1H NMR characterization of the product from single solid-phase resin beads using capillary NMR flow probes.

A capillary NMR flow probe was designed to generate high-resolution (1)H NMR spectra at 600 MHz from the cleaved product of individual 160-microm Tentagel combinatorial chemistry beads. By injecting a dissolved sample sandwiched between an immiscible, perfluorinated organic liquid directly into the probe, NMR spectra of the product cleaved from single beads were acquired in just 1 h of spectrometer time without diffusional dilution. Sample handling efficiency on the single bead scale was comparable to that obtained with a bulk sample. Using the relative intensity of the DMSO-d(5)H versus the analyte signals in a fully relaxed CPMG spectrum, the amount of product cleaved from a single bead was determined to be 540+/-170 pmol in one of the samples. Following the NMR data collection, the samples were examined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to provide additional structural information. By coupling with microliter-volume fluidic capabilities, the capillary flow probe described here will enable multidimensional characterization of single solid-phase resin products in an online manner.

NMR and pattern recognition studies on the time-related metabolic effects of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate on liver, urine, and plasma in the rat: an integrative metabonomic approach.

We present here a novel integrative metabonomic approach to probe toxic effects of drugs in experimental animals using alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) as a model hepatotoxicant. Male Han-Wistar rats were dosed with ANIT (150 mg/kg, n = 25), and plasma and liver samples were collected for NMR and magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy at 3, 7, 24, 31, and 168 h postdosing. Urine was collected continuously for 3 days prior to dosing and up to 168 h postdose. Histopathology and plasma clinical chemistry was also performed at all time points. Liver samples were analyzed either intact by 600 MHz 1H MAS NMR techniques or using high resolution (liquid state) 1H NMR of water-acetonitrile extracts. These data were related to sequential 1H NMR measurements in urine and plasma using pattern recognition methods. 1D 1H NMR spectra were data-reduced and analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA) to show the time-dependent biochemical variations induced by ANIT toxicity. From the eigenvector loadings of the PCA, those regions of the 1H NMR spectra and hence the combinations of endogenous metabolites marking the main phase of the toxic episode were identified. The ANIT-induced biochemical manifestations included a hepatic lipidosis associated with hyperlipidaemia; hyperglycaemia and glycosuria; increased urinary excretion of taurine and creatine; a shift in energy metabolism characterized by increased plasma ketone bodies with reduced urinary excretion of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and raised hepatic bile acids leading to bile aciduria. The integration of metabolic data derived from several sources gives a holistic approach to the study of time-related toxic effects in the intact system and enables the characterization of key metabolic effects during the development and recovery from a toxic lesion.

Metabonomic investigations into hydrazine toxicity in the rat.

The systemic biochemical effects of oral hydrazine administration (dosed at 75, 90, and 120 mg/kg) have been investigated in male Han Wistar rats using metabonomic analysis of (1)H NMR spectra of urine and plasma, conventional clinical chemistry, and liver histopathology. Plasma samples were collected both pre- and 24 h postdose, while urine was collected predose and daily over a 7 day postdose period. (1)H NMR spectra of the biofluids were analyzed visually and via pattern recognition using principal component analysis. The latter showed that there was a dose-dependent biochemical effect of hydrazine treatment on the levels of a range of low molecular weight compounds in urine and plasma, which was correlated with the severity of the hydrazine induced liver lesions. In plasma, increases in the levels of free glycine, alanine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, arginine, tyrosine, citrulline, 3-D-hydroxybutyrate, creatine, histidine, and threonine were observed. Urinary excretion of hippurate, citrate, succinate, 2-oxoglutarate, trimethylamine-N-oxide, fumarate and creatinine were decreased following hydrazine dosing, whereas taurine, creatine, threonine, N-methylnicotinic acid, tyrosine, beta-alanine, citrulline, Nalpha-acetylcitrulline and argininosuccinate excretion was increased. Moreover, the most notable effect was the appearance in urine and plasma of 2-aminoadipate, which has previously been shown to lead to neurological effects in rats. High urinary levels of 2-aminoadipate may explain the hitherto poorly understood neurological effects of hydrazine. Metabonomic analysis of high-resolution (1)H NMR spectra of biofluids has provided a means of monitoring the progression of toxicity and recovery, while also allowing the identification of novel biomarkers of development and regression of the lesion.

Pyridoxal phosphate de-activation by pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid. Increased risk of vitamin B6 deficiency and seizures in hyperprolinemia type II.

We previously identified vitamin B6 deficiency in a child presenting with seizures whose primary diagnosis was the inherited disorder hyperprolinemia type II. This is an unrecognized association, which was not explained by diet or medication. We hypothesized that pyridoxal phosphate (vitamin B6 coenzyme) was de-activated by L-Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid, the major intermediate that accumulates endogenously in hyperprolinemia type II. The proposed interaction has now been investigated in vitro with high resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry at a pH of 7.4 and temperature of 310 K. Three novel adducts were identified. These were the result of a Claisen condensation (or Knoevenagel type of reaction) of the activated C-4 carbon of the pyrroline ring with the aldehyde carbon of pyridoxal phosphate. The structures of the adducts were confirmed by a combination of high performance liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry. This interaction has not been reported before. From preliminary observations, pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid also condenses with other aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and ketones, and this may be a previously unsuspected generic addition reaction. Pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid is thus found to be a unique endogenous vitamin antagonist. Vitamin B6 de-activation may contribute to seizures in hyperprolinemia type II, which are so far unexplained, but they may be preventable with long term vitamin B6 supplementation.

High-resolution magic angle spinning (1)H NMR spectroscopy of intact liver and kidney: optimization of sample preparation procedures and biochemical stability of tissue during spectral acquisition.

High-resolution magic angle spinning (MAS) (1)H NMR spectroscopy has been used to investigate the biochemical composition of whole rat renal cortex and liver tissue samples. The effects of a number of sample preparation procedures and experimental variables have been investigated systematically in order to optimize spectral quality and maximize information recovery. These variables include the effects of changing the sample volume in the MAS rotor, snap-freezing the samples, and the effect of organ perfusion with deuterated saline solution prior to MAS NMR analysis. Also, the overall biochemical stability of liver and kidney tissue MAS NMR spectra was investigated under different temperature conditions. We demonstrate improved resolution and line shape of MAS NMR spectra obtained from small spherical tissue volume (12 microl) rotor inserts compared to 65 microl cylindrical samples directly inserted into the MAS rotors. D(2)O saline perfusion of the in situ afferent vascular tree of the tissue immediately postmortem also improves line shape in MAS NMR spectra. Snap-freezing resulted in increased signal intensities from alpha-amino acids (e.g., valine) in tissue together with decreases in renal osmolytes, such as myo-inositol. A decrease in triglyceride levels was observed in renal cortex following stasis on ice and in the MAS rotor (303 K for 4 h). This work indicates that different tissues have differential metabolic stabilities in (1)H MAS NMR experiments and that careful attention to sample preparation is required to minimize artifacts and maintain spectral quality.

Directly-coupled HPLC-NMR spectroscopic studies of metabolism and futile deacetylation of phenacetin in the rat.

The metabolism and futile deacetylation of phenacetin has been investigated in the rat via 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis of urine. Animals were dosed with either phenacetin or phenacetin-C2H3 and urine samples were collected for -24-0 (pre-dosing), 0-8. 8-24, and 24-48 h post-dosing. Drug metabolites of the two compounds were concentrated from the urine using solid-phase extraction prior to the use of directly-coupled HPLC-1H NMR spectroscopy for separation and identification. Following dosing of phenacetin, the metabolites identified were paracetamol glucuronide, paracetamol and N-hydroxyparacetamol, whilst paracetamol and N-hydroxyparacetamol sulphate were identified following dosing of phenacetin-C2H3. Quantitatively the percentage futile deacetylation of phenacetin-C2H3 metabolites was found to be 32% in both paracetamol and N-hydroxyparacetamol sulphate. This study further indicated the importance of futile deacetylation in simple analgesics and the value of directly-coupled HPLC-NMR spectroscopy for the study of this process.

Impurity profiling in bulk pharmaceutical batches using 19F NMR spectroscopy and distinction between monomeric and dimeric impurities by NMR-based diffusion measurements.

The impurity profile of production batches of fluorine-containing drugs can be characterised efficiently using 19F NMR spectroscopy. This yields the number and proportions of impurities in the bulk drug to a level of approximately equal 0.1 mole% in a few minutes of NMR experiment time. The approach has been exemplified using a partially purified batch of the steroidal product fluticasone propionate, the impurities in which include a number of dimeric species. Further distinction between the monomer and dimer impurities has been achieved through high resolution chemical shift-resolved NMR measurement of molecular diffusion coefficients on the intact mixture using 19F NMR spectroscopy. The ability of NMR-based diffusion coefficient determination to distinguish between monomeric and dimeric substances was validated using a standard mixture of authentic materials containing both monomers and dimers.

Symmetry and phase-selected NMR spectra of liquid crystalline samples.

It is demonstrated that the NMR spectra of liquid crystalline samples can be simplified by using multiple quantum filtering. In a system of N spin-12 nuclei, the N or (N-1)-multiple quantum filtered spectra (NQF or (N-1)QF) contain lines which originate only from transitions among the eigenstates belonging to the highest symmetry class of the spin permutation group. In addition the NQF spectra are divided further into two sets of lines which differ in phase by 180 degrees. A method for simulating and analysing multiple quantum filtered spectra is described, with examples from molecules with up to eight interacting spins.

NMR spectroscopic studies on the metabolism and futile deacetylation of phenacetin in the rat.

1. 1H-NMR spectroscopy of urine was used to determine the % deacetylation and re-acetylation of 2H-labelled (in the acetyl) phenacetin metabolites in the rat. 2. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were each dosed with either phenacetin or phenacetin-C2H3 at 50 mg kg-1. The total urinary recoveries for phenacetin and phenacetin-C2H3 were 47.6 +/- 16.7 and 50.1 +/- 16.2% respectively (not significantly different, p > 0.05). Paracetamol sulphate and glucuronide are the major urinary metabolites of both protio and deuteriophenacetin. 3. The futile deacetylation given by the urinary recovery of protio-acetyl metabolites of phenacetin-C2H3 was 29.6 +/- 0.9% for paracetamol sulphate and 36.6 +/- 3.1% for paracetamol glucuronide. These observations demonstrate a high level of futile deacetylation in the paracetamol conjugates formed by metabolism of phenacetin-C2H3 and this may indicate a high metabolic flux through the nephrotoxic intermediate 4-aminophenol. 4. The level of futile deacetylation for phenacetin was significantly higher than that found previously in studies of labelled paracetamol in rat or man, and may be important in understanding the higher nephrotoxicity of phenacetin as compared with paracetamol.

750 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy characterisation of the complex metabolic pattern of urine from patients with inborn errors of metabolism: 2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria and maple syrup urine disease.

750 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy has been used to characterise in detail the abnormal low molecular weight metabolites of urine from two patients with inborn errors of metabolism. One case of the rare condition 2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria has been examined. There is at present no rapid routine method to detect this genetic defect, although NMR spectroscopy of urine is shown to provide a distinctive pattern of resonances. Assignment of a number of prominent urinary metabolites not normally seen in control urine could be made on the basis of their known NMR spectral parameters including the diagnostic marker 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, which served to confirm the condition. In addition, 750 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy has been used to characterise further the abnormal metabolic profile of urine from a patient with maple syrup urine disease. This abnormality arises from a defect in branched chain keto-acid decarboxylase activity and results in a build up in the urine of high levels of branched chain oxo- and hydroxy-acids resulting from altered metabolism of the branched chain amino acids, valine, leucine and isoleucine. A number of previously undetected abnormal metabolites have been identified through the use of one-dimensional and two-dimensional J-resolved and COSY 750 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy, including ethanol, 2-hydroxy-isovalerate, 2,3-dihydroxy-valerate, 2-oxo-3-methyl-n-valerate and 2-oxo-isocaproate. NMR spectroscopy of urine, particularly when combined with automatic data reduction and computer pattern recognition using a combination of biochemical markers, promises to provide an efficient alternative to other techniques for the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism.

NMR and HPLC-NMR spectroscopic studies of futile deacetylation in paracetamol metabolites in rat and man.

HPLC-NMR spectroscopy has been used to investigate the level of deacetylation followed by reacetylation (futile deacetylation) of metabolites of paracetamol detected in human and rat urine. This has been achieved through the synthesis and administration of paracetamol isotopically labeled at the acetyl group with C2H3, 13CH3 and 13CO-13CH3. Using paracetamol-C2H3 it had been shown that in the rat the sulphate metabolite present in the urine shows 10-13% futile deacetylation depending on the dose, whereas for paracetamol-13CO-13CH3 the corresponding value was about 8%. After solid phase extraction, it was also possible to determine the level of futile deacetylation in the glucuronide metabolite using directly-coupled HPLC-NMR. This approach was facilitated by the use of acetonitrile-d3 as an HPLC eluent and the HPLC-NMR analyses showed that the level of futile deacetylation in the sulphate and glucuronide metabolites were equal at about 9%. The glucuronide of paracetamol-C2H3 was the predominant metabolite in man and following separation using HPLC-NMR, the level of futile deacetylation was shown to be 1% for the glucuronide and 2% for the sulphate, these values being equal within experimental error. This work demonstrates the utility of NMR and HPLC-NMR spectroscopy for isotope exchange studies.

Investigation of the feasibility of directly-coupled HPLC-NMR with 2H detection with application to the metabolism of N-dimethylformamide-d7.

The use of 2H NMR spectroscopy as a detector for HPLC has been investigated using the continuous flow method in which rat urine containing metabolites of N-dimethylformamide-d7 was employed as a test case. Three xenobiotic-related species, including DMF-d7 itself, were detected. It is shown that for small molecules which give relatively sharp 2H NMR resonances, 2H HPLC-NMR spectroscopy is a feasible technique. For larger molecules, the resulting broad lines are likely to preclude the determination of detailed structural information. However, extension of the approach is possible by the use of selectively 2H-labelled xenobiotics to determine HPLC retention times of metabolites with continuous-flow 2H NMR spectroscopy detection, followed by stop-flow 1H HPLC-NMR spectroscopy for structural characterisation.

NMR spectroscopic and theoretical chemistry studies on the internal acyl migration reactions of the 1-O-acyl-beta-D-glucopyranuronate conjugates of 2-, 3-, and 4-(trifluoromethyl) benzoic acids.

High resolution 19F NMR spectroscopy has been used to investigate the kinetics of internal acyl migration and hydrolysis of the synthetic beta -1-O-acyl-D-glucopyranuronates of 2-, 3-, and 4-(trifluoromethyl) benzoic acids (TFMBAs) in phosphate buffer solutions at 30 degrees C as models of drug ester glucuronides. Apparent first-order degradation of the 1-O-acyl glucuronide and the sequential appearance of 2-, 3-, and 4-O-acyl isomers as both alpha- and beta-anomeric forms were observed for each TFMBA isomer. The overall degradation rate constants of the 2-, 3-, and 4-TFMBA 1-O-acyl isomers were 0.065 h-1, 0.25 h-1, and 0.52 h-1. In order to probe the reasons for these differences in reactivity, theoretical structural and electronic parameters for the beta-anomers of the 1-O-acyl glucuronides, their beta-2-O-acyl isomers, and both structures of the postulated ortho-acid ester intermediate were computed using semiempirical molecular orbital (AM1 and PM3) methods. The distinction between the slowly reacting 2-TFMBA glucuronide and the much faster reacting 3- and 4-TFMBA glucuronides could be observed by calculation of the relative bond order of the C-O bonds in the ortho-acid ester intermediates. The slow internal acyl migration rate of the 2-TFMBA isomer was also partly attributed to the high degree of steric hindrance of the trifluoromethyl group obstructing attack by the glucuronic acid 2-hydroxy group on the carbonyl carbon to form the ortho-acid ester intermediate. Some calculated molecular orbital properties, namely, dipole moment, energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), LUMO density, and nucleophilic frontier density on the carbonyl carbon, were also shown to be related to the measured half-lives. This work gives insight into the molecular physicochemical properties that influence the acyl migration kinetics of simple model drug glucuronides and is of potential importance in understanding more complex drug glucuronide acyl migration reactions of toxicological interest.

Hplc-nmr identification of the human urinary metabolites of (-)-cis-5-fluoro-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl] cytosine, a nucleoside analogue active against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

1. Human urine samples from a clinical trial of the anti-HIV compound (-)-cis-5-fluoro-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl]-cyto sin e (BW524W91) have been analysed using 19F-nmr and 1H-hplc-nmr spectroscopy. 2. The identities and relative levels of the xenobiotic species in the urine have been determined by 470-MHz 19F-nmr spectroscopy and by directly coupled 600-MHz 1H-hplc-nmr in the stop-flow mode with confirmation of the metabolite identities being made by comparison with nmr spectra of synthetic standard compounds. 3. The principal urinary xenobiotic was the unchanged drug, but the glucuronide ether conjugate at the 5' position of BW524W91, one of the two diastereomeric sulphoxides and the deaminated metabolite were also characterized. 4. The detection limit of directly coupled hplc-600-MHz 1H-nmr spectroscopy was evaluated by measuring two-dimensional nmr spectra of the glucuronide conjugate of BW524W91 and shown to be approximately 1 microgram material for 1H-1H-TOCSY and 20 micrograms metabolite for 1H-13C-HMQC spectra for overnight (16 h) acquisition.

Characterization of in vitro metabolites from human liver microsomes using directly coupled hplc-nmr: application to a phenoxathiin monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor.

1. The metabolism of 1-ethylphenoxathiin-10,10-dioxide (BW1370U87), an experimental compound designed as an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-A for use as a possible anti-depression agent, has been studied in a human liver microsome preparation. 2. The identities of the metabolites have been determined using directly coupled hplc-1H nmr at 600 MHz in the stop-flow mode in this first study of in vitro xenobiotic metabolism using hplc-nmr. 3. The xenobiotic substances that were identified comprised the parent compound BW1370U87 (with -CH2CH3 at C1) together with sidechain-oxidized metabolites with C1 substituents of -CHOH.CH3, -CH2.CH2OH, -CHOH.CH2OH and -CH2.COOH, plus the unsubstituted phenoxathiin-10,10-dioxide.

Measurement of Internal Acyl Migration Reaction Kinetics Using Directly Coupled HPLC-NMR: Application for the Positional Isomers of Synthetic (2-Fluorobenzoyl)-d-glucopyranuronic Acid.

Ester glucuronides (1-O-acyl-ß-d-glucopyranuronates) of many drugs may undergo internal acyl migration reactions, resulting in the formation of new positional isomers with both α- and ß-anomers. We illustrate here a novel approach for the direct investigation of the acyl migration kinetics of ester glucuronides and show the application with respect to the isomers of synthetic (2-fluorobenzoyl)-d-glucopyranuronic acid. Individual isomers were separated from an equilibrium mixture containing the ß-1-O-acyl, α- and ß-2-O-acyl, α- and ß-3-O-acyl, and α- and ß-4-O-acyl isomers at pH 7.4 in 20 mM phosphate buffer. The interconverting isomers were separated using reversed-phase HPLC and pumped directly into a dedicated on-line NMR flow probe in a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. The flow was stopped with each isomer in the NMR flow probe, and sequential NMR spectra were collected at 25 °C, allowing direct measurement of the production of positional isomers from each selectively isolated glucuronide isomer. All of the positional isomers and anomers were characterized, and relative quantities determined, and a kinetic model describing the rearrangement reactions was constructed. The acyl migration reaction kinetics were simulated using a theoretical approach using nine first-order rate constants determined for the acyl migration reactions and six first-order rate constants describing the mutarotation each of the 2-, 3-, and 4-positional isomers. The rate constants (in h(-)(1)) for the rearrangement reactions of the 2-fluorobenzoyl glucuronide isomers were as follows: ß-1-O-acyl, 0.29 ± 0.01; α-2-O-acyl, 0.11 ± 0.01; ß-2-O-acyl, 0.07 ± 0.01; α-3-O-acyl, 0.10 ± 0.01; ß-3-O-acyl, 0.09 ± 0.01; α-4-O-acyl, 0.09 ± 0.01; and ß-4-O-acyl, 0.06 ± 0.01. The α- and ß-anomerization rates were estimated on the basis of the kinetics model; the anomerization rates of the 4-O-acyl isomers were additionally determined experimentally using directly coupled HPLC-NMR. The fitted anomerization rates for the 4-O-acyl isomer were 0.80 (α → ß) and 0.50 h(-)(1) (ß â†’ α), whereas the experimentally estimated anomerization rates were 0.89 ± 0.1 and 0.52 ± 0.1 h(-)(1), respectively. The dynamic stop-flow HPLC-NMR approach allows unique kinetic information to be obtained relating to glucuronide reactivity, and this approach will be useful in future structure-reactivity studies on drug ester glucuronides and their properties.

Assignment of the 750 MHz 1H NMR resonances from a mixture of transacylated ester glucuronic acid conjugates with the aid of oversampling and digital filtering during acquisition.

Many drugs containing carboxylic acid functional groups are metabolised in vivo to ester glucuronides (1-O-acyl-beta-D-glucopyranuronates) and, of these, a number show a propensity to undergo internal isomerisation via a transacylation process, causing the carboxylic acid moiety to migrate successively to the 2-, 3- and 4-positions of the glucuronic acid. These products may be responsible, through reactions with plasma proteins, for some of the allergenic side effects in a number of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is important to understand those properties of the drug molecules which facilitate this reaction, and to this end we have studied the transacylation product formation and reaction kinetics in a series of aryl carboxylic acid glucuronides using NMR spectroscopy. However, the resulting 1H NMR spectra are very complex with much resonance overlap, and recourse to spectral simplification processes is necessary. Here, improvement in spectral resolution by oversampling and digital filtering to restrict the detection range of the spectrometer, thus yielding improved digital resolution, is demonstrated. The approach has been applied to the assignment of a mixture of transacylated ester glucuronides of 2-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid through the use of a two-dimensional 1H-1H TOCSY experiment.

High resolution NMR spectroscopic studies on the metabolism and futile deacetylation of 4-hydroxyacetanilide (paracetamol) in the rat.

Paracetamol (4-hydroxyacetanilide, acetaminophen) was synthesized with the acetyl group labelled with C2H3 (paracetamol-C2H3), and dosed to rats i.p. at 25 mg/kg (N = 5) and 40 mg/kg (N = 3) body weight. Paracetamol, with a 13CH3 in the acetyl group (paracetamol-13CH3) was also synthesized and dosed to rats i.p. at 40 mg/kg (N = 3). The metabolism and excretion of the 2H-labelled compound was followed in the rat using 600 MHz 1H and 92.1 MHz 2H NMR spectroscopy of urine collected 0-8, 8-24, 24-32 and 32-48 hr post-dosing. The metabolism of paracetamol-13CH3 was also monitored using 600 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy of urine collected 0-8, 8-24 and 24-48 hr post-dosing. For paracetamol-C2H3 the total recovery of the sulphate, glucuronide and N-acetyl cysteinyl metabolites via the urine accounted for 61.2 +/- 14.1% of the 25 mg/kg dose and 61.4 +/- 8.8% of the 40 mg/kg dose. For paracetamol-13CH3 the recovery was 102.7 +/- 3.7% indicating that the low % urinary recovery with the C2H3-labelled drug is the result of isotope effects on the disposition of paracetamol. In the case of the paracetamol-C2H3, quantitative 1H NMR analysis of urine showed that 13.3 +/- 0.5 and 10.0 +/- 1.2 mole % (25 and 40 mg/kg, respectively) of the urinary paracetamol sulphate recovered following dosing of the deuterium labelled drug had the C2H3 acetyl groups replaced by C1H3 acetyl groups from endogenous sources. In the case of the paracetamol-13CH3 8.9 +/- 0.7 mole % of the sulphate conjugate had also been transacetylated to paracetamol-12CH3. There was no significant difference between the level of futile deacetylation observed for the deuterated and 13C-labelled drug. Overall these data indicate a high level of deacetylation followed by reacetylation (i.e. futile deacetylation) prior to excretion of paracetamol via the nephrotoxic intermediate 4-aminophenol. The level of deacetylation is much higher than has previously been thought which may cast new light on the role of 4-aminophenol in the development of paracetamol induced nephrotoxicity.

750 MHz 1H and 1H-13C NMR spectroscopy of human blood plasma.

High-resolution 750 MHz 1H NMR spectra of control human blood plasma have been measured and assigned by the concerted use of a range of spin-echo, two-dimensional J-resolved, and homonuclear and heteronuclear (1H-13C) correlation methods. The increased spectral dispersion and sensitivity at 750 MHz enable the assignment of numerous 1H and 13C resonances from many molecular species that cannot be detected at lower frequencies. This work presents the most comprehensive assignment of the 1H NMR spectra of blood plasma yet achieved and includes the assignment of signals from 43 low M(r) metabolites, including many with complex or strongly coupled spin systems. New assignments are also provided from the 1H and 13C NMR signals from several important macromolecular species in whole blood plasma, i.e., very-low-density, low-density, and high-density lipoproteins, albumin, and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. The temperature dependence of the one-dimensional and spin-echo 750 MHz 1H NMR spectra of plasma was investigated over the range 292-310 K. The 1H NMR signals from the fatty acyl side chains of the lipoproteins increased substantially with temperature (hence also molecular mobility), with a disproportionate increase from lipids in low-density lipoprotein. Two-dimensional 1H-13C heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence spectroscopy at 292 and 310 K allowed both the direct detection of cholesterol and choline species bound in high-density lipoprotein and the assignment of their signals and confirmed the assignment of most of the lipoprotein resonances.

Evaluation of liquid chromatography coupled with high-field 1H NMR spectroscopy for drug metabolite detection and characterization: the identification of paracetamol metabolites in urine and bile.

The applicability of coupled reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-NMR spectroscopy for the detection and identification of paracetamol (N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide) and its sulfate, glucuronide and N-acetylcysteinyl metabolites in the unprocessed biological fluids, human urine, rat urine and rat bile, is investigated. Analysis of these samples was performed by gradient HPLC elution and directly coupled 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy detection using a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR methods in stopped-flow mode. The stopped-flow approach is demonstrated to be an efficient technique for identification of drug metabolites which have, for example, a UV-chromophore. Stopped-flow HPLC analysis with NMR detection is a viable technique and halting the chromatographic process several times during a run has a negligible effect on the separation and NMR characterization. The post-acquisition data processing method of 'quantified maximum entropy' is shown to provide a means of improving the quality of spectra for minor components, thus aiding NMR resonance assignments.