The Column-02-22-2016

The characterization of transcripts, proteins, peptides, and metabolites in cells is important to study disease mechanisms and develop novel therapeutics. Peter Nemes - from the George Washington University, Washington, USA - spoke to The Column about the important role of capillary electrophoresis–electrospray ionization (CE–ESI) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) in this area of research.

Incognito offers some advice that is not to be taken lightly!

Laboratories focusing on ensuring the safety and quality of infant formulas and adult nutritionals require cost effective, rigorous, international consensus methods to address gaps in current approaches. To meet this need, the AOAC International formed its Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN). This article describes the performance of the AOAC Official First Action Method (AOAC Method 2012.20) chosen by SPIFAN, which uses microwave-assisted hydrolysis sample preparation followed by ion chromatography (IC) separation with suppressed conductivity detection for the determination of the SPIFAN priority nutrient choline.

Aflatoxins are poisonous and carcinogenic chemicals that occur in nature in soil, hay, and grains. When contaminated food is processed, aflatoxins can enter the general food supply chain and can be dangerous for humans and animals. Time- and cost-efficient analytical methods can ensure food safety. Compared to conventional manual methods the use of “supercritical” CO2 for supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as well as chromatographic separation (supercritical fluid chromatography [SFC]) of aflatoxins offers a more efficient process while reducing solvent consumption.

The powerful characteristics of gas chromatography (GC) with VUV (vacuum ultraviolet) detection for the analysis of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are described.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health conducted a study into the drug use habits of nightclubbers and arrested criminals in Oslo, Norway. The study used UHPLC–MS–MS to analyze the drug-use profiles of nightclubbers and criminals arrested while under the influence of drugs to develop an understanding of drug use patterns in these groups.

Sciex has announced it is teaming up with the Children’s Medical Research Institute to help equip The Australian Cancer Research Foundation International Centre for the Proteome of Cancer facility with tools to advance its large‑scale proteomic profiling studies.

Research into honeybee venom is being performed to identify active proteins acting as allergens and toxins. Researchers combined LC–MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS–MS, LC–ESI-QTOF-MS–MS, and a combinatorial peptide ligand library enrichment method to detect 269 proteins.

Click the title above to open The Column February 22, 2016 Europe & Asia issue, Volume 12, Number 3, in an interactive PDF format.

Click the title above to open The Column February 22 2016 North American issue, Volume 12, Number 3, in an interactive PDF format.