PRECOLUMN FLUORESCENCE DERIVATIZATION OF THE ANTAGONIST [ARG(6),D-TRP(7.9),MEPHE(8)]-SUBSTANCE P(6-11) WITH BENZOIN IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY AND SELECTIVE DETECTION OF ARGININE-CONTAINING FRAGMENTS IN ITS DEGRADATION PRODUCTS

Precolumn fluorescence derivatization for the determination of the ant agonist [Arg(6),D-Trp(7,9),MePhe(8)]-Substance P{6-11} (antagonist G) using benzoin in HPLC was studied. Under the conditions chosen (0.067 M NaOH, heating at 100 degrees C for 10 s), a good yield of fluorescen t derivatives was obtained and no methodology-related degradation occu rred. The detection limit of antagonist G was 0.21 nmol/ml. The method has been applied to the selective and sensitive detection of arginine -containing fragments in degradation products of antagonist G.