A novel complexometric dye- and transition-metal-based post-column detection system for polyanions, called 'metal-dye detection' has been developed. This technique, combined with a new h.p.l.c. separation protocol, permits a direct highly-isomer-selective determination of bis- to poly-phosphorylated non-radioactively labelled compounds in the picomolar range, a sensitivity hitherto unknown for these substances. The application of the technique in the quantitative microanalysis of inositol polyphosphates from milligram amounts of cells or tissue specimens is described. The technique promises to answer hitherto unresolved questions about the role of inositol phosphates, especially those in intact tissues, which are not readily amenable to analysis by radioisotopic techniques.
