Determination of monoamino monocarboxylic acids by quantitative paper chromatography

Abstract

Paper partition chromatography was applied to separation of the neutral amino acids isolated by ionophoresis. The method has particular value for the free amino acids found in plant extracts. Detn. of the separated amino acids eluted from the chromatograms depends on evolution of CO2 in a Warburg respirometer following oxidation with chloramine-T. The following degree of accuracy was achieved in the analysis of made-up mixtures of amino acids within the opt range for each amino acid of 0.08-0.25 mg. N: leucine + isoleucine, valine proline, analine and glycine (10 [plus or minus] 03%); isoleucine (99-93%); leucine (106-97%); threonine (in absence of hydroxy-proline), serine, phenylalanine (100 [plus or minus] 5%); tyrosine (in absence of trypto-phan) (100 [plus or minus] 8%); methionine (105-90%). The method was applied to hydrolysates of egg albumin and insulin, and the results compared with those obtained by other analytical techniques. It is suggested that, because of its relative simplicity, the method is suitable for application to routine procedures.