Amino Acid Analysis: Unveiling the Secrets of Protein Composition and Metabolism

What are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are organic compounds that play key roles in various biological processes as components of proteins. They contain an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH) and a side chain to distinguish each amino acid. There are 20 standard amino acids commonly found in proteins, each with unique chemical properties and functions.

Proteins are essential for cell structure, enzyme catalysis, immune response, hormone regulation and many other biological functions, and amino acids are required for protein synthesis. They are also involved in energy metabolism, neurotransmission and the synthesis of other important molecules such as nucleotides and neurotransmitters.

What is Amino Acid Analysis

Amino acid analysis is a quantitative technique used to identify and quantify the individual amino acids present in a sample. It helps researchers understand amino acid composition, concentration, and essential and non-essential amino acid ratios, as well as assess protein quality, determine nutritional value, detect protein abnormalities, and investigate metabolic disorders.

Why is Amino Acid Analysis Necessary?

Protein Amino Acid Analysis:

Protein amino acid analysis determines the type and amount of amino acids in protein samples, providing information about protein composition, post-translational modifications and overall protein quality. Understanding amino acid content allows researchers to assess protein purity, determine changes in amino acid composition, and evaluate protein stability.

View the article to learn more about protein amino acid analysis techniques and applications.

Amino Acid Metabolism Analysis:

Amino acid metabolism analysis focuses on studying the metabolic pathways and dynamics of amino acids in biological systems. It provides valuable insights into amino acid utilization, turnover rates, and metabolic disorders.

It can be used to:

a) Unraveling metabolic pathways

b) Investigating disease mechanisms

c) Assessing nutritional status

d) Drug development and personalized medicine

View the article to learn more about amino acid metabolism analysis techniques and applications.

Techniques for Amino Acid Analysis

HPLC is a widely used technique for amino acid analysis due to its high sensitivity and resolution. It involves separating amino acids based on their physicochemical properties using a chromatographic column. This technique allows for accurate quantification of individual amino acids in complex samples.

Coupling liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS) enhances the sensitivity and specificity of amino acid analysis. LC-MS enables the identification and quantification of amino acids in complex biological matrices, such as plasma or tissue samples, with improved accuracy and precision.

Peptide mapping amino acid sequence analysis (Lam et al., 2022)

Amino Acid Analysis Services by Creative Proteomics:

Creative Proteomics offers comprehensive amino acid analysis services to researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and food industries. Their state-of-the-art facilities and experienced scientists ensure accurate and reliable results.

a) AAA Amino Acid Analysis:

Creative Proteomics specializes in automated amino acid analysis using HPLC. Their advanced analytical systems allow for precise identification and quantification of amino acids in various sample types, including proteins, peptides, and free amino acids. The AAA method provides highly sensitive and accurate results, making it an indispensable tool in protein research and quality control.

b) Amino Acid Analysis for Protein Concentration:

Accurately determining protein concentration is crucial for protein research and pharmaceutical development. Creative Proteomics offers amino acid analysis services specifically tailored for protein quantification. By measuring the amino acid composition, the protein concentration can be accurately estimated, providing valuable insights for formulation and dosage development.

c) Amino Acid Analysis in Plasma:

Plasma amino acid analysis is widely used in clinical research to diagnose metabolic disorders and monitor nutritional deficiencies. Creative Proteomics utilizes LC-MS techniques to analyze plasma samples, enabling precise measurements of amino acid profiles. This service plays a vital role in identifying and managing various metabolic disorders, such as phenylketonuria and maple syrup urine disease.

Plasma amino acid analysis (Pasquali et al., 2021)

References

Lam, Anh K., et al. "Fast and high-throughput LC-MS characterization, and peptide mapping of engineered AAV capsids using LC-MS/MS." Molecular Therapy-Methods & Clinical Development 27 (2022): 185-194.
Pasquali, Marzia, and Nicola Longo. "Newborn screening and inborn errors of metabolism." American journal of medical genetics. Part C, Seminars in medical genetics. Vol. 157. No. 1. 2011.

* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Our customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Inquiry

From Our Clients

"I recently used their proteomics service for a project analyzing protein interactions in yeast models. The team was very responsive and helped clarify the methodology they employed, which made me feel confident in the results. The data quality was solid, with clear identification of several key proteins involved in our study. Their thorough analysis enabled me to pinpoint specific interactions that I hadn't considered before, which significantly improved the direction of my research. I appreciate their professionalism and support throughout the process."

Sarah Thompson, University of California, Berkeley

"Our lab collaborated with them on a project studying cancer biomarkers. The proteomics analysis provided was detailed and focused, specifically highlighting the differential expression of proteins between healthy and tumor samples. Their clear explanations of the data helped my team understand the biological implications. I also appreciated their willingness to revise the reports based on our feedback, ensuring that we had everything we needed for our publication. This collaborative spirit was invaluable."

Emily Rodriguez, Stanford University

"Our lab worked with them on a project studying the effects of diet on gut microbiota using proteomics. They used a label-free quantification method to analyze proteins in fecal samples before and after dietary intervention. The results showed significant changes in protein expression linked to microbial activity. This was pivotal for our hypothesis about diet-microbiota interactions. The clarity of their data presentation made it easy for our team to integrate these findings into our ongoing research."

Dr. Lisa Wong, University of Toronto

"My experience with Creative Proteomics during the mass spectrometry analysis was excellent. We sent in human saliva and mouse brain tissue samples, which they expertly analyzed using both LC-MS and GC-MS techniques. The results were invaluable, revealing key metabolites in the saliva and identifying biomarkers linked to brain function in the brain tissue."

Dr. Emily Carter, Senior Research Scientist

"The overall service from Creative Proteomics was outstanding. They made the entire process seamless and efficient, allowing us to focus on our research. We worked with leaf and root samples from various Arabidopsis genotypes for targeted metabolomics analysis. Their thorough profiling of primary and secondary metabolites gave us important insights into how the plants respond metabolically to environmental stress."

Dr. Laura Henderson, Plant Physiologist

"We had a pleasant collaboration with Creative Proteomics on mass spectrometry analysis of lipids. They conducted a detailed analysis of lipid species, providing us with important insights into lipid metabolism and its relationship with metabolic syndrome disease states."

Dr. Sarah Mitchell, Research Scientist

Online Inquiry

Please submit a detailed description of your project. We will provide you with a customized project plan to meet your research requests. You can also send emails directly to for inquiries.

Great Minds Choose Creative Proteomics