Cysteic Acid Research Articles

Marked elevation in homocysteine and homocysteine sulfinic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid of lymphoma patients receiving intensive treatment with methotrexate

Interference of methotrexate (MTX) with the metabolism of homocysteine may contribute to MTX neurotoxicity. In this pilot study we measured the concentration of homocysteine and related metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma undergoing intensive treatment with MTX. CSF samples from lymphoma patients (n = 4) were drawn at the end of high-dose MTX infusions (3-5 g/m2/24 h, HDMTX) and one day after intraventricular injections of MTX (3 mg, ICVMTX) or cytarabine (30 mg) and analyzed for homocysteine, cysteine, sulfur-containing excitatory amino acids (cysteine sulfinic acid, cysteic acid, homocysteine sulfinic acid and homocysteic acid), S-adenosylmethionine, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and MTX. The concentration of homocysteine, cysteine and sulfur-containing excitatory amino acids were also measured in the CSF of a reference population not exposed to MTX. The Wilcoxon signed rank-test and the Friedman test were used to compare concentrations of homocysteine and its metabolites at various time-points during chemotherapy. Comparison of patient and control samples were performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Allelic variants of homocysteine metabolism previously shown to influence MTX neurotoxicity (MTHFR c.677C>T, MS c.2756A>G and Tc2 c.776C>G) were also analyzed. After application of HD- and ICVMTX, the CSF homocysteine concentrations in the lymphoma patients were markedly elevated and significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test), whereas 5-methyltetrahydrofolate was depleted. A rapid elevation of homocysteine sulfinic acid, a sulfur-containg amino acid which was not detected in the CSF of the control group, was observed. One patient developed confluent white matter brain changes visible using MRI. This patient had the lowest concentration of S-adenosylmethionine in the CSF and carried two risk alleles for MTX neurotoxicity. In this pilot study, MTX administered either intravenously or intraventricularly, induced marked biochemical alterations in the CSF. Whether these changes can be used to predict MTX-induced neurotoxicity at an early stage in treatment needs to be elucidated in larger clinical trials.

Analyzing Sulfur Amino Acids in Selected Feedstuffs Using Least-Squares Nonlinear Regression

Five feedstuffs were oxidized using performic acid, and these, along with their unoxidized counterparts, were acid hydrolyzed for multiple times (0-144 h) in degassed and vacuum-sealed glass tubes. The methionine sulfone, cysteic acid, methionine, and cysteine contents were determined for each hydrolysis time. Least-squares nonlinear regression of the sulfur amino acid contents and hydrolysis time was used to predict the actual sulfur amino acid content as well as the hydrolysis and loss rates. Least-squares nonlinear regression estimates for methionine content compared well with those of methionine sulfone for most of the feedstuffs tested. In contrast, the estimates for cysteine agreed poorly with cysteic acid. The loss rates during acid hydrolysis for methionine, methionine sulfone, and cysteic acid were low. Overall, acid hydrolysis in an evacuated sealed tube for 24 h without prior oxidation is suitable for methionine, but not cysteine, quantitation in some complex feedstuffs.

Voltammetric Determination of Sinomenine at Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified by Cysteic Acid based on Electrochemical Oxidation of L-cysteine

Voltammetric Determination of Sinomenine at Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified by Cysteic Acid based on Electrochemical Oxidation of L-cysteine

Radiolabeled Divalent Peptidomimetic Vitronectin Receptor Antagonists as Potential Tumor Radiotherapeutic and Imaging Agents

The integrin receptor alphavbeta3 is overexpressed on the endothelial cells of growing tumors and on some tumor cells themselves. A radiolabeled alphavbeta3 antagonists belonging to the quinolin-4-one class of peptidomimetics (TA138) was previously shown to exhibit high affinity for integrin alphavbeta3 and high selectivity versus other integrin receptors. 111In-TA138 exhibited high tumor uptake in the c-neu Oncomouse mammary adenocarcinoma model and produced excellent scintigraphic images. This study describes the synthesis of eight divalent versions of TA138 and their evaluation as potential tumor radiotherapeutic agents. The two main variables in this study were the length of the spacer bridging the biotargeting moieties and the total negative charge of the molecules imparted by the cysteic acid pharmacokinetic modifiers. Receptor affinity was evaluated in a panel of integrin receptor affinity assays, and biodistribution studies using the 111In-labeled derivatives were carried out in the c-neu Oncomouse model. All divalent agents maintained the high receptor affinity and selectivity of TA138, and six of the eight 111In derivatives exhibited blood clearance that was faster than 111In-TA138 at 24 h postinjection (PI). All divalent agents exhibited tumor uptake and retention at 24 h PI that was higher than 111In-TA138. Tumor/organ ratios were improved for most of the divalent agents at 24 h PI in critical nontarget organs marrow, kidney, and liver, with the agents having intermediate-length spacers (29-43 A) showing the largest improvement. As an example, 111In-15 showed tumor uptake of 14.3% ID/g at 24 h PI and tumor/organ ratios as follows: marrow, 3.24; kidney, 7.29; liver, 8.51. A comparison of therapeutic indices for 90Y-TA138 and 177Lu-15 indicate an improved therapeutic index for the divalent agent. The implications for radiotherapeutic applications and the mechanism of this multivalent effect are discussed.

Voltammetric Determination of Dopamine in Human Serum and Urine at a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified by Cysteic Acid Based on Electrochemical Oxidation of L ‐cysteine

The voltammetric behavior of dopamine was studied at a glassy carbon electrode modified by cysteic acid, based on electrochemical oxidation of L ‐cysteine. The modified electrode showed strong electrocatalytic activity towards dopamine and good selectivity. In a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4), the anodic peak current obtain from the differential pulse voltammetry of dopamine was linearly dependent on its concentration in the range of 5×10−9 to 4.0×10−6mol · L−1, with a detection limit of 2×10−9mol · L−1. The low‐cost modified electrode had been applied to the determination of dopamine in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results.

A Proteomics Dissection of Arabidopsis thaliana Vacuoles Isolated from Cell Culture

To better understand the mechanisms governing cellular traffic, storage of various metabolites, and their ultimate degradation, Arabidopsis thaliana vacuole proteomes were established. To this aim, a procedure was developed to prepare highly purified vacuoles from protoplasts isolated from Arabidopsis cell cultures using Ficoll density gradients. Based on the specific activity of the vacuolar marker alpha-mannosidase, the enrichment factor of the vacuoles was estimated at approximately 42-fold with an average yield of 2.1%. Absence of significant contamination by other cellular compartments was validated by Western blot using antibodies raised against specific markers of chloroplasts, mitochondria, plasma membrane, and endoplasmic reticulum. Based on these results, vacuole preparations showed the necessary degree of purity for proteomics study. Therefore, a proteomics approach was developed to identify the protein components present in both the membrane and soluble fractions of the Arabidopsis cell vacuoles. This approach includes the following: (i) a mild oxidation step leading to the transformation of cysteine residues into cysteic acid and methionine to methionine sulfoxide, (ii) an in-solution proteolytic digestion of very hydrophobic proteins, and (iii) a prefractionation of proteins by short migration by SDS-PAGE followed by analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. This procedure allowed the identification of more than 650 proteins, two-thirds of which copurify with the membrane hydrophobic fraction and one-third of which copurifies with the soluble fraction. Among the 416 proteins identified from the membrane fraction, 195 were considered integral membrane proteins based on the presence of one or more predicted transmembrane domains, and 110 transporters and related proteins were identified (91 putative transporters and 19 proteins related to the V-ATPase pump). With regard to function, about 20% of the proteins identified were known previously to be associated with vacuolar activities. The proteins identified are involved in ion and metabolite transport (26%), stress response (9%), signal transduction (7%), and metabolism (6%) or have been described to be involved in typical vacuolar activities, such as protein and sugar hydrolysis. The subcellular localization of several putative vacuolar proteins was confirmed by transient expression of green fluorescent protein fusion constructs.

STUDIES ON WOOLLEN THREADS FROM HISTORICAL TAPESTRIES

Abstract Fourier transform (FTIR) attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and second derivative spectroscopy has been used for the first time to evaluate the state of degradation in historical woollen threads from the collections of Flemish tapestries (15th-17th centuries) in the Royal Palace, Madrid, Hampton Court Palace, and museums in Brussels. The work was performed as part of the EC-funded project ‘Monitoring of Damage in Historic Tapestries’, also known as the MODHT project [1]. The overall aim was to develop procedures for recognising tapestries at risk and provide analysis for informing collection care. Prior to the testing of the historical threads, model tapestries were prepared according to traditional techniques of weaving and dyeing. They were then subjected to accelerated light ageing. This paper reports on the part of the MODHT project in which ATR-FTIR was used. It was selected since it is a non-destructive method, and also because it has previously been used to study the oxidation products of cystine in wool and to provide a semi-quantitative assessment of change [2]. Evaluation was conducted on the model tapestries, and the cysteic acid peak was selected as the marker for change, as it showed a systematic change with light ageing. The same marker was used to assess the change in historical threads.

Active Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Is Associated with Massive Oxidation of Plasma Albumin

The basic mechanism for idiopathic FSGS still is obscure. Indirect evidence in humans and generation of FSGS by oxidants in experimental models suggest a role of free radicals. In vitro studies demonstrate a main role of plasma albumin as antioxidant, its modification representing a chemical marker of oxidative stress. With the use of complementary liquid chromatography electron spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and biochemical methods, plasma albumin was characterized in 34 patients with FSGS; 18 had received a renal transplant, and 17 had IgM mesangial deposition. Patients with FSGS that was in remission or without recurrence after transplantation had normal plasma albumin, and the same occurred in patients with primary and secondary nephrites and with chronic renal failure. In contrast, patients with active FSGS or with posttransplantation recurrence had oxidized plasma albumin. This finding was based on the characterization of albumin Cys 34 with an mass-to-charge ratio of 511.71 in triple charge that was consistent with the formation of a cysteic acid carrying a sulfonic group (alb-SO(3)(-)). The exact mass of albumin was increased accordingly (+48 Da) for incorporation of three oxygen radicals. Direct titration of the free sulfhydryl group 34 of plasma albumin and electrophoretic titration curves confirmed loss of free sulfhydryl group and formation of a fast-moving isoform in all cases with disease activity. This is the first demonstration of in vivo plasma albumin oxidation that was obtained with an adequate structural approach. Albumin oxidation seems to be specific for FSGS, suggesting some pathogenetic implications. Free radical involvement in FSGS may lead to specific therapeutic interventions.

H2O2-induced Kinetic and Chemical Modifications of Smooth Muscle Myosin: CORRELATION TO EFFECTS OF H2O2 ON AIRWAY SMOOTH MUSCLE

The effect of H(2)O(2) on smooth muscle heavy meromyosin (HMM) and subfragment 1 (S1) was examined. The number of molecules that retained the ability to bind ATP and the actinactivated rate of P(i) release were measured by single-turnover kinetics. H(2)O(2) treatment caused a decrease in HMM regulation from 800- to 27-fold. For unphosphorylated and phosphorylated heavy meromyosin and for S1, approximately 50% of the molecules lost the ability to bind to ATP. H(2)O(2) treatment in the presence of EDTA protected against ATPase inactivation and against the loss of total ATP binding. Inactivation of S1 versus time correlated to a loss of reactive thiols. Treatment of H(2)O(2)-inactivated phosphorylated HMM or S1 with dithiothreitol partially reactivated the ATPase but had no effect on total ATP binding. H(2)O(2)-inactivated S1 contained a prominent cross-link between the N-terminal 65-kDa and C-terminal 26-kDa heavy chain regions. Mass spectral studies revealed that at least seven thiols in the heavy chain and the essential light chain were oxidized to cysteic acid. In thiophosphorylated porcine tracheal muscle strips at pCa 9 + 2.1 mM ATP, H(2)O(2) caused a approximately 50% decrease in the amplitude but did not alter the rate of force generation, suggesting that H(2)O(2) directly affects the force generating complex. Dithiothreitol treatment reversed the H(2)O(2) inhibition of the maximal force by approximately 50%. These data, when compared with the in vitro kinetic data, are consistent with a H(2)O(2)-induced loss of functional myosin heads in the muscle.

Structural Basis of Peroxide-mediated Changes in Human Hemoglobin: A NOVEL OXIDATIVE PATHWAY

Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) triggers a redox cycle between ferric and ferryl hemoglobin (Hb) leading to the formation of a transient protein radical and a covalent hemeprotein cross-link. Addition of H(2)O(2) to highly purified human hemoglobin (HbA(0)) induced structural changes that primarily resided within beta subunits followed by the internalization of the heme moiety within alpha subunits. These modifications were observed when an equal molar concentration of H(2)O(2) was added to HbA(0) yet became more abundant with greater concentrations of H(2)O(2). Mass spectrometric and amino acid analysis revealed for the first time that betaCys-93 and betaCys-112 were oxidized extensively and irreversibly to cysteic acid when HbA(0) was treated with H(2)O(2). Oxidation of further amino acids in HbA(0) exclusive to the beta-globin chain included modification of betaTrp-15 to oxyindolyl and kynureninyl products as well as betaMet-55 to methionine sulfoxide. These findings may therefore explain the premature collapse of the beta subunits as a result of the H(2)O(2) attack. Analysis of a tryptic digest of the main reversed phase-high pressure liquid chromatography fraction revealed two alpha-peptide fragments (alpha128-alpha139) and a heme moiety with the loss of iron, cross-linked between alphaSer-138 and the porphyrin ring. The novel oxidative pathway of HbA(0) modification detailed here may explain the diverse oxidative, toxic, and potentially immunogenic effects associated with the release of hemoglobin from red blood cells during hemolytic diseases and/or when cell-free Hb is used as a blood substitute.

Voltammetric Determination of Meloxicam in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Human Serum at Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified by Cysteic Acid Formed by Electrochemical Oxidation of L-cysteine

The improvement of electrochemical detection of meloxicam is presented bymodification of a glassy carbon electrode with anionic layer of cysteic acid providingelectrostatic accumulation of the analyte onto the electrode surface. The modificationformed by electrochemical oxidation of L-cysteine was performed by cycling potential incysteine solution. The anodic peak current obtained at 1.088 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) byvoltammetry was linearly dependent on the meloxicam concentration in the range of 4.3 ×10-8 ~ 8.5 × 10-6 M in the B-R buffer solution (0.04 M, pH 1.86) with a correlationcoefficient of 0.999. The detection limit (S/N = 3) is 1.5 × 10-9 M. The low-cost modifiedelectrode shows good sensitivity, selectivity and stability and has been applied to thedetermination of meloxicam in pharmaceutical formulation and spiked serum withsatisfactory results. The electrochemical reaction mechanism of meloxicam was discussed.

Kinetics and Mechanisms of Chlorine Dioxide and Chlorite Oxidations of Cysteine and Glutathione

Chlorine dioxide oxidation of cysteine (CSH) is investigated under pseudo-first-order conditions (with excess CSH) in buffered aqueous solutions, p[H+] 2.7-9.5 at 25.0 degrees C. The rates of chlorine dioxide decay are first order in both ClO2 and CSH concentrations and increase rapidly as the pH increases. The proposed mechanism is an electron transfer from CS- to ClO2 (1.03 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) with a subsequent rapid reaction of the CS* radical and a second ClO2 to form a cysteinyl-ClO2 adduct (CSOClO). This highly reactive adduct decays via two pathways. In acidic solutions, it hydrolyzes to give CSO(2)H (sulfinic acid) and HOCl, which in turn rapidly react to form CSO3H (cysteic acid) and Cl-. As the pH increases, the (CSOClO) adduct reacts with CS- by a second pathway to form cystine (CSSC) and chlorite ion (ClO2-). The reaction stoichiometry changes from 6 ClO2:5 CSH at low pH to 2 ClO2:10 CSH at high pH. The ClO2 oxidation of glutathione anion (GS-) is also rapid with a second-order rate constant of 1.40 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1). The reaction of ClO2 with CSSC is 7 orders of magnitude slower than the corresponding reaction with cysteinyl anion (CS-) at pH 6.7. Chlorite ion reacts with CSH; however, at p[H+] 6.7, the observed rate of this reaction is slower than the ClO2/CSH reaction by 6 orders of magnitude. Chlorite ion oxidizes CSH while being reduced to HOCl, which in turn reacts rapidly with CSH to form Cl-. The reaction products are CSSC and CSO3H with a pH-dependent distribution similar to the ClO2/CSH system.

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of l-Cysteine by Corey’s reagent

The kinetics of oxidation of l-Cysteine by pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) was studied at 0.1–0.3 mol dm−3 HClO4 in the range 25–40 °C. The reaction exhibits first order dependence with respect to PCC and fractional order in cysteine. The increase in the oxidation rate with acidity suggests the involvement of a protonated chromium(VI) species in the rate-determining step. Cysteic acid is identified as the product of oxidation. A suitable mechanism involving the formation of a complex is proposed. The activation parameters of the rate-determining step are computed using the linear least squares method and the values of E a and ΔS # are found to be 46.0 ± 2.0 KJ mol−1 and −38.0 ± 3.2 JK−1 mol−1 respectively.

Direct Detection of Redox Reactions of Sulfur-containing Compounds on Ferrite Nanoparticle (FP) Surface

Abstract Direct observation of sulfur sites for sulfur-containing compounds (cysteine and its oxidative derivatives) on ferrite nanoparticles (FP) was performed by X-ray adsorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements. XANES spectra of cysteine derivatives conjugated with FP indicated that redox reactions occurred on the FP surface. Cysteine was completely oxidized to cystine and cysteinesulfinic acid and cysteic acid were partially reduced. These studies revealed that the FP surface should possess both an oxidation and reduction reactive center for sulfur-containing functional groups.

Differential pulse voltammetric determination of nimesulide in pharmaceutical formulation and human serum at glassy carbon electrode modified by cysteic acid/CNTs based on electrochemical oxidation of l-cysteine

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and cysteic acid based on electrochemical oxidation of l-cysteine (CySH) to form a novel composite thin film material at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for electroanalytical determination of nimesulide. The determination of nimesulide at the composite modified electrode with strong accumulation of nimesulide was studied by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The peak current obtained at +1.251 V (versus SCE) from DPV was linearly dependent on the nimesulide concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10 −7–1.0 × 10 −5 M in 0.05 M H 2SO 4 solution with a correlation coefficient of 0.997. The detection limit (S/N = 3) was found to be 5.0 × 10 −8 M. The low-cost modified electrode showed good sensitivity, selectivity, stability and had been applied to the determination of nimesulide in pharmaceutical formulation and human serum samples with satisfactory results.

Damage to Human Hair Caused by Repeated Bleaching Combined with Daily Weathering during Daily Life Activities

Background: Although it is well known that chemical oxidation with alkaline hydrogen peroxide damages human hair, little is known about the effects of bleaching during daily life activities which may alter hair components. Objective: To determine the effects of bleaching combined with daily weathering on lipids and amino acids in hair. Methods: Levels of lipids and amino acids were analyzed by chromatography in scalp hair fibers collected from three different females and in experimentally treated hair. Results: Bleaching combined with daily weathering induced the loss of 18-methyleicosanoic acid (18-MEA) and the conversion of half-cystine (H-CYS) to cysteic acid (CYS-A), which were the most remarkable changes among all lipids and amino acids tested. Although a single bleaching had no effect, repeated bleaching combined with daily weathering elicited significant decreases in other intrinsic endogenous lipids and alterations in amino acids that are characteristic for the cuticle. Conclusion: Hair damage, eventually leading to the worst damage such as splitting, is caused by bleaching during daily life activities and is mainly attributable to the loss of 18-MEA as well as the conversion of H-CYS to CYS-A.

Homocysteine and other structurally-diverse amino thiols can alter pancreatic beta cell function without evoking cellular damage

Homocysteine and related amino thiols, homocysteic acid, cysteic acid, homocysteine sulphinic acid and cysteine sulphinic acid have been labelled as neurotoxins. Homocysteine thiolactone, a metabolic derivative of homocysteine, is cytotoxic to endothelial cells and other cell lineages. Since pancreatic beta cells share many phenotypic similarities with neuronal cells, the present study uses clonal pancreatic BRIN-BD11 cells to investigate possible detrimental effects of these amino thiols on insulin secretion and pancreatic beta cell function. Insulin secretion was concentration-dependently inhibited at both basal (1.1 mM) and stimulatory (16.7 mM) glucose by homocysteine, homocysteine thiolactone and homocysteine sulphinic acid. Cysteic acid concentration-dependently inhibited insulin secretion at 16.7 mM glucose. Cell viability was not compromised by any of the amino thiols. Insulin secretory responses to alanine were inhibited by homocysteine, homocysteine thiolactone, homocysteic acid and cysteic acid. Insulin secretion in the presence of elevated Ca 2+ and forskolin were lowered by all amino thiols, except homocysteic acid. The secretory responsiveness to PMA, GLP-1 and KCl were only impaired in the presence of homocysteine and homocysteine thiolactone. These findings indicate that homocysteine, homocysteine thiolactone and, to a lesser extent, other amino thiols cause dysfunctional insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells.

Analysis of structural changes in bleached keratin fibers (black and white human hair) using Raman spectroscopy

To investigate the influence of bleaching treatments on keratin fibers, the structure of cross-sections at various depths of bleached human hair (black and white human hair) was directly analyzed without isolating the cuticle and cortex, using Raman spectroscopy. The S-S band intensity existing from the cuticle region to the center of cortex region of virgin white human hair decreased, while the S-O band intensity at 1040 cm(-1), assigned to cysteic acid, increased by performing the bleaching treatment. Especially, the S-O band intensity of the cuticle region increased remarkably compared with that of the cortex region. Also, the amide III (unordered) band intensity in the cortex region increased, indicating that some of the proteins existing throughout the cortex region changed to the random coil form. Moreover, it has been found that the S-S band intensity existing from the cuticle region to the center of the cortex region of the virgin black human hair decreased remarkably, while the S-O band intensity increased significantly compared with that of the virgin white human hair by performing the bleaching treatment. From these experiments, we concluded that the melanin granules including metal ions act as a decomposition accelerator for the oxidizing agent, thereby leading to a higher level of disulfide (-SS-) group cleavage in the black human hair compared with that of the white human hair.

Study on the intercalation and interlayer oxidation transformation of l-cysteine in a confined region of layered double hydroxides

Two kinds of amino acids (L-cysteine and L-cystine, represented as L-CySH and L-Cys respectively) have been intercalated into MgAl layered double hydroxides by coprecipitation. The structure and composition of the intercalated materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and elemental analysis. Furthermore, the oxidation of L-CySH intercalated LDHs by, respectively, hydrogen peroxide and bromine has been studied. Based on the FT-Raman, FT-IR, and 13C MAS NMR spectra data, it has been found that H2O2 oxidized the interlayer L-CySH to cystine, while the oxidation product of intercalated L-CySH by Br2 was cysteic acid regardless of the bromine/cysteine ratio, which is different from the bulk reaction. Therefore, this layered material may have prospective application as the basis of a novel “molecular reactor” for confined chemical reactions.

High efficiency micellar electrokinetic chromatography of hydrophobic analytes on poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchips

This paper describes a simple method for the effective and rapid separation of hydrophobic molecules on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices using Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography (MEKC). For these separations the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) served two critical roles - it provided a dynamic coating on the channel wall surfaces and formed a pseudo-stationary chromatographic phase. The SDS coating generated an EOF of 7.1 x 10(-4) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) (1.6% relative standard deviation (RSD), n = 5), and eliminated the absorption of Rhodamine B into the bulk PDMS. High efficiency separations of Rhodamine B, TAMRA (6-carboxytetramethylrhodamine, succinimidyl ester) labeled amino acids (AA), BODIPY FL CASE (N-(4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-propionyl)cysteic acid, succinimidyl ester) labeled AA's, and AlexaFluor 488 labeled Escherichia coli bacterial homogenates on PDMS chips were performed using this method. Separations of Rhodamine B and TAMRA labeled AA's using 25 mM SDS, 20% acetonitrile, and 10 mM sodium tetraborate generated efficiencies > 100,000 plates (N) or 3.3 x 10(6) N m(-1) in <25 s with run-to-run migration time reproducibilities <1% RSD over 3 h. Microchips with 30 cm long serpentine separation channels were used to separate 17 BODIPY FL CASE labeled AA's yielding efficiencies of up to 837,000 plates or 3.0 x 10(6) N m(-1). Homogenates of E. coli yielded approximately 30 resolved peaks with separation efficiencies of up to 600,000 plates or 2.4 x 10(6) N m(-1) and run-to-run migration time reproducibilities of <1% RSD over 3 h.