HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF BETA-PHENYLETHYLAMINE FOR THE ESTIMATION OF IN-VIVO PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS

A rapid, sensitive, and automated reversed-phase liquid chromatographi c method was developed for the analysis of phenylalanine as beta-pheny lethylamine, for the measurement of in vivo protein synthesis. beta-Ph enylethylamine was derivatized with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) to form a fluorescent derivative that was successfully measured in tissue cell fluids and hydrolysates as the decarboxylation product of phenylalanin e. The system was extremely sensitive enabling the accurate determinat ion of 0.5 pmol in biological samples. Analysis time was less than 11 min, so that 130 samples can be analysed per day. The method eliminate s the need for time-consuming column extraction procedures. This metho d offers substantial advantages over existing methods for the isolatio n and determination of beta-phenylethylamine.