Pulsed UV Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection of Native Peptides and Proteins in Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract

A pulsed UV laser operating at 248 nm was used for the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of native tryptophan-containing compounds in capillary electrophoresis. The limit of detection (LOD) of tryptophan was found to be 3.3×10⁻⁹ M (S/N=2). The LODs of the model proteins conalbumin and bovine serum albumin were found to be 1.3×10⁻⁹ and 4×10⁻⁹ M (S/N=2), respectively. These results were at least two orders of magnitude more sensitive when compared to UV absorption at 214 nm.