Abstract
Single-compound analysis of stable or radio-isotopes has found application in a number of fields ranging from archaeology to forensics. Often, the most difficult part of these analyses is the development of a method for isolating the compounds of interest.
Here, we describe three complementary preparative HPLC procedures suitable for separating and isolating single amino acids from bone collagen or hair keratin with minimal isotopic contamination. Using preparative reversed-phase, ion-pair, or mixed-mode chromatography of underivatized amino acids in aqueous mobile phases, single amino acids can be isolated and further analyzed using mass spectrometric techniques.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (INT-0202648). Assistance with isotopic measurements and analysis by personnel from the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, particularly Robert Hedges, Angela Bowles, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Michael Dee, Peter Ditchfield, and Tom Higham, is gratefully acknowledged.
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Tripp, J.A., McCullagh, J.S.O. (2012). Preparative HPLC Separation of Underivatized Amino Acids for Isotopic Analysis. In: Alterman, M., Hunziker, P. (eds) Amino Acid Analysis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 828. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-445-2_27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-445-2_27
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Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
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