Amino Acid Analysis

UPLC Amino Acid Analysis Solution

• AccQ•Tag™ Ultra derivatization and separation chemistries including quality-control tested columns, reagents, and eluents
• ACQUITY UPLC H-Class (quaternary) or ACQUITY UPLC H-Class Bio (quaternary) system with a Tunable UV Detector, with enhanced chromatographic resolution and maximum-sensitivity detection
• Empower™ Software pre-configured projects, methods and report formats
• Connections INSIGHT^® ISDP instrument diagnostics to ensure continuous, consistent, and reliable operation in your lab
• Installation, Operation, and Performance Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) protocols that ensure every element of the system is performing, for reproducible results day-to-day, instrument-to-instrument, lab-to-lab, around the world.

The UPLC Amino Acid Analysis Solution provides you with control over the major factors that commonly cause variability in amino acid analysis. From optimized instrumentation and quality controlled chemistries to standardized software projects, methods, report templates, and qualification tools, you will rely on a method that is both rugged and reliable – a comprehensive and detailed approach that ensures successful analysis of every sample.

The UPLC AAA System brings together industry-leading technologies—instrumentation, chemistries, software, qualification tools and services – that are specifically optimized for exceptional, application-focused performance. Designed by scientists for scientists, these solutions remove the guesswork in choosing the best solution for your application’s needs.

Importance of Amino Acids

Analysis of amino acids is required in several areas of research, and it is a fundamental tool in product analysis. The application imposes different requirements on the analytical method because the amino acids play different roles.

• Amino acids are the basic constituents of proteins. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the amino acid composition of hydrolyzed samples of pure proteins or peptides is used to identify the material and to directly measure its concentration
• Amino acids are also intermediates in metabolic pathways, often not directly involving proteins. The amino acids are measured as elements of physiological and nutritional studies. This has proven particularly important in monitoring the growth of cells in cultures, as used in the production of biopharmaceuticals
• Similar considerations lead to the analysis of foods and feeds to ensure that nutritional requirements are met

With the UPLC Amino Acid Analysis Solution, you benefit from better resolution and sensitivity, all achieved in a shorter analysis time than with conventional methodologies:

• Method robustness minimizes variability
• Better resolution translates into accurate results
• UPLC delivers greater throughput than traditional HPLC
• Protein characterization accelerates for comparison of amino acid composition deduced from the gene sequence for a product or its natural counterpart
• Monitoring cell culture media for critical nutrients allows you to optimize expression efficiencies and to make timely product harvesting decisions
• Avoid costly reformulations primary nutritional components

Optimized Peak Identification

AccQ•Tag™ Ultra Chemistries used in the UPLC Amino Acid Analysis Solution are a comprehensive and fully-tested set of reagents, columns, and eluents optimized for use with the ACQUITY UPLC H-Class and ACQUITY UPLC H-Class Bio Systems. With superior resolution of all amino acids, you will confidently achieve peak identification and quantitation, which in turn assures the accuracy of your results.

This chemistry is based on Waters’ widely-used and understood AccQ•Tag derivatizaton method. Primary and secondary amino acids react with a single reagent, AccQ•Fluor™, in a high-throughput batch process resulting in exceptionally stable derivatives. High resolution separations are achieved using pre-qualified AccQ•Tag Ultra UPLC columns and mobile phases. Derivatized amino acids are quantified to sub-picomole levels with single wavelength UV detection.

Performance Qualification

Qualification services available for the UPLC Amino Acid Analysis Solution meet the most stringent regulatory requirements. Installation, Operation, and Performance Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) protocols ensure that every element of the system is performing according to its intended use. An additional PQ, specific for amino acid analysis, is also available to verify performance and ensure accurate results.

Determination and control of critical nutrients in cell culture is important to maximize protein yield and provide a consistent manufacturing process. The Waters UPLC^®Amino Acid Analysis (AAA) Solution is a turnkey solution that provides accurate, high throughput amino acid analysis.

The UPLC Amino Acid Analysis Solution meets the specific demands of analyzing amino acids for protein characterization, cell culture monitoring, and nutritional analysis of foods and feeds. This end-to-end system is designed to deliver the accuracy and reliability you need to be successful.