Publications (177) View all
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Article: A comparison of the chromatographic properties of silica gel and silicon hydride modified silica gels.
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ABSTRACT: The retention properties of a silica gel column and a type C silica (silicon hydride) column for bases, sugars and polar acids were compared in hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) mode with formic acid or ammonium acetate as aqueous phase modifiers. The type C silica column was much more retentive for a series of model bases than the silica gel column and, surprisingly, retention of bases increased on the type C silica column when, the higher pH, ammonium acetate containing mobile phase was used. The retention of sugars was greater on the type C silica column than on the silica gel column and also increased on the type C silica column with increased pH suggesting either a silanophilic mechanism of retention or some unknown mechanism. Three type C silica based columns, type C silica, cogent diamond hydride and a β-pinene modified column, which it was hoped might exert some additional stereochemical discrimination, were tested for metabolomic profiling of urine. In general the unmodified type C silica column gave the strongest retention of the many polar metabolites in urine and could provide a useful complement to established HILIC methods for metabolomic profiling.Journal of chromatography. A 09/2012; 1263:61-7. · 4.19 Impact Factor -
Article: Elucidation of the Phase I and Phase II metabolic pathways of (±)-4'-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) and (±)-4'-(trifluoromethyl)methcathinone (4-TFMMC) in rat liver hepatocytes using LC-MS and LC-MS(2).
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ABSTRACT: (±)-4'-Methylmethcathinone hydrochloride [(±)-mephedrone, 4-MMC] is a synthetic "legal high", with a classical cathinone structure similar to methcathinone. In this study, the in vitro metabolism of 4-MMC was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rat hepatocytes to characterise the associated Phase I and II metabolites. 4-MMC was incubated with rat liver hepatocytes, and the reaction mixture was analysed on a zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction (ZIC(®)-HILIC) column using LC-MS and LC-MS(2). 4-MMC was metabolised, yielding 17 metabolites. These metabolites were structurally characterised on the basis of accurate mass analyses and LC-MS(2) fragmentation patterns and the major metabolic routes for 4-MMC determined to be via (i) oxidation of the 4'-methyl group and (ii) reduction of the β-keto moiety. The biotransformation of a modified 4'-trifluoromethyl- derivative (4-TFMMC) has also been studied and shows significant differences in its metabolism compared to 4-MMC. Key pharmacokinetic parameters for both drugs have been calculated [biological half-lives (t(½)) for 4-MMC=61.9min and for 4-TFMMC=203.8min] and this data may aid in the understanding of in vivo metabolism and the likely pharmacokinetic effects of chemical/structural modifications within this class of controlled substances.Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis 08/2012; · 2.45 Impact Factor -
Article: A Study of the Relative Importance of Lipophilic, π–π and Dipole–Dipole Interactions on Cyanopropyl, Phenyl and Alkyl LC Phases Bonded onto the Same Base Silica
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ABSTRACT: Cyano (CN), butyl (C4), phenyl and octadecyl (C18) phases prepared from the same base silica gel were chromatographically characterized in order to assess the relative importance of lipophilic, π–π and dipole–dipole interactions in governing retention on these differing phases. Dipole interactions of analytes (possessing dipole moments and low lipophilicity) with CN phases were primarily responsible for the elution order. However, as the analytes’ lipophilicity increased, the lipophilic interaction predominated over the dipole interaction. In comparison, retention on the phenyl phase appeared to be complex, being controlled by a mixture of lipophilic, π–π and dipole–dipole interactions. Retention on the C4 and C18 phases was dictated by the analyte’s lipophilicity and its accessibility into the phase.Chromatographia 04/2012; 70(5):705-715. · 1.20 Impact Factor -
Article: Metabolomic profiling reveals that Drosophila melanogaster larvae with the y mutation have altered lysine metabolism.
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ABSTRACT: Yellow (y) encodes a protein which is closely similar to major royal jelly proteins produced by bees. However, the function of y remains largely unknown. Metabolomic profiling was carried out on third instar Oregon R (OR) and yellow (y) Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Phenylalanine, tyrosine and DOPA were all elevated in y as might be expected since the mutation blocks melanin biosynthesis. The most consistent effects were related to lysine metabolism, with the lysine metabolite saccharopine being much higher in y. In addition, lysine acetate was elevated, and the levels of methyl lysines were lower, in y than in OR.FEBS open bio. 01/2012; 2:217-21. -
Article: Increasing the mass accuracy of high-resolution LC-MS data using background ions: a case study on the LTQ-Orbitrap.
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ABSTRACT: With the advent of a new generation of high-resolution mass spectrometers, the fields of proteomics and metabolomics have gained powerful new tools. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel computational method that improves the mass accuracy of the LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer from an initial +/- 1-2 ppm, obtained by the standard software, to an absolute median of 0.21 ppm (SD 0.21 ppm). With the increased mass accuracy it becomes much easier to match mass chromatograms in replicates and different sample types, even if compounds are detected at very low intensities. The proposed method exploits the ubiquitous presence of background ions in LC-MS profiles for accurate alignment and internal mass calibration, making it applicable for all types of MS equipment. The accuracy of this approach will facilitate many downstream systems biology applications, including mass-based molecule identification, ab initio metabolic network reconstruction, and untargeted metabolomics in general.Proteomics 11/2008; 8(22):4647-56. · 4.43 Impact Factor
