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Updated: Sep 22, 2025
11:56
A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells
Published on: April 11, 2014
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Determination of intracellular ascorbic acid using tandem mass spectrometry
Chizumi Abe1,2, Ohki Higuchi1,3, Akira Matsumoto4,5
1New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), Tohoku University, 6-6-10 Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan. taiki.miyazawa.b3@tohoku.ac.jp.
The Analyst
|May 20, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a highly sensitive method to study ascorbic acid's intracellular behavior. This breakthrough provides new insights into vitamin C physiology within cells.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) plays a crucial role in numerous biological processes.
- Understanding its intracellular dynamics is vital for comprehending cellular health and disease.
- Current analytical methods lack the sensitivity to fully explore intracellular ascorbic acid physiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly sensitive analytical method for quantifying intracellular ascorbic acid.
- To gain mechanistic insights into the intracellular behavior and physiology of ascorbic acid.
- To overcome the limitations of existing methods in studying cellular vitamin C dynamics.
Main Methods:
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS).
- Development of a novel analytical technique achieving unprecedented detection limits.
- Application of the method to investigate intracellular ascorbic acid levels and behavior.
Main Results:
- Achieved the lowest detection limit ever reported for ascorbic acid quantification (1 pg).
- Successfully demonstrated the method's capability for sensitive intracellular analysis.
- Provided novel mechanistic insights into ascorbic acid's intracellular physiology.
Conclusions:
- The developed HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method offers unparalleled sensitivity for studying intracellular ascorbic acid.
- This advancement enables a deeper understanding of vitamin C's role in cellular functions.
- The findings pave the way for future research into ascorbic acid-related biological events and therapeutic strategies.
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