SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF GUANINE, URIC-ACID, HYPOXANTHINE AND XANTHINE IN HUMAN PLASMA BY REVERSED-PHASE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH AMPEROMETRIC DETECTION

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with amperometric detection is described for the separation and quantification of uric acid, guanine, hypoxanthine and xanthine. The isocratic separation of a standard mixture of the compounds was achieved in 5 min on a Spherisorb 5 C-18 reversed-phase column, with a mobile phase of NaH2PO4 (300 mmol dm(-3) pH 3.0)-methanol-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran (97.8 + 0.5 + 1.5 + 0.2). Uric acid, guanine, hypoxanthine and xanthine were completely separated, with detection limits in the range 2-20 pmol per injection. The effect of pH and the composition of the mobile phase on the separation are described. The hydrodynamic voltammograms of these compounds were recorded at a glassy carbon electrode. The linear range of the calibration graph for each compound was: uric acid; 1-5000 mu mol dm(-3); guanine, 0.5-2000 mu mol dm(-3); hypoxanthine, 0.1-500 mu mol dm(-3) and xanthine, 0.5-5000 mu mol dm(-3). The within- and between-day precision was good. The uric acid and hypoxanthine content in human plasma was measured using the proposed method. Good recoveries of uric acid (97.9-103%), hypoxanthine (98.0-99.2%), guanine (96.0-98.3%) and xanthine (96.0-102%) were obtained from human plasma. The results of electrochemical detection were in good agreement with those of UV detection.

Anodic voltammetric behavior of inosine on a glassy carbon electrode

The anodic voltammetric behavior of inosine (I) was investigated by linar-sweep voltammetry, differential-pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode. In a medium of 0.1 mol/L N2HPO4, inosine showed a well defined anodic peak. The peak potential was about 1.42 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). A linear relationship held between the peak current and the concentration of inosine in the rang of 5 x 10(-4) similar to 8 x 10(-2) g/L. The peak potential decreased with the decrease of the acidity of the solution. The four anodic peaks of inosine with hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid were obtained. Their peak potentials were about at 1.42, 1.07, 0.72 and 0.26 Vt vs. Ag/AgCl). The method has been used for the direct determination of inosine in injections. Recoveries of inosine in urine samples were about 85%. Experimental result proved that the electrode reaction was diffusion-controlled and irreversible.

Biochemical characterization of selenium-containing catalytic antibody as a cytosolic glutathione peroxidase mimic

A selenium-containing catalytic antibody (Se-4A4), prepared by converting reactive serine residues of a monoclonal antibody (4A4) raised against a GSH derivative into selenocysteines, acts as a mimic of cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (cGPX). To clarify the mechanism of action of this catalytic antibody, detailed studies on kinetic behaviour and biological activity were carried out. A rate of acceleration (k(cat)/K-m/k(uncat)) 10(7)-fold that of the uncatalytic reaction is observed. Under similar conditions, the turnover number (k(cat)) of Se-4A4 is 42% of that of the natural rabbit liver cGPX. The Se-4A4 reaction involves a Ping Pong mechanism, which is the same as that of the natural cGPX. The selenocysteine residue is located in the binding site of the antibody and is shown to be crucial for this activity. Of the thiol compounds tested, only GSH is able to serve as substrate for Se-4A4. It was demonstrated, using the free-radical-damage system (hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase) of cardiac mitochondria, that Se-4A4 can protect mitochondria from free-radical damage at least 10(4)-fold more effectively than the natural cGPX.