A simple HPLC method for analysing diaminopimelic acid diastereomers in cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria.

J McKerrow, S Vagg, T McKinney, E M Seviour, A M Maszenan, P Brooks, R J Seviour

Index: Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 30 , 178-182, (2000)

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Abstract

A simple and sensitive method for separating and detecting the LL, DD and meso diastereomers of the dibasic amino acid diaminopimelic acid (DAP) in the peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria is described. This method is based on reverse phase HPLC separation of chiral derivatives of DAP followed by fluorescence detection of the o-phthaldehyde derivatives. Its application to the analyses of cell walls of several Gram-positive bacteria is described, where 10 mg or less of dry cells is required.