chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Samples (50μL) were
deproteinized with 50μL of 6% sulfosalicylic acid, and centrifuged for 15
min at 17,000 RCF. Supernatants were diluted with an isotopic standard mixture
(Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc) in 2 μM tridecafluoroheptanoic acid
(TDFHA), and then injected into the LC-MS/MS system. Samples were analyzed using
a clinically validated amino acid analysis method48 (link). An Agilent 1200 series liquid
chromatography system equipped with a Thermo Hypercarb trap column (3 μm,
4.6 × 50 mm) and a Waters BEH C18 analytical column (2.5 μm, 2.1
× 100 mm) was used to separate compounds in a trap and reverse-elute
configuration. An Agilent 6460 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used in
positive polarity electrospray ionization for detection by dynamic multiple
reaction monitoring (MRM). Mobile phase A was 0.02% perfluoroheptanoic acid and
mobile phase B was acetonitrile. Standard curves were prepared by diluting amino
acid standards (Wako Chemicals USA, Inc); for 1-methylhistidine,
S-aminoethylcystine was used as the internal standard and for 3-methylhistidine,
histidine-13C615N3 was used as
the internal standard. Agilent Masshunter B08 was used for data analysis.