Amino Acid Analysis By Gas Chromatography

A collection of classic and cutting-edge techniques of high utility in answering specific biological questions about amino acids. Common methods include those based on HPLC or gas chromatography separation and analysis after precolumn derivatization. New techniques based on capillary electrophoresis separation, high-performance anion exchange chromatography, and mass spectrometry are also presented. Each method is described in step-by-step detail to ensure successful experimental results and emphasizes sample preparation, particularly the collection and storage of bodily fluids. Up-to-date and highly practical, Amino Acid Analysis Protocols offers analytical and clinical chemists, as well as a broad range of biological and biomedical investigators, a rich compendium of laboratory tools for the productive analysis of both common and uncommon amino acids.

Quantitation of Amino Acids and Amines by Chromatography: Methods and Protocols is intended to serve as a ready-to-use guide for the identification and quantification of amino acids and amines in various matrices, providing an overview on the theory and protocol of available methods. It presents chromatograms with exact elution programs enabling visual analysis and compares the advantages-disadvantages of various chromatographic techniques. In accordance with the chronological order of the development of chromatographic methods, different techniques are discussed: The possibilities of gas chromatography (GC), followed by those of the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the most recent techniques capillary electrophoresis (CE), capillary, electrochromatography (CEC). The characteristics of the given chromatographic procedure, relating to the topic in question, are classified according to the preliminary preparation/derivatization process(es), which means the simple methods, suitable for the analysis of the selected compound(s) in natural form, are followed by various derivatization proposals. Detailed protocols provide the reader with guidance in beginning tasks and on how to improve current methods. This book appeals to a wide audience and is recommended for those looking towards the wider reaches of identification and quantification of amino acids and amines. * Provides a systematic, and comprehensive summary of chromatographic techniques and derivatization processes * Compares advantages/disadvantages of various chromatographic techniques * Readers can undertake practical tasks using detailed protocols given in the book

Amino Acid Analysis (AAA) is an integral part of analytical biochemistry. In a relatively short time, the variety of AAA methods has evolved dramatically with more methods shifting to the use of mass spectrometry (MS) as a detection method. Another new aspect is miniaturization. However, most importantly, AAA in this day and age should be viewed in the context of Metabolomics as a part of Systems Biology. Amino Acid Analysis: Methods and Protocols presents a broad spectrum of all available methods allowing for readers to choose the method that most suits their particular laboratory set-up and analytical needs. In this volume, a reader can find chapters describing general as well as specific approaches to the sample preparation. A number of chapters describe specific applications of AAA in clinical chemistry as well as in food analysis, microbiology, marine biology, drug metabolism, even archeology. Separate chapters are devoted to the application of AAA for protein quantitation and chiral AAA. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and accessible, Amino Acid Analysis: Methods and Protocols provides crucial techniques that can be applied across multiple disciplines by anyone involved in biomedical research or life sciences.

The food analyst plays an important role in modern society. Stricter control over additives in food and concern about the effects of contamination of food by industrial and agricultural chemicals are among the developments which are leading to an increasing emphasis on detailed and accurate analysis of food. However. analysis of food is required for many reasons, including detection of toxic components, monitoring legislation, detecting adulteration, formulation of controlled diets, controlling formulation during product development and detecting changes in food during storage and processing. Foods comprise a complex mixture of components and food analysis requires efficient methods of separation with high sensitivity or specificity of detection. Although many food components are involatile or thermally labile and therefore not suitable for analysis by gas chromatography, other components are volatile and this technique is the preferred analytical method. Developments in methods of derivati zation, injector design and column technology have also extended the applicability of gas chromatography to the analysis of relatively involatile compounds.