Analysis of butterfly reproductive proteins using capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.

A method for analysis of proteins from spermatophores transferred from male to female Pieris napi butterflies during mating has been developed. The proteins were solubilized from the dissected spermatophores using different solubilization agents (water, methanol, acetonitrile and hexafluoroisopropanol). Capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis was performed using an acidic background electrolyte containing a fluorosurfactant to avoid protein-wall adsorption, and to increase separation performance.

CE analysis of single wood cells performing hydrolysis and preconcentration in open microchannels.

In the present work, monosaccharides from pulp samples and single wood fibers were analyzed with CE, using indirect detection due to the lack of chromophores on the monosaccharides. The hydrolysis degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose into monosaccharides was performed using TFA, either in bulk scale or in microscale. In the microscale, one single wood fiber was hydrolyzed in an open microchannel manufactured on a silicon microchip with the dimensions 50 μm × 50 μm (length 1 or 3 cm).

Sample preconcentration in open microchannels combined with MALDI-MS.

In this work, a method for preconcentrating samples in 1 cm long, 50-150 μm wide open microchannels is presented. Platinum electrodes were positioned at the channel ends, voltage was applied, and charged analyte was preconcentrated at the oppositely charged side during continuous supply of sample. The preconcentration was initially studied in a closed system, where an influence on the analyte position from a pH gradient, generated by water electrolysis, was observed.