Rapid analysis of low levels of indolyl-3-acryloylglycine in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

There have been several reports of increased levels of excretion of indolyl-3-acryloylglycine (IAcrGly) in human urine in a number of disease states. However, the metabolic source of this compound is still not clear and there is the possibility of more than one mechanism for IAcrGly production. There was therefore a need for a rapid, low limit of quantitation assay for IAcrGly to enable further study in this area. In the assay described here, these analytical requirements were addressed by utilising a solid-phase extraction method for sample clean-up, reversed-phase LC with an on-column focusing method of sample introduction and UV absorbance detection at 326 nm. The limit of quantitation of this method was 26.2 ng ml(-1). It was also noted that IAcrGly undergoes isomerisation when exposed to light and that this process is reversible. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.