Mass spectrometry is a versatile, sensitive and fast technique with which to probe biophysical properties in biological systems and one of the most important analytical tools in the multidisciplinary field of proteomics. The study of nativestate proteins and their complexes in the gas-phase is well established and direct infusion electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (DI-ESI-MS) techniques are becoming increasingly popular as a tool for screening and determining quantitative information on protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions. However, complexes retained by ESI-MS are not always representative of those in solution and care must be taken in interpreting purely gas-phase results. This thesis details modification and advancement of solution phase techniques devised by Gross et al. utilising ESI-MS and Fitzgerald et al. applying matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI)-MS termed PLIMSTEX (protein-ligand interactions by mass spectrometry, titration and hydrogen-deuterium-exchange)[1] and SUPREX (Stability of unpurified proteins from rates of H/D exchange)[2] to quantify these interactions with regards to high throughput analysis. The first part of this thesis describes the different developmental stages of the devised HPLC-front ends and their optimisation with myoglobin and insulin. The successfully developed HPLC-front end in conjunction with PLIMSTEX and SUPREX and ESI-MS then gets tested with self expressed and purified cyclophilin A(CypA)- cyclosporin A (CsA) system, followed by a test screen with potential CypA binding ligands. Dissociation constants (Kd’s) within one order of magnitude to reported values are determined. In the third part of this thesis the application of the devised ESI-SUPREX methodology has been applied to anterior gradient 2 (AGr2) and the factor H complement control proteins module 19-20 (fH19-20) exhibiting binding potential to a taggedhexapeptide and a synthetic pentasaccharide, respectively, resulting in thermodynamical data for these protein-ligand interactions. For the AGr2 system another dimension of investigation has been added by temperature controlling the devised ESI-SUPREX approach, revealing a phase transition in the protein at higher temperatures. The final part of this thesis describes the application of the ESI-SUPREX methodology to probe folding properties of CypA in the presence of the self expressed and purified E. coli chaperonin groEL. Thereby the denaturing properties of groEL have been emphasised along with the stabilisation of a denatured CypA species.

no / Surfactants are commonly used as cleansing agents and yet there are concerns they may also have a role in skin irritation. Presently, the lack of suitable methods for quantitative and qualitative analysis of surfactant deposition on skin has hindered the in-depth investigation of such effects. Here, we report the application of reverse phase liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) assays for two surfactants commonly used in consumer products, namely sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) and laurylamidopropyl betaine (LAPB), to a baseline study aiming to assess deposition levels on human skin. The linearity of the assays was established at 3-20 ng, with coefficient of variation below 5%. Detection limits were 100 pg for LAPB and 1 ng for SLES; quantitation limits were 500 pg for LAPB and 2.5 ng for SLES. The baseline study was conducted using a panel of 40 healthy volunteers. Skin extract samples were taken in triplicate from forearms, using ethanol. SLES was detected on most volunteers, with 75% of them having SLES deposits in the range of 100-600 ng/cm2. LAPB was detected on the skin of all volunteers with 85% of them having deposit levels within the concentration range of 1-100 ng/cm2. These results demonstrate the extent to which commonly used surfactants remain on the skin during the day. The analytical methods reported here can be applied to the investigation of surfactants in relation to general skin condition and the development and optimisation of new consumer wash products. / EPSRC

no / Surfactants are commonly used as cleansing agents and yet there are concerns that they may also have a role in skin irritation. The lack of suitable methods for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of surfactant deposition on skin has hindered the in-depth investigation of such effects. Here, we report the application of reversed-phase liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) assays for two surfactants commonly used in consumer products, namely sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) and laurylamidopropyl betaine (LAPB), to a baseline study aiming to assess deposition levels on human skin. The linearity of the assays was established at 3-20 ng, with coefficient of variation below 5%. The detection limits were 100 pg for LAPB and 1 ng for SLES; quantitation limits were 500 pg for LAPB and 2.5 ng for SLES. The baseline study was conducted using a panel of 40 healthy volunteers. Skin extract samples were taken in triplicate from forearms, using ethanol. SLES was detected on most volunteers, with 75% of them having SLES deposits in the range of 100-600 ng/cm(2). LAPB was detected on the skin of all volunteers with 85% of them having deposit levels within the concentration range of 1-100 ng/cm(2). These results demonstrate the extent to which commonly used surfactants remain on the skin during the day. The analytical methods reported here can be applied to the investigation of surfactants in relation to general skin condition and to the development and optimisation of new consumer wash products. / EPSRC-DTA award / School Life Sciences

<p>Advances in life science require knowledge of active molecules in complex biological systems. These molecules are often only present for a certain time and at limited concentrations. Integrated micro-analytical tools for sampling, separation and mass spectrometric (MS) detection would meet these requests and are therefore continuously gaining interest. An on-line coupling of analytical functions provides shorter analysis time and less manual sample handling. In this thesis, improved compatibility of microdialysis sampling and multidimensional separations coupled to MS detection are developed and discussed.</p><p>Microdialysis was used <i>in vitro</i> for determination of the non-protein bound fraction of the drug ropivacaine. The sampling unit was coupled on-line to capillary column liquid chromatography (LC) followed by ultraviolet or MS detection. For MS detection, the system was extended with a desalting step and an addition of internal standard. A method for MS screening of microdialysates, collected <i>in vivo,</i> was also developed. The method involved sampling and measurements of the chemical pattern of molecules that generally are ignored in clinical investigations. Chemometric tools were used to extract the relevant information and to compare samples from stimulated and control tissues.</p><p>Complex samples often require separation in more than one dimension. On-line interfaces for sample transfer between LC and capillary electrophoresis (CE) were developed in soft poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). MS detection in the LC-CE system was optimised on frequent sampling of the CE peak or on high resolution in mass spectra using time-of-flight (TOF)MS or Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)MS, respectively. Aspects on electrode positioning in the LC-CE interface led to development of an on-column CE electrode. A successful method for deactivation of the PDMS surface using a polyamine polymer was also developed. The systems were evaluated using peptides and proteins, molecules that are gaining increased attention in bioscience, and consequently also in chemical analysis. </p>

Advances in life science require knowledge of active molecules in complex biological systems. These molecules are often only present for a certain time and at limited concentrations. Integrated micro-analytical tools for sampling, separation and mass spectrometric (MS) detection would meet these requests and are therefore continuously gaining interest. An on-line coupling of analytical functions provides shorter analysis time and less manual sample handling. In this thesis, improved compatibility of microdialysis sampling and multidimensional separations coupled to MS detection are developed and discussed. Microdialysis was used in vitro for determination of the non-protein bound fraction of the drug ropivacaine. The sampling unit was coupled on-line to capillary column liquid chromatography (LC) followed by ultraviolet or MS detection. For MS detection, the system was extended with a desalting step and an addition of internal standard. A method for MS screening of microdialysates, collected in vivo, was also developed. The method involved sampling and measurements of the chemical pattern of molecules that generally are ignored in clinical investigations. Chemometric tools were used to extract the relevant information and to compare samples from stimulated and control tissues. Complex samples often require separation in more than one dimension. On-line interfaces for sample transfer between LC and capillary electrophoresis (CE) were developed in soft poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). MS detection in the LC-CE system was optimised on frequent sampling of the CE peak or on high resolution in mass spectra using time-of-flight (TOF)MS or Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)MS, respectively. Aspects on electrode positioning in the LC-CE interface led to development of an on-column CE electrode. A successful method for deactivation of the PDMS surface using a polyamine polymer was also developed. The systems were evaluated using peptides and proteins, molecules that are gaining increased attention in bioscience, and consequently also in chemical analysis.

no / Bioactive lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and exhibit a range of tissue and cell-specific activities in many physiological and pathological processes. Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography (LC/ESI-MS/MS) is a sensitive, versatile analytical methodology for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of lipid mediators. Here we present an LC/ESI-MS/MS assay for the simultaneous analysis of twenty mono- and poly-hydroxy fatty acid derivatives of linoleic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. The assay was linear over the concentration range 1-100 pg/¿L, whilst the limits of detection and quantitation were 10-20 and 20-50 pg respectively. The recovery of the extraction methodology varied from 76-122% depending on the metabolite. This system is useful for profiling a range of biochemically-related potent mediators including the newly discovered resolvins and protectins, and their precursor hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic and hydroxy-docosahexaenoic acids, and, consequently, advance our understanding of the role of PUFA in health and disease. / Wellcome Trust, British Heart Foundation