IsoChichibabin desmosine-13C3,15N1 synthesis and quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of desmosine and isodesmosine in human skin

Bioorg Med Chem. 2021 Dec 15:52:116519. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116519. Epub 2021 Nov 20.

Abstract

Desmosine and isodesmosine are crosslinking amino acids of elastin, which is an essential component of the dermal extracellular matrix protein. Quantitative analysis of crosslinker desmosines in human skin dermis has not been fully achieved due to the insoluble nature of elastin protein. In the present study, chemical synthesis of isotopically labeled desmosine, desmosine-13C3,15N1, was carried out via isoChichibabin pyridinium synthesis starting from corresponding isotopically labeled amino acids. Isotope-dilution LC-MS/MS analysis of desmosine and isodesmosine utilizing synthetic desmosine-13C3,15N1 enabled the quantitative analysis of desmosines in human skin for the first time. Thus, ca. 1.43 μg of desmosines was detected from analysis of 1 mg of dry human skin.

Keywords: Chichibabin pyridinium synthesis; Desmosine; LC-MS/MS; Quantitative analysis; Skin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Desmosine / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Isodesmosine / analysis*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Skin / chemistry*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Nitrogen-15
  • Desmosine
  • Isodesmosine
  • Carbon-13