Identification of NAc-HCPC and NAc-beta-CEC, and qualitative analyses of sulphur amino acids in the urine of a patient with cystathioninuria using liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry.

Standard sulphur amino acids and various cystathionine metabolites in the urine of a patient with cystathioninuria were analysed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with an atmospheric pressure ionization interface system. Very intense quasi-molecular ions ([M + H]+) of synthetic cystathionine, N-monoacetylcystathionine, perhydro-1,4-thiazepine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid, S-(3-hydroxy-3-carboxy-n-propyl)cysteine, S-(2-carboxyethyl) cysteine, S-(2-hydroxy-2-carboxyethyl)homocysteine, S-(carboxymethyl)homocysteine, N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxy-3-carboxy-n-propyl)cysteine and N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxyethyl)cysteine were observed by this method. Quasi-molecular ions ([M + H]+) of these sulphur amino acids were observed in the urine sample of the patient with cystathioninuria, and N-acetyl-HCPC and N-acetyl-beta-CEC as N-substituted sulphur amino acids were also identified in the urine of the same patient.