Enantiomer-Specific Colorimetric Tandem Assays for Salivary d-Alanine Associated with Gastric Cancer

Anal Chem. 2024 Feb 6;96(5):1906-1912. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04017. Epub 2024 Jan 22.

Abstract

Salivary d-alanine (d-Ala) and d-proline (d-Pro) are of concern for their potential in the noninvasive diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC). Most reports have succeeded in determining the total concentration of d-Ala and d-Pro. However, for personalized diagnosis and better elucidation of the underlying specific correlation of d-Ala (or d-Pro) with GC, it is desirable to determine the specific concentration of d-Ala or d-Pro. Herein, we propose an enantiomer-specific tandem assay of d-Ala based on the colorimetric reaction between 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and pyruvic acid generated from the deamination of d-Ala catalyzed by d-amino acid oxidase, which is easily distinguished from l-form amino acids, d-Pro, and many other species. A linear concentration range is established from 20 to 400 μmol/L with a limit of detection of 1.01 μmol/L. Real saliva sample tests reveal that the levels of d-Ala in GC cases are remarkably higher than those in healthy individuals, which offers a simple and low-cost strategy for GC diagnosis. Simultaneously, the total concentrations of d-Ala and d-Pro in saliva are determined. Hence, the concentration of d-Pro and the proportion of d-Ala could be calculated, which further provides more molecule- and individual-specific information. This research may offer a convenient method for noninvasive diagnosis of GC and pave a new route to explore the potentials of rare d-form amino acids in disease diagnosis and treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine* / chemistry
  • Amino Acids
  • Colorimetry
  • Humans
  • Proline
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / diagnosis

Substances

  • Alanine
  • Amino Acids
  • Proline