Capillary electrophoresis and phenylboronic acid solid phase extraction for the determination of S ‐adenosylmethionine/ S ‐adenosylhomocysteine ratio in human urine

An approach that allows direct analysis of the ratio of S ‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S ‐adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) by using CE is presented. The analytes were extracted on phenylboronic acid phase and eluted with 100 mmol/L HCl. CE separation of the analytes took place in the transient isotachophoresis mode with addition of NaCl and meglumine to the samples. The sensitivity ( S / N = 3) and quantification limit ( S / N = 10) of the method were 0.07 and 0.2 μmol/L, respectively, using a silica capillary with 50 μm internal diameter and 30.5 cm total length. The BGE was 0.02 mol/L Tris with 1 mol/L HCOOH (pH 2.2), and the separation voltage was 15–17 kV. Accuracy of SAM and SAH analysis in urine was 96 and 105%, respectively; interday precision for the SAM/SAH ratio was within 6%. The theoretical plate number exceeded a million. Total analysis time was 8.5 min.