Fatty acid acylated peptide therapeutics: discovery of omega-n oxidation of the lipid chain as a novel metabolic pathway in preclinical species.

We recently described C18 fatty acid acylated peptides as a new class of potent long-lasting single-chain RXFP1 agonists that displayed relaxin-like activities in vivo. Early pharmacokinetics and toxicological studies of these stearic acid acylated peptides revealed a relevant oxidative metabolism occurring in dog and minipig, and also seen at a lower extent in monkey and rat. Mass spectrometry combined to NMR spectroscopy studies revealed that the oxidation occurred, unexpectedly, on the stearic acid chain at ω-1, ω-2 and ω-3 positions. Structure-metabolism relationship studies on acylated analogues with different fatty acids lengths (C15-C20) showed that the extent of oxidation was higher with longer chains. The oxidized metabolites could be generated in vitro using liver microsomes and engineered bacterial CYPs. These systems were correlating poorly with in vivo metabolism observed across species; however, the results suggest that this biotransformation pathway might be catalyzed by some unknown CYP enzymes.

Oligomerization, albumin binding and catabolism of therapeutic peptides in the subcutaneous compartment: An investigation on lipidated GLP-1 analogs.

Lipidation, a common strategy to improve half-life of therapeutic peptides, affects their tendency to oligomerize, their interaction with plasmatic proteins, and their catabolism. In this work, we have leveraged the use of NMR and SPR spectroscopy to elucidate oligomerization propensity and albumin interaction of different analogs of the two marketed lipidated GLP-1 agonists liraglutide and semaglutide. As most lipidated therapeutic peptides are administered by subcutaneous injection, we have also assessed in vitro their catabolism in the SC tissue using the LC-HRMS-based SCiMetPep assay. We observed that oligomerization had a shielding effect against catabolism. At the same time, binding to albumin may provide only limited protection from proteolysis due to the higher unbound peptide fraction present in the subcutaneous compartment with respect to the plasma. Finally, identification of catabolites in rat plasma after SC dosing of semaglutide showed a good correlation with the in vitro data, with Tyr19-Leu20 being the major cleavage site. Early characterization of the complex interplay between oligomerization, albumin binding, and catabolism at the injection site is essential for the synthesis of lipidated peptides with good pharmacokinetic profiles.

Subcritical water extraction of thyreostats from bovine muscle followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Thyreostats can be used fraudulently to promote a rapid increase in weight of breeding animals at low cost. Their severe toxicological effects impose the development of reliable analytical methods to be used in monitoring plans. This work describes an alternative approach to isolate residues of thiouracil, methyl-thiouracil, propyl-thiouracil, phenyl-thiouracil, tapazole and mercaptobenzimidazole from bovine muscle tissue. The developed procedure is based on the following three steps: i) matrix solid-phase dispersion with C18 for the preliminary sample preparation; ii) subcritical water extraction (SWE) at 160°C and 100 bar; iii) clean-up on an Oasis HLB cartridge. The quantitative determination was performed by LC-MS/MS in dual polarity ionization by using internal standardization. The SWE-LC-MS/MS method was validated according to the identification criteria of the Commission decision 2002/657/EC. The relative recoveries ranged from 72 to 97%; within-lab reproducibility was less than 18%. The decision limit and the detection capability of all analytes were below the recommended concentration, set at 10 µg kg-1, but the validation results demonstrated that this method could only be applied for screening of thiouracil and methyl-thiouracil. Besides the analytical advantages related to the use of water as solvent extraction, the procedure allowed significant removal of lipids, whose detrimental effects on instrumentation and MS sensitivity are well-known.

Residue analysis of thyreostats in baby foods via matrix solid phase dispersion and liquid chromatography - dual-polarity electrospray - tandem mass spectrometry.

This paper describes a rapid method for confirming residues of thyreostats in meat-based baby foods by using liquid chromatography - dual polarity electrospray - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ES(±)-MS/MS). Six thioureylenes, belonging to the group of thiouracil and imidazole, were selected for this work: thiouracil (TU), methylthiouracil (MTU), propylthiouracil (PTU), phenylthiouracil (PhTU), mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) and tapazole (TAP). The amphoteric nature of these compounds allows their electrospray detection in both positive and negative ionisation. Nevertheless, MS detection is not favoured by their low molecular weights, while their chromatographic retention is also thwarted by their high polarity. A pentafluorophenyl (PFP) core-shell phase column was selected to avoid peak asymmetry or peak splitting, and a dual-polarity ionisation method was optimised to obtain a sensitivity as high as possible. The method was validated according to the Commission Decision 657/2002/EC. A simple and fast procedure based on matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) was optimised to extract analytes from baby foods with recoveries exceeding 82%. Limit of decision (CCα) and detection capability (CCß) were lower than the permissible maximum concentration (10 ng g-1). The validated method was then applied to assess the potential occurrence of the six selected thyreostats in nine commercial products. All the samples were found free of contamination.

Quantitative profiling of retinyl esters in milk from different ruminant species by using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-tandem mass spectrometry.

An effective high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) analytical approach was developed for retinoid profiling in raw milk samples (cow, buffalo, ewe, and goat). The analytes were isolated by means of liquid-liquid extraction, including a "lipid freezing" step, with yields exceeding 66%. Since the positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) detection is not completely selective, a reliable identification has been accomplished by fully separating the analytes on a tandem C18/C30 column system under non-aqueous reversed phase (NARP) chromatography conditions. After validation, different milk varieties obtained from pasture-fed animals were analysed, providing, for the first time, the retinoid composition of both buffalo's and ewe's milk. According to the literature, retinyl palmitate has been found to be the most abundant vitamin A vitamer, but retinyl oleate is the prevalent form in the caprine milk.

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry identification of intermediates and vulcanization products by using squalene as vulcanization model compound.

RATIONALE: Sulfur-vulcanized rubber is a three-dimensional polymer network, insoluble in all organic solvents. For this reason, vulcanization products are difficult to study and identify by conventional analytical techniques. To simplify this task, low molecular weight olefins have been used as model compounds (MCs) in place of rubber in vulcanization experiments. METHODS: In this work, the vulcanization process was investigated using squalene (SQ) as MC. By-products, intermediates and products were separated by semipreparative reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) with UV detection. Each fraction was collected, concentrated and characterized by flow injection analysis (FIA) and non-aqueous reversed-phase (NARP) LC coupled to positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). Under the latter conditions, an Information-Dependent Acquisition (IDA) was performed on a linear ion trap mass spectrometer to obtain structural information. RESULTS: Several vulcanized compounds containing up to three SQ molecules, cross-linked with chains involving up to 14 sulfur atoms overall, have been identified along with some of their oxidized products (epoxides and hydroperoxides). The FIA-MS spectra showed peak clusters, each of which included two-three subclusters; the interpretation was complicated by the occurrence of more ion species per product, by the unsaturation grade and by the characteristic isotopic distribution of sulfur. The enhanced product ion scan (EPI) spectra, acquired during the IDA experiments, supported the FIA-MS identification allowing one to count the number of sulfur atoms. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of the developed analytical strategy was due to the enrichment factor achieved via semipreparative chromatography and the very good response of the APCI detection. Pattern fragmentation and chromatographic behavior simplified the identification of the cured compounds and their oxidized products, whose occurrence was related to the grade of oxidation of SQ used as reagent. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Constituents of Melittis melissophyllum subsp. albida.

In this paper, for the first time, we have reported the analysis of the polar fraction of Melittis melissophyllum subsp. albida, a species with ecological relevance which is also used in traditional medicine of Central-Southern Italy. Iridoid glucosides were mainly identified, together with verbascoside, an ubiquitous phenyl-ethanoid glycoside, with chemotaxonomic implications in Lamiales order. The majority of the isolated compounds is endowed with interesting bio- activities and may justify the traditional uses of this plant also from a chemical point of view. Several peculiarities were also recorded in the metabolic pattern of this subspecies, i.e. the presence of virginioside and geniposidic acid, two rare compounds in the Lamiaceae family. The presence of free cinnamic acid was an additional characteristic of this subspecies which showed a specific secondary metabolites content. These phytochemical peculiarities, together with the morphological differences showed by the subsp. albida in respect to the nominal species, may be a base for a reconsideration of the systematic of Melittis melissophyllum subsp. albida.

Screening of Carotenoids in Tomato Fruits by Using Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array-Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry Detection.

This paper presents an analytical strategy for a large-scale screening of carotenoids in tomato fruits by exploiting the potentialities of the triple quadrupole-linear ion trap hybrid mass spectrometer (QqQLIT). The method involves separation on C30 reversed-phase column and identification by means of diode array detection (DAD) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). The authentic standards of six model compounds were used to optimize the separative conditions and to predict the chromatographic behavior of untargeted carotenoids. An information dependent acquisition (IDA) was performed with (i) enhanced-mass scan (EMS) as the survey scan, (ii) enhanced-resolution (ER) scan to obtain the exact mass of the precursor ions (16-35 ppm), and (iii) enhanced product ion (EPI) scan as dependent scan to obtain structural information. LC-DAD-multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) chromatograms were also acquired for the identification of targeted carotenoids occurring at low concentrations; for the first time, the relative abundance between the MRM transitions (ion ratio) was used as an extra tool for the MS distinction of structural isomers and the related families of geometrical isomers. The whole analytical strategy was high-throughput, because a great number of experimental data could be acquired with few analytical steps, and cost-effective, because only few standards were used; when applied to characterize some tomato varieties ('Tangerine', 'Pachino', 'Datterino', and 'Camone') and passata of 'San Marzano' tomatoes, our method succeeded in identifying up to 44 carotenoids in the 'Tangerine'" variety.

A single-run liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method to quantify neuroactive kynurenine pathway metabolites in rat plasma.

Neuroactive metabolites in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan catabolism are associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Tryptophan is transported across the blood-brain barrier and converted via the kynurenine pathway to N-formyl-L-kynurenine, which is further degraded to L-kynurenine. This metabolite can then generate a group of metabolites called kynurenines, most of which have neuroactive properties. The association of tryptophan catabolic pathway alterations with various central nervous system (CNS) pathologies has raised interest in analytical methods to accurately quantify kynurenines in body fluids. We here describe a rapid and sensitive reverse-phase HPLC-MS/MS method to quantify L-kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KYNA), 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine (3HK) and anthranilic acid (AA) in rat plasma. Our goal was to quantify these metabolites in a single run; given their different physico-chemical properties, major efforts were devoted to develop a chromatography suitable for all metabolites that involves plasma protein precipitation with acetonitrile followed by chromatographic separation by C18 RP chromatography, detected by electrospray mass spectrometry. Quantitation range was 0.098-100 ng/ml for 3HK, 9.8-20,000 ng/ml for KYN, 0.49-1000 ng/ml for KYNA and AA. The method was linear (r>0.9963) and validation parameters were within acceptance range (calibration standards and QC accuracy within ±30%).

Analysis of antithyroid drugs in surface water by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

This paper describes development and validation of a new method for the simultaneous determination of six antithyroid drugs (ATDs) in surface waters by using liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Target compounds include two ATD classes: thiouracil derivatives (thiouracil (TU), methyl-thiouracil (MTU), propyl-thiouracil (PTU), phenyl-thiouracil (PhTU)) and imidazole derivatives (tapazole (TAP), and mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI)). Sensitivity and selectivity of the LC-multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis allowed applying a simple pre-concentration procedure and "shooting" the concentrated sample into the LC-MS/MS system without any other treatment. Recoveries were higher than 75% for all analytes. Intra-day precision and inter-day precision, calculated as relative standard deviation (RSD), were below 19 and 22%, respectively. Limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.05 to 0.25 µg/L; limits of quantitation (LOQs) varied between 0.15 and 0.75 µg/L. The validated method was successfully applied to the analysis of ATD residues in surface water samples collected from the Tiber River basin and three lakes of Lazio (central Italy). The analytes were quantified based on matrix-matched calibration curves with mercaptobenzimidazole-d4 (MBI-d4) as the internal standard (IS). The most widespread compound was TAP, one of the most common ATDs used in human medicine, but also TU and MBI were often detected in the analysed samples.

Rapid, high performance method for the determination of vitamin K(1), menaquinone-4 and vitamin K(1) 2,3-epoxide in human serum and plasma using liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry.

Unlike the other fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K circulates in the human bloodstream at very low levels because of a low intake in the diet. Mammals have developed an efficient recycling system, known as vitamin K-epoxide cycle, which involve quinone, hydroquinone and epoxide forms of the vitamin. Phylloquinone (K(1)) is the main homologue, while menaquinone-4 (MK-4) is both a member of the vitamin K(2) family and metabolite of K(1) in extra-hepatic tissues. Notwithstanding the recent advances, many aspects of the complex vitamin K physiology still remain to be investigated. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop more reliable analytical methods for determining the vitamin K and its metabolites in biological fluids and tissues. Nevertheless, relatively low concentrations, unavailability of some authentic standards and occurrence of interfering lipids make this a challenging task. The method proposed in the present paper can directly and accurately estimate K(1), K(1) 2,3-epoxide (K(1)O), and MK-4 in human serum and plasma at concentrations in the ng/L-µg/L range, using labelled internal standards and a quadrupole linear ion trap instrument operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. High sensitivity was achieved by removing signal "endogenous suppressors" and making the composition of the non-aqueous mobile phase suitable to support the positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization of the analytes. An excellent selectivity resulted from the combination of some factors: the MRM acquisition, the adoption of an identification point system, an extraction optimized to remove most of the lipids and a tandem-C18 column-system necessary to separate isobaric interferences from analytes. The method was validated according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines and its accuracy was assessed by analysing 9 samples from the Vitamin K External Quality Assessment Scheme (KEQAS). Its feasibility in evaluating vitamin K status in human serum was also tested by monitoring a group of six healthy subjects and a group of six patients under oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). Warfarinised patients did not show deficiency of K1 but levels comparable with those of healthy people and an accumulation of K1O up to 3.760µg/L. MK-4 was not detected in either of the two groups.

Comprehensive profiling of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in milk from different animal species by LC-DAD-MS/MS hyphenation.

This paper describes a novel and efficient analytical method to define the profile of fat-soluble micronutrients in milk from different animal species. Overnight cold saponification was optimized as a simultaneous extraction procedure. Analytes were separated by nonaqueous reversed-phase (NARP) chromatography: carotenoids on a C(30) column and fat-soluble vitamins on a tandem C(18) column system. Besides 12 target analytes for which standards are available (all-trans-lutein, all-trans-zeaxanthin, all-trans-ß-cryptoxanthin, all-trans-ß-carotene, all-trans-retinol, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, ergocalciferol, cholecalciferol, phylloquinone, and menaquinone-4), the DAD-MS combined detection allowed the provisional identification of other carotenoids on the basis of the expected retention times, the absorbance spectra, and the mass spectrometric data. Retinol and α-tocopherol were the most abundant fat-soluble micronutrients and the only ones found in donkey's milk along with γ-tocopherol. Ewe's milk also proved to be a good source of vitamin K vitamers. Bovine milk showed a large variety of carotenoids that were absent in milk samples from other species with the only exception of all-trans-lutein and all-trans-zeaxanthin.

Development and validation of two multiresidue liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry methods based on a versatile extraction procedure for isolating non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from bovine milk and muscle tissue.

The main difficulties in analysing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in food and biological samples are due to the tight non-covalent interactions established with matrix proteins and the amount of occurring fatty material. The present paper describes an effective extraction procedure able to isolate fifteen NSAIDs (acetaminophen, salicylic acid, ibuprofen, diclofenac, flunixin and its metabolite 5-hydroxy-flunixin, nimesulide, phenylbutazone, meclofenamic acid, tolfenamic acid, meloxicam, carprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen and etodolac) from bovine milk and muscle tissue through two succeeding steps: (a) deproteinisation/extraction with organic solvent, essential to lower the medium dielectric constant and, therefore, to release the analytes from matrix; (b) SPE clean-up on OASIS cartridges. Lipids were easily removed during low-temperature centrifugations. The advantages of the developed procedure pertain to the efficient removal of the fat substances (very low matrix effect and high recovery yields) and its versatility, since it can be applied both to milk and muscle with few adjustments due to the diversity of the two matrices. Ion-pairing reversed-phase chromatography combined with the negative electrospray detection was able to achieve low detection capabilities (CCßs) for all analytes and, in particular, for diclofenac whose Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) in milk is 0.1 µg kg(-1). The methods were validated according to the guidelines of the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and then applied for a small monitoring study. A number of samples showed traces of salicylic acid (SA), but its occurrence was not ascribed to a misuse of drugs (aspirin, salicylic acid) since SA, accumulating in plants in response to a pathogen attack, may be introduced into the food chain.

Evaluation of a method based on liquid chromatography-diode array detector-tandem mass spectrometry for a rapid and comprehensive characterization of the fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid profile of selected plant foods.

The feasibility of using reversed-phase liquid chromatography/diode array/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS/MS) for a rapid and comprehensive profiling of fat soluble vitamins and pigments in some foods of plant origin (maize flour, green and golden kiwi) was evaluated. The instrumental approach was planned for obtaining two main outcomes within the same chromatographic run: (i) the quantitative analysis of ten target analytes, whose standards are commercially available; (ii) the screening of pigments occurring in the selected matrices. The quantitative analysis was performed simultaneously for four carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin, and ß-carotene) and six compounds with fat-soluble activity (α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, ergocalciferol, phylloquinone and menaquinone-4), separated on a C30 reversed-phase column and detected by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) tandem mass spectrometry, operating in Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) mode. Extraction procedure was based on matrix solid-phase dispersion with recoveries of all compounds under study exceeding 78 and 60% from maize flour and kiwi, respectively. The method intra-day precision ranged between 3 and 7%, while the inter-day one was below 12%. The mild isolation conditions precluded artefacts creation, such as cis-isomerization phenomena for carotenoids. During the quantitative LC-SRM determination of the ten target analytes, the identification power of the diode array detector joined to that of the triple quadrupole (QqQ) allowed the tentatively identification of several pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), without the aid of standards, on the basis of: (i) the UV-vis spectra recorded in the range of 200-700nm; (ii) the expected retention time; (iii) the two SRM transitions, chosen for the target carotenoids but also common to many of isomeric carotenoids occurring in the selected foods.

Residue analysis of glucocorticoids in bovine milk by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of 13 steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in bovine milk is presented. Due to their weakly acid nature, analytes were separated by ion suppression reversed phase chromatography and detected in positive-ion mode by a high flow electrospray source. Dexamethasone-d4 was used as internal standard. The sample preparation was simple and reliable; it included acidic deproteinization of milk followed by sample enrichment and clean-up, utilizing a C18 solid phase extraction cartridge. Recoveries exceeded 70% with an intra-day precision not larger than 12%. The efficiency of the sample clean-up and internal standardization rendered negligible the matrix effect, estimated by comparing standard and matrix-matched calibration curves. A small-scale reconnaissance was carried out on several raw and whole fresh milk samples. A large number of analyzed samples showed a chromatographic peak, in the retention time window of cortisol, at levels included between its decision limit (CCalpha) and detection capability (CCbeta). As a result of a heat-induced transformation, an isomeric product of triamcinolone was observed during the extract evaporation. Since this rearrangement might occur during the milk pasteurization process, LC-MS/MS and (1)H-NMR investigations were performed out to conclusively differentiate the two isomers. One- and two-dimensional proton NMR spectra were able to identify the transformation product as 9a-fluoro-11b,16a-trihydroxy-17b-hydroxymethyl-D-homoandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17a-dione.

Simultaneous determination of water-soluble vitamins in selected food matrices by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid, simple and sensitive method based on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source for the simultaneous analysis of fourteen water-soluble vitamins (B1, B2, two B3 vitamers, B5, five B6 vitamers, B8, B9, B12 and C) in various food matrices, i.e. maize flour, green and golden kiwi and tomato pulp, is presented here. Analytes were separated by ion-suppression reversed-phase liquid chromatography in less than 10 min and detected in positive ion mode. Sensitivity and specificity of this method allowed two important results to be achieved: (i) limits of detection of the analytes at ng g(-1) levels (except for vitamin C); (ii) development of a rapid sample treatment that minimizes analyte exposition to light, air and heat, eliminating any step of extract concentration. Analyte recovery depended on the type of matrix. In particular, recovery of the analytes in maize flour was > or =70%, with the exception of vitamin C, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and vitamin B9 (ca 40%); with tomato pulp, recovery was > or =64%, except for vitamin C (41%); with kiwi, recovery was > or =73%, except for nicotinamide (ca. 30%).