Enhancing Native Fluorescence Detection
in Capillary Electrophoresis

Several important categories of cell to cell signaling molecules are natively fluorescent, including the indolamines such as serotonin and the catecholamines.  We are developing a range of native fluorescence detection schemes that enable the indolamines and catecholamines to be characterized in complex samples; the multichannel capabilities of our instruments improve the identification of analytes based on differences in the fluorescence spectra in addition to migration time, often eliminating the need for sample spiking.   

Because the selectivity of the detector depends on the structural properties of the molecule such as the indole ring, it is straightforward to track the chemical transformations of such compounds even in the presence of thousands of interfering compounds at much higher concentrations because the interfering compounds are often not detected.

CE image

Above: Fluorescence profiles from the “green” (310 – 400 nm) and “blue” (250 – 310 nm) channels in the three-channel CE-LINF system. The green-to-blue ratio (G/B) is indicated for several standard neurotransmitters. Figure adapted from Lapainis et al., Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 387, 2007, 97-105.

Relevant Publications:
T. Lapainis, C. Scanlan, S.S. Rubakhin, J.V. Sweedler, A multichannel native fluorescence detection system for capillary electrophoretic analysis of neurotransmitters in single neurons, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 387, 2007, 97-105.

R.R. Fuller, L.L. Moroz, R. Gillette, J.V. Sweedler, Single neuron analysis by capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence spectroscopy, Neuron 20, 1998, 173-181.

Capillary Electrophoresis