Assay of the Human Liver Citric Acid Cycle Probe Phenylacetylglutamine and of Phenylacetate in Plasma by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Phenylacetate, derived from phenylalanine, is converted in human and primate liver to phenylacetylglutamine. The latter has been used to assess the labeling pattern of liver citric acid cycle intermediates. We present gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric assays of phenylacetylglutamine, Phenylacetate, and phenylalanine in biological fluids. The compounds are derivatized with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal. Limits of detection are 0.1 nmol for phenylacetylglutamine and phenylacetate and 2 nmol for phenylalanine. Baseline plasma concentrations of phenylacetate and phenylacetylglutamine are 1 and 3 μM, respectively. The 24-h urinary excretions of phenylacetate and phenylacetylglutamine are about 4 μmol and 1 mmol, respectively. Ingestion of phenylalanine (in the form of aspartame) by a human is followed by sequential increases in phenylacetate and phenylacetylglutamine concentrations in plasma and urine. This assay opens the way to noninvasive probing of the 13C-labeling pattern of liver citric acid cycle intermediates in humans.