HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY OF AMINO-ACIDS, PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS .133. PEAK TRACKING OF PEPTIDES IN REVERSED-PHASE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A peak tracking algorithm for peptide analysis has been developed based on a normalised spectral overlay method which directly compares the UV spectra of any two chromatographic peaks. Additionally, the algorithm compares the spectrum of each peak in the first chromatogram with the spectra of every peak in the second chromatogram to determine the best cross-match. The sensitivity of the technique was further enhanced by incorporation of the primary and secondary derivative spectra for cross-match normalisation. The utility of the software was demonstrated by its application to the analysis of tryptic digests of porcine growth hormone. Peptide solutes could be identified and tracked in chromatograms generated with various column types, gradient times, mobile phase types and temperatures. These results therefore constitute the initial stages of development of a more robust approach to the optimisation of the resolution, detection and characterisation of peptides and proteins separated by HPLC techniques.