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Liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) offers highly selective and sensitive analysis of a wide variety of compounds. However, the use of hyphenated experimental set-ups implies that many parameters may have an effect on the studied response. Therefore, in order to determine optimized experimental conditions it is of vital importance to incorporate systematic procedures during method development. In this thesis, a generic stepwise optimization strategy is proposed that aims at high chromatographic quality, as well as high mass spectrometric response. The procedure comprises (i) screening experiments to identify the most important parameters, (ii) LC studies to ensure sufficient chromatographic separation, (iii) extended infusion experiments in order to maximize precursor signal(s), and in the case of tandem MS (iv) extended infusion experiments to determine optimal conditions for collision induced dissociation and when applicable also ion trap settings. Experimental design and response surface methodology is used throughout the procedure.

Further, the general applicability of LC-MS is demonstrated in this thesis. Specifically, a novel quantitative column-switched LC-MS method for ferrichrome, ferrichrysin and ferricrocin determination is presented. Using the method it was shown how the siderophore content varies with depth in podzolic soil profiles in the north and south of Sweden. The parallel approach using LC coupled to both inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry, and electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem MS is also evaluated as a tool to identify unknown siderophores in a sample. Additionally, different trypsin digestion schemes used for LC-ESI-MS peptide mapping were compared. By multivariate data analysis, it was clearly shown that the procedures tested induce differences that are detectable using LC-ESI-MS. Finally, the glutathione S-transferase catalyzed bioactivation of the prodrug azathioprine was verified using LC-MS.

A screening method was developed for identification of catalytically active enzymes in combinatorial cDNA libraries of mutated glutathione transferase (GST) derivatives expressed in E. coli. The method is based on spraying monochlorobimane (MCB) directly over bacterial colonies growing on agar. The substrate MCB become fluorescent under UV light, when the bacterial colony contains active GSTs catalyzing the conjugation with endogenous glutathione. Eleven out of twelve GSTs investigated where active with MCB. This method can be used to screen libraries generated from most cytosolic GSTs in the search for proteins with altered functions and structures. Azathioprine (Aza), a thiopurine that has been used clinically for 40 years was investigated with 14 GSTs. Three enzymes showed prominent catalytic activities with Aza and all of them are highly expressed in the liver. We estimated the contribution of the three enzymes GSTs A1-1, A2-2 and M1-1 bioactivation of Aza in the liver and concluded that it was about 2 orders of magnitude more effective than the uncatalyzed reaction. GST bioactivation of Aza could clarify aspects of idiosyncratic reactions observed in some individuals. Two other thiopurine prodrugs, cis-acetylvinylthiopurine (cAVTP) and trans-acetylvinylthioguanine (tAVTG), were investigated with the same 14 GSTs. The results displayed diverse catalytic activities. A mechanism of consecutive reactions was proposed. The studies contribute to knowledge under what conditions the drug should optimally be administered. A study of the same prodrugs with several mutants from the Mu class characterized by a point mutation of a hypervarible residue. We conclude that the effects of the mutations were qualitatively parallel for cAVTP and tAVTG, but they vary significantly in magnitude; steric hindrance may interfere with transition-state stabilization. From the evolutionary perspective the data show that a point mutation can alternatively enhance or attenuate the activity with a particular substrate and illustrate the functional plasticity of GSTs.