AN ULTRAMICRO METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF AMINO ACIDS
A simple, quantitative method for determination of amino acids in about 300 µgm. protein is described. The amino acids are separated by two-dimensional paper chromatography. The chromatograms are sprayed with 2% ninhydrin and the color is developed under controlled and standardized conditions. The colored areas are cut out, eluted, and the color intensity is read in a photometer. The following factors have been shown to affect the color reaction of ninhydrin with amino acids on paper chromatograms: the quality of the ninhydrin; its concentration; time of color development; and the environmental temperature and humidity. Complete oxidation of the hydrolyzate is necessary for accurate quantitative determinations of cysteine, cystine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, methionine, and valine. Strict standardization of the length of the solvent run is also important for reproducibility in the analyses of some amino acids.Bovine serum albumin has been analyzed by this method and the results found to be in excellent agreement with previously published values.