Determination of phytochelatins and glutathione in phytoplankton from natural waters using HPLC with fluorescence detection

Phytochelatins (PCs) and glutathione (GSH) are –SH-containing compounds produced by a range of organisms for intracellular functions, such as protection against oxidative stress, metal detoxification and regulation of intracellular metal concentrations. These compounds, particularly PCs, have a potential use as metal-stress indicators for phytoplankton in natural waters. Despite their important roles, there is a paucity of data on intracellular GSH and PCs produced by natural phytoplankton assemblages. Current analytical methods for the determination of these compounds in phytoplankton from natural waters are based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with detection of fluorescent derivatives, and comprise multi-step protocols. In this article, we discuss the analytical methods for HPLC determination of PCs and GSH, as there are limitations and practical challenges when they are applied to environmental studies.