A rapid separation method for inositol phosphates and their isomers

Abstract
A technique is described using ACCELL QMA anion-exchange SEP-PAKs (Waters Associates) with ammonium formate-based solutions, whereby a sample can be processed within minutes to yield resolution of inositol phosphates. Isomers of inositol trisphosphate can then be separated by using this technique in combination with a rapid (5-6 min) isocratic h.p.l.c. procedure. The use of QMA SEP-PAKs offers a degree of reproducibility comparable with that of h.p.l.c. while maintaining the capacity for automation, allowing large numbers of samples to be processed rapidly.