Separation of siderophores by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was applied as a fast method of siderophore separation. Siderophores are iron binding and regulating cell products, whi ch facilitate iron transport into cells. A fast and Efficient method of sid erophore analysis is important for better understanding of the iron pathway s in a sea environment or marine organisms. The best results of CE analysis were obtained using free zone CE in 25 mM phosphate buffer at basic pH usi ng a constant voltage of 20 kV. Under these conditions it was possible to d etect the presence of siderophores in seawater. (C) 1999 Published by Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.