Application of new fluorescent thiol reagent to diagnosis of homocystinuria.

Abstract

A new fluorescent thiol reagent, dansyl-aminophenylmercuric acetate (DAPMA), was applied to the diagnosis of homocystinuria, a disorder which can be associated with vascular disease at an early age. DAPMA was added to urine containing metabisulphite and the resulting fluorescent derivatives were extracted on a cyclohexyl silica column and separated by thin-layer chromatography. 102 coded samples were tested. The derivative of homocysteine was easily identified in samples from 4 children with homocystinuria but was absent from all samples from normal subjects and patients with unrelated disorders. Other thiols (cysteine, acetylcysteine, mercaptolactate, thiosulphate, and thiocyanate) were also identified in urine from healthy fasting subjects.

• Authors: J L Maddocks, J MacLachlan
• Journal: Lancet (London, England) (Lancet) Vol. 338 Issue 8774 Pg. 1043-4 (Oct 26 1991) ISSN: 0140-6736 [Print] England
• PMID: 1681358 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Sulfhydryl Compounds
• 4-dansyl aminophenylmercuric acetate
• Phenylmercuric Acetate

Topics

• Child
• Chromatography, Thin Layer (methods)
• Fluorescence
• Homocystinuria (diagnosis)
• Humans
• Phenylmercuric Acetate (analogs & derivatives, chemistry)
• Sulfhydryl Compounds (urine)