High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the imino acids (opines) meso-alanopine and D-strombine in muscle extract of invertebrates.

A sensitive HPLC method is presented for the determination of the imino acids alanopine and strombine, anaerobic metabolites that are formed in muscle tissue of several species of invertebrates. The separation of alanopine and strombine was achieved using the Alltech OA 2000 cation-exchange column. The analysis of the two opines does not require any complicated derivatization and can be performed in a pH neutralized sulphuric acid solution. The sensitivity of this method is in the range of 100 pmol to at least 10 nmol for both investigated opines. For the first time opines were demonstrated in the bivalves Macoma balthica and Cerastoderma edule.