Name: using capillary electrophoresis to quantify organic acids from plant tissue: a test case examining coffea arabica seeds
Uploaded: 2016-11-12T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using Capillary Electrophoresis to Quantify Organic Acids from Plant Tissue: A Test Case Examining Coffea arabica Seeds at JoVE.com

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of this project by The J.M. Smucker company.

1. Sample Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Assemble samples for short chain carboxylic acid (SCCA) extraction. Prepare 1.0 g of coffee seed at a time to ensure that enough sample will remain after processing.
	<ol>
		<li>If samples were frozen prior to the grinding process, keep the tissue frozen throughout processing to prevent freeze/thaw damage and sample oxidation. Remove the sample from the freezer or sub-zero storage only as needed for grinding.</li>
		<li>Flash freeze fresh samples in liquid nitrogen immediately prior to s...

<ol>
	<li>Ara&#250;jo, W. L., Nunes-Nesi, A., Nikoloski, Z., Sweetlove, L. J., Fernie, A. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Metabolic+Control+and+Regulation+of+the+Tricarboxylic+Acid+Cycle+in+Photosynthetic+and+Heterotrophic+Plant+Tissues:+TCA+Control+and+Regulation+in+Plant+Tissues.">Metabolic Control and Regulation of the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle in Photosynthetic and Heterotrophic Plant Tissues: TCA Control and Regulation in Plant Tissues.</a> Plant Cell Environ. 35 (1), 1-21 (2012).</li><li>Finkemeier, I., Konig, A. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcriptomic+Analysis+of+the+Role+of+Carboxylic+Acids+in+Metabolite+Signaling+in+Arabidopsis+Leaves.">Transcriptomic Analysis of the Role of Carboxylic Acids in Metabolite Signaling in Arabidopsis Leaves.</a> Plant Physiol. 162 (1), 239-253 (2013).</li><li>Doyle, M. P., Buchanan, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Food Microbiology: Fundamentals and Frontiers. , (2013).</li><li>T&#367;ma, P., Samcov&#225;, E., &#352;tul&#236;k, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+the+Spectrum+of+Low+Molecular+Mass+Organic+Acids+in+Urine+by+Capillary+Electrophoresis+with+Contactless+Conductivity+and+Ultraviolet+Photometric+Detection-An+Efficient+Tool+for+Monitoring+of+Inborn+Metabolic+Disorders.">Determination of the Spectrum of Low Molecular Mass Organic Acids in Urine by Capillary Electrophoresis with Contactless Conductivity and Ultraviolet Photometric Detection-An Efficient Tool for Monitoring of Inborn Metabolic Disorders.</a> Anal Chim Acta. 685 (1), 84-90 (2011).</li><li>L&#243;pez-Bucio, J., Nieto-Jacobo, M. F., Ram&#305;&#769;rez-Rodr&#305;&#769;guez, V., Herrera-Estrella, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Organic+Acid+Metabolism+in+Plants:+From+Adaptive+Physiology+to+Transgenic+Varieties+for+Cultivation+in+Extreme+Soils.">Organic Acid Metabolism in Plants: From Adaptive Physiology to Transgenic Varieties for Cultivation in Extreme Soils.</a> Plant Sci. 160 (1), 1-13 (2000).</li><li>Cebolla-Cornejo, J., Valc&#225;rcel, M., Herrero-Mart&#236;nez, J. M., Rosell&#242;, S., Nuez, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+Efficiency+Joint+CZE+Determination+of+Sugars+and+Acids+in+Vegetables+and+Fruits:+CE+and+CEC.">High Efficiency Joint CZE Determination of Sugars and Acids in Vegetables and Fruits: CE and CEC.</a> Electrophoresis. 33 (15), 2416-2423 (2012).</li><li>Rosello, S., Galiana-Balaguer, L., Herrero-Martinez, J. M., Maquieira, A., Nuez, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simultaneous+Quantification+of+the+Main+Organic+Acids+and+Carbohydrates+Involved+in+Tomato+Flavour+Using+Capillary+Zone+Electrophoresis.">Simultaneous Quantification of the Main Organic Acids and Carbohydrates Involved in Tomato Flavour Using Capillary Zone Electrophoresis.</a> J Sci Food Agr. 82 (10), 1101-1106 (2002).</li><li>Wasielewska, M., Banel, A., Zygmunt, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Capillary+Electrophoresis+in+Determination+of+Low+Molecular+Mass+Organic+Acids.">Capillary Electrophoresis in Determination of Low Molecular Mass Organic Acids.</a> Int J Environ Sci Dev. 5 (4), 417-425 (2014).</li><li>Galli, V., Garc&#236;a, A., Saavedra, L., Barbas, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Capillary+Electrophoresis+for+Short-Chain+Organic+Acids+and+Inorganic+Anions+in+Different+Samples.">Capillary Electrophoresis for Short-Chain Organic Acids and Inorganic Anions in Different Samples.</a> Electrophoresis. 24 (1213), 1951-1981 (2003).</li><li>Klampfl, C. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+Organic+Acids+by+CE+and+CEC+Methods.">Determination of Organic Acids by CE and CEC Methods.</a> Electrophoresis. 28 (19), 3362-3378 (2007).</li><li>Kenney, B. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+Organic+Acids+in+Food+Samples+by+Capillary+Electrophoresis.">Determination of Organic Acids in Food Samples by Capillary Electrophoresis.</a> J Chromatogr A. 546, 423-430 (1991).</li><li>Galli, V., Barbas, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Capillary+Electrophoresis+for+the+Analysis+of+Short-Chain+Organic+Acids+in+Coffee.">Capillary Electrophoresis for the Analysis of Short-Chain Organic Acids in Coffee.</a> J Chromatogr A. 1032 (1-2), 299-304 (2004).</li><li>Schmitt-Kopplin, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Capillary+Electrophoresis:+Methods+and+Protocols.">Capillary Electrophoresis: Methods and Protocols.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. , 384 (2008).</li><li>Nollet, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Chromatographic analysis of the environment 3rd ed. , (2006).</li><li>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> ElixerOA Organic Acids/Anions Operating and Instruction Manual, MicroSolv Technology Corperation. , (2001).</li><li>Dahlen, J., Hagberg, J., Karlsson, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+low+molecular+weight+organic+acids+in+water+with+capillary+zone+electrophoresis+employing+indirect+photometric+detection.">Analysis of low molecular weight organic acids in water with capillary zone electrophoresis employing indirect photometric detection.</a> Fresenius J. Anal. Chem. 366 (5), 488-493 (2000).</li><li>Ibanez, A. B., Bauer, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analytical+method+for+the+determination+of+organic+acids+in+dilute+acid+pretreated+biomass+hydrolysate+by+liquid+chromatography-time-of-flight+mass+spectroscopy.">Analytical method for the determination of organic acids in dilute acid pretreated biomass hydrolysate by liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectroscopy.</a> Biotech. For Biofuels. 7 (145), (2014).</li></ol>

As with any analytical technique, there are several critical factors that can significantly impact the quality and reliability of the data generated. First, it is important to process samples efficiently, with a minimum of freeze/thaw cycles. Repeated freezing and thawing can compromise the chemical composition of the sample before processing or analysis. Second, it is critical to apply the steps of this protocol to all samples consistently and evenly. Technical errors arising from inconsistent sample preparation and han...

Carboxylic acids are organic compounds containing one or more terminal carboxyl functional groups, each attached to an R-group containing one or more carbons (R-C[O]OH). Short chain, low molecular weight carboxylic acids (short chain carboxylic acids, SCCAs) containing between one and six carbons, are essential components of cellular respiration, and function in several biochemical pathways necessary for cell growth and development. SCCAs play critical roles in cellular metabolism1, cell signaling2, and organismal responses to the environment (such as antibiosis3). Because of this, SCCAs can serve as useful indicators of disruptions to cellular metabolism, plant stress responses4,5, and fruit quality6,7. To date, SCCAs have been quantified primarily through chromatographic techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). While these methods, are capable of achieving very low limits of detection, they can be expensive, require the derivatization of target SCCAs using caustic and/or toxic reagents, and include lengthy separation runs on the GC or HPLC. Because of this, interest in the use of free zonal capillary electrophoresis (CZE), which does not require sample derivatization, to quantify organic acids has steadily increased8.
Free zonal capillary electrophoresis (CZE) is a chromatographic separation methodology that, due to its high number of theoretical plates, speed, and relative ease-of-use, is increasingly replacing both GC-MS and high-pressure liquid chromatography as an analytical method for the quantification (particularly for quality control purposes) of anions, cations, amino acids, carbohydrates, and short chain carboxylic acids (SCCAs)8,9,10. CZE-based separation of small molecules, including SCCAs, is based two primary principles: the electrophoretic movement of charged ions in an electrical field established across the buffer filling the capillary; and the electro-osmotic movement of the entire buffer system from one end of the capillary to the other, generally towards the negative electrode. In this system, small molecules move towards the negative electrode at varying speeds, with the speed of each molecule determined by the ratio of the net charge of the molecule to the molecular mass. As the movement of each individual molecule in this system is dependent on the charge state of the molecule and the overall rate of electro-osmotic flow (which is itself based on the ion content of the buffer used to fill the capillary), the buffer pH and ionic composition heavily impact the degree to which molecules can be efficiently separated using CZE. Because of this, SCCAs, with their relatively high charge-to-mass ratios, are ideal targets for CZE-based separation. Metabolites separated using CZE can be detected using a variety of methods, including UV absorbance, spectral absorbance (which is generally performed using a photo-diode array [PDA]), and/or mass spectroscopy (CE-MS or CE-MS/MS)8. The diversity of separation and detection methods provided by CZE makes it an extremely flexible and adaptable technique. Because of this, CZE has been increasingly applied as a standard method of analysis in the areas of food safety and quality11,12, pharmaceutical research13, and environmental monitoring13,14. 
Capillary electrophoresis has been used to detect and quantify short chain carboxylic acids for nearly two decades13. The resolving power (particularly for small, charged molecules), short run time, and low per sample cost of CZE analyses make CZE an ideal technique for the separation and quantification of SCCAs13. This method presents a protocol to utilize CZE to measure the concentration of organic acids from plant tissues. Example data was generated through the successful implementation of this protocol to measure the change in organic acid levels in coffee seeds following a secondary fermentation treatment. The protocol details the critical steps and common errors of CZE-based separation of SCCAs, and discusses the means by which this protocol can be successfully applied to quantify SCCAs in additional plant tissues.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">Ceramic Moarter and Pestle</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Coorstek</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">60310</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">Beckman Coulter P/ACE MDQ CE system</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Various</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">Glass sample vials</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">033917D</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">02-681-5</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="height:38px;width:296px;">LC/MS grade water</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">W6-1</td>
			<td style="width:247px;">Milli-Q water (18.2 M&#937;.cm) is also acceptable</td>
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		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">15 ml glass tube/ Teflon lined cap&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14-93331A</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
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		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">Parafilm M</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">13-374-12</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">CElixirOA detection Kit pH 5.4&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">MicroSolv</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">06100-5.4</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">BD Safety-Lok syringes</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14-829-32</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">17 mm Target Syringe filter, PTFE</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3377154</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">32 Karat, V. 8.0 control software</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">285512</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">capillary electrophoresis (CE) sample vials&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">144980</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:296px;">caps for CE vials&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">144648</td>
			<td style="width:247px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="height:38px;width:296px;">Liquid Nitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:247px;">Liquid nitrogen is available from most facilities services</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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using capillary electrophoresis to quantify organic acids from plant tissue: a test case examining coffea arabica seeds

Carboxylic acids are organic acids containing one or more terminal carboxyl (COOH) functional groups. Short chain carboxylic acids (SCCAs; carboxylic acids containing three to six carbons), such as malate and citrate, are critical to the proper functioning of many biological systems, where they function in cellular respiration and can serve as indicators of cell health. In foods, organic acid content can have significant impact on taste, with increased SCCA levels resulting in a sour or &#34;acid&#34; taste. Because of this, methods for the rapid analysis of organic acid levels are of particular interest to the food and beverage industries. Unfortunately, however, most methods used for SCCA quantification are dependent on time-consuming protocols requiring the derivatization of samples with hazardous reagents, followed by costly chromatographic and/or mass spectrometric analyses. This method details an alternate method for the detection and quantification of organic acids from plant material and food samples using free zonal capillary electrophoresis (CZE), sometimes simply referred to as capillary electrophoresis (CE). CZE provides a cost-effective method for measuring SCCAs with a low limit of detection (0.005 mg/ml). This article details the extraction and quantification of SCCAs from plant samples. While the method provided focuses on measurement of SCCAs from coffee beans, the method provided can be applied to multiple plant-based food materials.

This protocol has been successfully utilized to measure the effects of seed treatments on the SCCA content of green coffee seeds. In this experiment, the six treatments were: a saturated microbial suspension of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides strain GCP674 in its growth medium (1), an aqueous suspension of GCP674 microbes in water (2), an aqueous solution of acetic and lactic acids (0.15 and 0.4 mg/ml respectively) (3), a spent M1 growth medium treatment (4), dH2O wate...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using Capillary Electrophoresis to Quantify Organic Acids from Plant Tissue: A Test Case Examining Coffea arabica Seeds at JoVE.com

Using Capillary Electrophoresis to Quantify Organic Acids from Plant Tissue: A Test Case Examining Coffea arabica Seeds

This article presents a method for the detection and quantification of organic acids from plant material using free zonal capillary electrophoresis. An example of the potential application of this method, determining the effects of a secondary fermentation on organic acid levels in coffee seeds, is provided.

Using Capillary Electrophoresis to Quantify Organic Acids from Plant Tissue: A Test Case Examining Coffea arabica Seeds

Carboxylic acids are organic acids containing one or more terminal carboxyl (COOH) functional groups. Short chain carboxylic acids (SCCAs; carboxylic ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to quantify the levels of organic acids present in plant tissues. This method can be used to answer questions in plant biochemistry and physiology, such as the impact of environmental stimuli on root growth, crop development, and food or beverage quality. The main advantages of this method are that sample preparation is minimal, the method is high throughput, and capillary electrophoresis is more cost effective than mass spectrometry.Though this method is used to elucidate plant physiological responses, it can also be applied to food science and food quality, where organic acids critically impact flavor, safety, and stability. To begin, assemble samples for short chain carboxylic acid, or SCCA, extraction. Prepare one gram of coffee seed at a time to ensure that enough sample will remain after processing.To attain a uniform particle size for maximal SCCA extraction efficiency, first pre-chill a mortar and pestle with liquid nitrogen. Add the sample to a small volume of liquid nitrogen in the mortar. Using a ladle, add enough liquid nitrogen to the mortar to completely submerge the sample.Add hard-to-grind samples, such as raw coffee seeds, to the liquid nitrogen. Allow them to freeze for 10 to 30 seconds before grinding. Break the tissue into smaller fragments using a vertical crushing motion.Then, complete tissue grinding using a circular grinding motion. Repeat the freezing and grinding steps twice more so that samples are ground the total of three times. Typically, three successive rounds of grinding will reduce samples to a powder with a flour-like consistency.Transfer the powder to glass vials or 1.5 ml micro-centrifuge tubes. Initiate downstream processing immediately after grinding or store samples at 80 degrees Celsius until samples are ready for extraction. Assemble authentic standards for the SCCAs of interest to create external and internal standard solutions for use in determining SCCA concentrations.For coffee samples, include citric, malic, acetic, and lactic acid as acids of interest, and adipic acid as the internal standard. Create a 10 milligram per milliliter stock solution by adding 100 milligrams of standard to a 10 milliliter volumetric flask. Fill the volumetric flask to the 10 milliliter line with ultra pure water to dissolve the acid.Transfer each stock solution to a clean 15 milliliter glass tube, with a polytetrafluoroethylene lined cap, and seal with plastic paraffin film. Stock solutions can be stored in sealed tubes at four degrees Celsius for one week. Prepare 50 milliliters of the SCCA extraction solution by diluting the internal standard stock solution to 0.05 milligrams per milliliter in ultra pure water.Do this by adding 250 microliters of the internal standard stock solution to 49.75 milliliters of water. Next, prepare standard curve samples for SCCAs of interest. Use a minimum of at least five points with concentrations in the linear response range that span the expected SCCA concentrations in the samples.Dilute each SCCA to the determined concentration in new micro-centrifuge tubes using ultra pure water to a volume of one milliliter. Ensure that each concentration point contains all four acid standards and the internal standard at the correct concentration. Remove samples to be extracted from storage, and place them on ice.Weigh out 100 milligrams of sample for the SCCA extraction. Measure an amount of sample as close to the target mass as possible, to reduce variability. After weighing each sample, transfer the tissue to a clean 1.5 milliliter micro-centrifuge tube.Keep track of the mass of each sample measured, as the amounts of SCCAs detected will be normalized using the sample mass. After weighing all samples, add one milliliter of exaction solution to each of the sample tubes. Keep the ratio of extraction solution to tissue mass the same across all extractions.Mix well by vortexing for 10 seconds. Allow the samples to sit at room temperature for one hour. During this hour, mix each tube every 15 minutes by vortexing for 10 seconds.After one hour of extraction, mix the samples one final time and transfer the sample tubes to a micro-centrifuge. Centrifuge the samples at four degrees Celsius, 10, 000 times G for 10 minutes, to precipitate the solid material. To filter the samples, prepare syringe-mounted disc filters, ensuring that each filter is correctly attached to the syringe.Prepare one syringe equipped with a disc filter for each sample to be analyzed, including the standard curve samples. Filter the supernatants directly into a clean micro-centrifuge tube. After filtering, close the tube containing the filtrate, and discard the syringe filter apparatus.Transfer one milliliter of sample to each capillary electrophoresis, or CE vial, taking care to avoid splashing the sample into the neck of the vial. After transferring the sample, place a CE cap on each vial. Set up the SCCA detection run as described in the text protocol.Load the vials containing the standard curve points and the vials containing the samples to assayed into the inlet sample tray, as described in the manufacturer's instructions. Note the position of each vial for auto-sampler programming. After conditioning as described in the text protocol, initiate sample separation by opening the Control menu in the software, and selecting Run Sequence.Monitor the photodiode array, or PDA trays, to ensure proper separation. Observe the first trace and ensure that it has a flat baseline, and cleanly resolve individual acid peaks. To integrate sample peaks, open the first file and set the automatic integration steps to exclude the first three minutes of the run.In the same menu, set peak selection criteria to a minimum peak width of 50 units, and a peak area of 100 units, to provide a moderately high level of selectivity, separating acid peaks from background noise in the trace. Perform data analysis as described in the text protocol. Shown here, is a comparison of PDA traces highlighting an overloaded sample.As analyte concentration increases, individual peak geometry may begin to become asymmetric. At 0.05 milligrams per milliliter, acetic acid presents a well defined bilaterally symmetrical peak. As the concentration of acetic acid increases to 0.07 or 0.10 milligrams per milliliter, the peak becomes asymmetrical, and a peak tail forms.This peak tailing is a good indication that the sample is overloaded. Displayed here are example PDA traces showing organic acids in green coffee samples. Green coffee samples were dilution 1:10 before loading into CE vials.Acids of interest include acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, and the internal standard, adipic acid. While attempting this procedure, it's important to remember to grind samples to uniform consistency, and pipette samples carefully, to maximize reproducibility and minimize experimental error. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to quantify organic acids from plant samples using capillary electrophoresis, or CE.You should be able to grind plant samples, extract organic acids, and prepare plant extracts for downstream CE analysis.

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