Applications of hydrophilic interaction chromatography to amino acids, peptides, and proteins.

This review summarizes the recent advances in the analysis of amino acids, peptides, and proteins using hydrophilic interaction chromatography. Various reports demonstrate the successful analysis of amino acids under such conditions. However, a baseline resolution of the 20 natural amino acids has not yet been published and for this reason, there is often a need to use mass spectrometry for detection to further improve selectivity. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography is also recognized as a powerful technique for peptide analysis, and there are a lot of papers showing its applicability for proteomic applications (peptide mapping). It is expected that its use for peptide mapping will continue to grow in the future, particularly because this analytical strategy can be combined with reversed-phase liquid chromatography, in a two-dimensional setup, to reach very high resolving power. Finally, the interest in hydrophilic interaction chromatography for intact proteins analysis is less evident due to possible solubility issues and a lack of suitable hydrophilic interaction chromatography stationary phases. To date, it has been successfully employed only for the characterization of membrane proteins, histones, and the separation of glycosylated isoforms of an intact glycoprotein. From our point of view, the number of hydrophilic interaction chromatography columns compatible with intact proteins (higher upper temperature limit, large pore size, etc.) is still too limited.

Comparative profiling of human saliva by intact protein LC/ESI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Human saliva is finding increasing interest for proteomic and biomarker-discovery studies, due to the ease of collection and potential for simpler processing workflows compared to serum or plasma. However, it is known that salivary protein composition can vary with physiological and environmental factors. In this work, we have examined intra- and inter-person variability of saliva protein composition using an LC/MS methodology to profile low molecular weight human salivary proteins. Whole saliva was analyzed from four individuals over three consecutive days. Additional samples were used to determine baseline analytical and sample processing variation and to identify phosphoproteins. Individuals were observed to have a similar salivary protein pattern over multiple days, although the expression levels of particular proteins were variable. Significant differences in protein profiles were observed between subjects, allowing for delineation of individuals based on their protein profile. Comparison with alkaline phosphatase treated saliva revealed that several identified proteins were singly, doubly, or triply phosphorylated.

Phosphopeptide analysis by directly coupling two-dimensional planar electrochromatography/thin-layer chromatography with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A novel strategy is presented for the fractionation of complex peptide mixtures using two-dimensional planar electrochromatography/thin-layer chromatography (2D PEC/TLC). Phosphopeptides migrate more slowly in the first dimension, based upon their anionic phosphate residues, and certain predominantly acidic phosphopeptides even migrate in the opposite direction, relative to the bulk of the peptides. Phosphopeptides are further distinguished based upon hydrophilicity in the second dimension. This permits a restricted region of the plate to be directly interrogated for the presence of phosphopeptides by mass spectrometry (MS). Phosphopeptide analysis from the plates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-MS and tandem MS enabled peptide sequencing and identification.

Integration of multidimensional chromatographic protein separations with a combined "top-down" and "bottom-up" proteomic strategy.

In this paper, we present a combined top-down/bottom-up proteomic analysis workflow for the characterization of proteomic samples. This workflow combines protein fractionation (multidimensional chromatographic separation) with parallel online ESI-TOF-MS intact protein analysis, and fraction collection. Collected fractions were digested and protein identifications were produced using MALDI Q-TOF-MS analysis. These identifications were then linked with corresponding ESI-TOF-MS intact protein mass data to permit full protein characterization. This methodology was applied to an E. coli cytosolic protein fraction, and enabled the identification and characterization of proteins exhibiting co-translational processing, post-translational modification, and proteolytic processing events. The approach also provided the ability to distinguish between closely related protein isoforms. The summary of results from this study indicated that roughly one-third of all detected components generated corresponding data from both top-down and bottom-up analyses, and that significant and novel information can be derived from this application of the hybrid analytical methodology.

Rapid quantitative capillary zone electrophoresis method for monitoring the micro-heterogeneity of an intact recombinant glycoprotein.

A simple high-resolution capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method capable of rapidly assessing the micro-heterogeneity of a 24 kDa molecular weight glycoprotein, has been developed. Separation is carried out using a bare silica capillary at a pH of 2.5 in a commercially available electrophoresis buffer system composed of triethanolamine and phosphoric acid. Over 30 peaks were detected within a run time of 15 min using a 27 cm capillary and approximately 60 peaks were detected using a 77 cm capillary. Although most of the peaks arise from differences in the oligosaccharide structures present on the one glycosylation site on this molecule, other forms of micro-heterogeneity due to the presence of the nonglycosylated form of this glycoprotein and various types of chemical degradation, e.g., deamidation, are also responsible for the multitude of peaks observed. Although the exact chemical identity of each peak in the resulting electropherogram of this glycoprotein is not known, useful information can be obtained for assessing comparability, stability, and batch consistency. Factors impacting the resolution, precision, accuracy, and robustness of the assay are also discussed along with inherent advantages and limitations associated with measuring the micro-heterogeneity of intact glycoproteins.

Evaluation of multidimensional (ion-exchange/reversed-phase) protein separations using linear and step gradients in the first dimension.

The performance characteristics of multidimensional liquid chromatographic protein separations were evaluated using on-line electrospray mass detection, and a novel workflow for automated LC/MS data processing. Two-dimensional ion exchange/reversed-phase LC separations of Escherichia coli cytosol were conducted using either a continuous linear or discontinuous step gradient in the first dimension. Chromatographic profiles of the top 100 most abundant components were characterized to assess overall separation reproducibility within each mode, and to characterize differences in component distribution between the two modes of operation. Analysis of the resulting data indicates that multidimensional separations of complex protein mixtures can be done reproducibly. Furthermore, under the conditions employed within this study, a linear first dimension gradient was more effective at fractionating the protein mixture, distributing fewer major components to multiple second dimension cycles than an equivalent step gradient. The application of on line mass spectrometry, and automated processing of the resulting data, proved valuable for producing component level analysis of multidimensional protein separations.

Capillary isoelectric focusing and affinity capillary electrophoresis approaches for the determination of binding constants for antibodies to the prion protein.

For the development of specific immunological assays, the binding of a specific antibody (Ab) to the target antigen (Ag) has to be relatively strong. In this study, we have utilized affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE), a form of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to determine the binding constant (Kb) of specific Abs against bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the healthy prion protein (PrPc), in buffer solutions at fixed pHs, approximating in vivo conditions. We have also utilized capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) to determine the complexity and recognition of the various isoforms of PrPc Abs towards their Ag, PrPc. Only ACE and CZE have been used to derive Kb values. The selected Abs for the prion protein can recognize both healthy and diseased states of the protein and are commercially available. The Kb values of PrPc Abs appear to be as strong as the anti-BSA (Ab to BSA) and other reported Kb values for proteins of similar size to PrPc. This appears to be one of the few reports on Kb values for any PrPc Abs, and their applications for in vitro immunoassays (e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs)). Such assays are being used to detect the infectious agent, PrPres, in brain and related matter/tissues.

Separation of quaternary ammonium diastereomeric oligomers by capillary electrophoresis.

The separation of novel diastereomeric trimers (3M) and pentamers (5M), derived from quaternary ammonium salts, was studied in conventional, uncoated and coated capillaries using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with a variety of buffers and additives. Resolution of 5M diastereomers was best achieved using gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) as a chiral selector, while no diastereomeric resolution was realized for the 3M material.

Derivatization of phospholipids.

Phospholipids are major components of biological membranes. Without chemical derivatization, it is difficult to identify and quantitate phospholipids in biological samples. Chemical derivatization can improve both the selectivity and sensitivity of the analytes. This paper gives a full review, through March, 2002, of derivatization methods used for phospholipids in HPLC, CE and GC as well as the spray reagent used for TLC in the early days.

Complexation with iron at sub-ppm levels in HPLC analyses of phospholipids.

Gradient RP-HPLC analysis of a phospholipid, E5564, utilizing water, methanol and phosphoric acid occasionally results in the appearance of a broad unknown peak in the chromatogram before a well-resolved E5564 peak. This unknown peak does not elute in a reproducible fashion with regards to peak shape and retention time, and is not present in chromatograms resulting from injections of the diluent alone. Investigation of this phenomenon revealed that iron ions in sub-ppm levels in the HPLC mobile phase chelated E5564 and the resultant complex(es) comprised the broad peak. The iron source was identified as phosphoric acid, which was used as a mobile phase modifier. Further studies were conducted to characterize the nature of the phospholipid-iron association and resultant complex.

Application of affinity capillary electrophoresis for the determination of binding and thermodynamic constants of enediynes with bovine serum albumin.

The binding constants and thermodynamic properties of a series of novel enediyne compounds with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were determined. The enediynes were synthesized, characterized, and then studied by affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) methods to derive these recognition parameters. Change in electrophoretic mobility of BSA as a function of enediyne concentration was determined at 25 degrees C providing binding constants of 1.76 x 10(5), 1.14 x 10(5), and 0.68 x 10(5) M(-1) for enediynephenylalanine carboxylic acid, enediynephenylalanine methyl ester, and enediyne carboxylic acid, respectively. The binding constant for the enediynephenylalanine carboxylic acid was in good agreement with that obtained using conventional methodology. Binding constants for the interaction of enediynes with BSA decreased with an increase in temperature. Van't Hoff plots showed a direct correlation between intensity of the binding constant and the sign and magnitude of various thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG, DeltaS, and/or DeltaH).