer high surface area, adjustable pore sizes, and tunable surface chemistry for interacting with glycans, by boronate affinity, hydrophilic interactions, molecular imprinting, and polar interactions. Among the materials covered in this review are mesoporous silica and related materials, porous graphitic carbon, mesoporous carbon, porous polymers, and nanoporous gold. In some applications, glycans are enzymatically or chemically released from glycoproteins or glycopeptides, and the porous materials have the advantage of size selectivity admitting only the glycans into the pores and excluding proteins. Immobilization of lectins onto porous materials of suitable pore size allows for the use of lectin-carbohydrate interactions in capture or separation of glycoproteins. Porous material surfaces modified with carbohydrates can be used for the selective capture of lectins. Controlled release of therapeutics from porous materials mediated by glycans has been reported, and so has therapeutic targeting using carbohydrate-modified porous particles. Additional applications of porous materials in glycoscience include their use in the supported synthesis of oligosaccharides and in the development of biosensors for glycans.

A simple sheathless CE-MS interface with a sub-micrometer electrical contact fracture for sensitive analysis of peptide and protein samples

Online coupling of capillary electrophoresis (CE) to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS) has shown considerable potential, however, technical challenges have limited its use. In this study, we have developed a simple and sensitive sheathless CE-MS interface based on the novel concept of forming a sub-micrometer fracture directly in the capillary. The simple interface design allowed the generation of a stable ESI spray capable of ionization at low nanoliter flow-rates (45-90 nL/min) for high sensitivity MS analysis of challenging samples like those containing proteins and peptides. By analysis of a model peptide (leucine enkephalin), a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.045 pmol/μL (corresponding to 67 attomol in a sample volume of ∼15 nL) was obtained. The merit of the CE-MS approach was demonstrated by analysis of bovine serum albumin (BSA) tryptic peptides. A well-resolved separation profile was achieved and comparable sequence coverage was obtained by the CE-MS method (73%) compared to a representative UPLC-MS method (77%). The CE-MS interface was subsequently used to analyse a more complex sample of pharmaceutically relevant human proteins including insulin, tissue factor and α-synuclein. Efficient separation and protein ESI mass spectra of adequate quality could be achieved using only a small amount of sample (30 fmol). In addition, analysis of ubiquitin samples under both native and denatured conditions, indicate that the CE-MS setup can facilitate native MS applications to probe the conformational properties of proteins. Thus, the described CE-MS setup should be useful for a wide range of high-sensitivity applications in protein research.

Analysis of peptides and protein digests by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry using neutral pH elution conditions

In this study, the advantages of carrying out the analysis of peptides and tryptic digests of proteins under gradient elution conditions at pH 6.5 by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and in-line electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) are documented. For these RP separations, a double endcapped, bidentate anchored n-octadecyl wide pore silica adsorbent was employed in a capillary column format. Compared to the corresponding analysis of the same peptides and protein tryptic digests using low pH elution conditions for their RP-HPLC separation, this alternative approach provides improved selectivity and more efficient separation of these analytes, thus allowing a more sensitive identification of proteins at different abundance levels, i.e. more tryptic peptides from the same protein could be confidently identified, enabling higher sequence coverage of the protein to be obtained. This approach was further evaluated with very complex tryptic digests derived from a human plasma protein sample using an online two-dimensional (2D) strong cation-exchange (SCX)-RP-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS system. Again, at pH 6.5, with mobile phases of different compositions, improved chromatographic selectivities were obtained, concomitant with more sensitive on-line electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-MS/MS) analysis. As a consequence, more plasma proteins could be confidently identified, highlighting the potential of these RP-HPLC methods with elution at pH 6.5 to extend further the scope of proteomic investigations.

Analysis of wheat prolamins, the causative agents of celiac sprue, using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS)

Wheat prolamins, commonly known as "gluten", are a complex mixture of 71-78 proteins, which constitute ~80% of the proteins in the wheat grains and supply 50% of the global dietary protein demand. Prolamins are also responsible for numerous gluten-induced disorders and determine the unique visco-elastic properties of the wheat dough. These properties necessitate the reliable determination of the prolamin composition in wheat grains and their derived products. Therefore, this study examined the impact of HPLC conditions, including column type, column temperature, flow rate, and the gradient of polar and non-polar solvents in the mobile phase, to improve the analytical resolution of prolamins. The following conditions were found optimal for analyses: column temperature 60 °C, flow rate 1.0 mL/min and an elution gradient of 20%-60% of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid + acetonitrile in 60 min. For further improvement of resolution, gliadin and glutenin extracts were analyzed using MALDI-TOF-MS in combination with HPLC fractionation. Two semi-quantitative methods, densitometry of stained polyacrylamide gels and HPLC, were used to determine relative prolamin quantities and the correspondence between the methods was established. The combinatorial gluten analyses approach developed during the present study was used to analyze prolamin profiles of wheat transformants expressing DEMETER silencing artificial microRNA, and the results are discussed.

Sub-2 μm fully porous and partially porous (core–shell) stationary phases for reversed phase liquid chromatography

The need for increased throughput and superior performance has increased the demand for stationary phases with improved kinetic performance.

Rapid and refined separation of human IgG2 disulfide isomers using superficially porous particles

A rapid reversed-phase HPLC separation of recombinant human immunoglobulin gamma 2 (IgG2) disulfide isomers using columns packed with superficially porous particles is reported. Under optimal conditions, a separation of monoclonal IgG2 disulfide isomers was achieved in 10 min using a Poroshell™ 300SB-C8 column via a combination of high column temperature (85°C), mobile phases with high eluotropic strength (e.g. isopropanol) and high flow rate (1.5 mL/min). Thermodynamic stability analyses of chromatographically enriched IgG2 disulfide isomers revealed differences in their individual denaturation temperatures, which correlate with the observed temperature-dependent refinement of peak profiles by reversed-phase HPLC. This reversed-phase HPLC method in conjunction with other orthogonal analytical techniques (e.g. capillary gel electrophoresis, peptide mapping, ion exchange chromatography, etc.) is being used to characterize disulfide isomers in the development of therapeutic IgG2 antibodies.

Critical topics in ensuring data quality in bioanalytical LC–MS method development

The use of LC–MS for bioanalysis of pharmaceuticals is entering its third decade and may be considered to be a mature technology. In many respects this is true, considering the advances made in such areas as instrument performance, electronics, software and automation of use. However, there remain instrumental and noninstrumental areas that require significant attention to ensure data quality. Increasing regulatory focus on analytical method performance and unaddressed method issues require the bioanalyst to understand those areas that most greatly impact data quality. This review will focus on instrumental and noninstrumental areas that can influence data quality, including reference standard and internal standard quality and physicochemical properties, matrix effects, stability in matrix, sample preparation, LC and MS.

Fast and sensitive determination of Polysorbate 80 in solutions containing proteins

A fast and sensitive method has been developed for the specific determination of Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) in liquid formulations in the presence of proteins and excipients. The quantitative determination is based on a fast liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation and charged aerosol detection (CAD). The method was validated using a Poroshell 300SB-C18 column packed with 5 microm shell particles (75 mm x 2.1 mm) and acetonitrile-methanol-water-trifluoroacetic acid mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.65 ml/min. The rapid LC-CAD method is suitable for quantifying Polysorbate 80 in the range of 10-60 microg/ml in protein solutions within good manufacturing practices (GMPs) of the pharmaceutical industry.

A high-throughput LC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of posaconazole in human plasma: Implementing fused core silica liquid chromatography

A rapid and robust liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of posaconazole concentrations in human plasma was validated. Posaconazole was extracted from human plasma using mixed-mode cation exchange solid phase extraction in a 96-well plate format followed by gradient separation on a fused-core Halo C18 column. The analyte and its corresponding internal standard were detected using a Sciex API 4000 triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS system equipped with a TurboIonSpray ionization source operated in the positive ion mode. The calibration range of the method was 5.00-5000ng/mL using a 50microL aliquot of plasma. The assay inter-run accuracy and precision were-4.6-2.8% and 2.3-8.7%, respectively (n=18). The results from method validation indicate the method to be sensitive, selective, accurate, and reproducible. The method was successfully applied to the routine analysis of clinical samples with the fused-core silica columns providing excellent reproducibility for greater than 1000 injections per column.