L-Amino Acid Assay Kit (Colorimetric)

Principle of the Assay: L-Amino Acid Assay Kit measures L-Amino Acids within food or biological samples. An L-amino acid is oxidatively deaminated by L-Amino Acid oxidase into its corresponding alpha-keto acid plus ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is then detected with a highly specific colorimetric probe. Horseradish peroxidase catalyzes the reaction between the probe and hydrogen peroxide, which bind in a 1:1 ratio. Samples and standards are read with a standard 96-well colorimetric plate reader. Samples are compared to a known concentration of L-Alanine standard within the 96-well microtiter plate format (Figure 1).

Background/Introduction: Amino acids are organic compounds that contain amine (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH) functional groups, as well as a side-chain (R group) which confers uniqueness to each amino acid. The main elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, although other elements can be found in some amino acids. About 500 amino acids are known, but only 20 are coded in the human genome. Amino acids are the monomers which are joined together to make short polymer chains called peptides or longer chains called proteins. Non-protein amino acids play important roles in the formation of biologically important molecules. For example, tryptophan is processed into the neurotransmitter serotonin, while tyrosine (and its precursor phenylalanine) are processed into neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. When consumed and absorbed by the human body, the standard amino acids are used to make proteins and other molecules or are oxidized to urea and carbon dioxide to be used as a form of energy. The oxidation pathway begins with transamidase removal of the amino group, and this group is then processed through the urea cycle. The other transamidation product is a keto acid that is used for the citric acid cycle. Through the process of gluconeogenesis, some amino acids can also be converted into glucose. Out of the standard 20 amino acids, nine amino acids (His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, Trp and Val) are considered to be essential amino acids because the human body cannot make them from other molecules in enough amounts needed for normal growth, so they must be obtained from food sources. L-Amino Acid Assay Kit is a simple colorimetric assay that measures the total amount of free L-Amino Acids (except for Glycine) present in foods or biological samples in a 96-well microtiter plate format. Amino Acids in polypeptide chains (peptides and proteins) are not detected. Each kit provides sufficient reagents to perform up to 100 assays, including blanks, L-Alanine standards and unknown samples. Sample L-Amino Acid concentrations are determined by comparison with a known L-Alanine standard. The kit has a detection sensitivity limit of 62.5 uM L-Amino Acids.

Small volumes of L-Amino Acid assay kit vial(s) may occasionally become entrapped in the seal of the product vial during shipment and storage. If necessary, briefly centrifuge the vial on a tabletop centrifuge to dislodge any liquid in the container`s cap. Certain products may require to ship with dry ice and additional dry ice fee may apply.

MBS169296 is an assay kit targeting L-Amino Acid. Also known as L-Amino Acid Assay Kit (Colorimetric).