Natural intramolecular nitrogen isotopic analysis of proteinous amino acids

GEOC 18

Lin Zhang, linzhang0508@gmail.com, School for Marine Science, Univ. of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA 02744 and Mark A. Altabet, maltabet@umassd.edu, School of Marine Science, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 706 South Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02744.
We describe an easy and robust method for intromolecular high precision N position specific isotope analysis (PSIA) in Amino Acids (AA) at natural abundance level. Amino-N in AAs is selectively oxidized to NO2- by alkaline hypochlorite with KBr as the catalyst. After 30min reaction in 50°C waterbath, NaAsO2 is added to scavenge excessive hypochlorite. The produced NO2- is then reduced to N2O by azide and analyzed on an isotope ratio mass spectrometer following published procedures. The highly specific oxidizing mechanism largely targets α-amino-N, while the heterocyclic N as well as amino sugar N are left untouched. This method also performs well in complex matrices, such as the hydrolysis of organic poor sediments. Average precision for replicate analysis is STDEV (δ15N) =0.3‰.
 

Modern Calibrations and Terrestrial Applications of Stable Isotope Paleo Proxies
1:30 PM-5:10 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- St. James Rm, Oral

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Sci-Mix

Division of Geochemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007