Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2004-03-01

Determination of the absolute configuration of selenomethionine from antarctic krill by RP-HPLC/ICP-MS using chiral derivatization agents.

Jan Bergmann, Stephan Lassen, Andreas Prange

Index: Anal. Bioanal. Chem 378(6) , 1624-9, (2004)

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Abstract

A fast and sensitive method was developed for the determination of the absolute configuration of selenomethionine. The enantiomers of selenomethionine were converted into diastereomeric isoindole derivatives by reaction with o-phthaldialdehyde and N-isobutyryl-L-cysteine. This easy-to-handle reaction proceeds quantitatively in a few minutes at room temperature. Separation and detection of the diastereomers was achieved by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ICP-MS) using a conventional C18 reversed-phase column. Detection limits of about 4 microg L(-1) were obtained. The method was applied to the determination of the configuration of selenomethionine extracted from antarctic krill, which turned out to possess the L-configuration.