Amino Acid Analysis

Amino acid analysis (AAA) is a quantitative analytical method used to determine the identity, composition, and concentration of amino acids in a peptide or protein sample. The process involves complete hydrolysis of the peptide bonds (typically using 6M hydrochloric acid at 110 degrees Celsius for 18-24 hours), followed by separation and quantification of the released free amino acids using ion-exchange chromatography with post-column ninhydrin derivatisation or reverse-phase HPLC with pre-column derivatisation reagents such as OPA or FMOC. AAA serves multiple purposes in peptide quality control: it verifies that the amino acid composition matches the expected sequence, provides accurate concentration measurements for peptide solutions, and can detect unexpected amino acids that may indicate contamination or degradation. For research-grade peptides like those in ORYN products, AAA complements HPLC purity testing and mass spectrometry identification as part of a comprehensive certificate of analysis, ensuring the peptide content is accurately labelled.