Dehydration of prostaglandins: study by spectroscopic method

• Main Author: Niels H. Andersen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 1969-05-01
• Series: Journal of Lipid Research
• Subjects: prostaglandins; spectroscopic assay; UV spectra; optical rotatory dispersion; β-hydroxyketones
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227520430901

The ultraviolet (UV) and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) spectra of prostaglandins E1, A1, B1, and their naturally derived 15-epimers are presented. The dehydration sequence E → A → B under acidic and basic conditions has been studied by UV and ORD. Conditions for quantitative conversion of PGE1 to PGA1 are described.The combination of ORD and UV affords a nondestructive assay which can determine the relative amounts of E-, A-, and B-type prostaglandins with as little as 1-2 μg of material. The total quantity of prostaglandins can be estimated (±15%) in this way or, more accurately, by treatment with alkali of an aliquot (200 ng is sufficient) and determination of the change in absorbance at 278 nm.