title: Chiral MEKC-LIF of amino acids in foods: analysis of vinegars.
abstract: The formation of D-amino acids (D-aa's) in many fermented foods depends, among other factors, on the particular fermentation conditions, the action and autolysis of the microorganisms involved. In this sense, the analysis of chiral amino acids is an interesting analytical strategy for food scientists, since these compounds can be used as bacterial markers and can help, e.g., to detect adulterations, microbiological contaminations, etc. In this work, a fast and sensitive method based on MEKC-LIF has been developed to analyze and quantitate L-amino acid (L-aa) and D-aa in vinegars. The chiral MEKC-LIF procedure uses 100 mM sodium tetraborate, 30 mM SDS, and 20 mM beta-CD at pH 9.7 as running buffer, obtaining a good separation of the main vinegar L-/D-aa previously derivatized with fluorescein isothiocianate. Namely, L/D proline, alanine, arginine, glutamic, and aspartic acid, plus the nonchiral amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid are separated in less than 20 min with high efficiency (up to 720,000 plates/m) and good sensitivity (LODs lower than 16.6 nM were achieved). Several D-aa's were detected and quantified in balsamic, sherry, white wine, and cider vinegars using this MEKC-LIF procedure, observing interesting differences in their L-aa and D-aa profiles and contents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Analysis, Institute of Industrial Fermentations (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Davinia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carlavilla
authors.forename: M Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Moreno-Arribas
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanali
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D001881:Borates / Q000737:chemistry; D020374:Chromatography, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D005504:Food Analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007834:Lasers; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001881:Borates; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; C010634:sodium borate; D019342:Acetic Acid