FMOC-Cl as derivatizing agent for the analysis of amino acids and dipeptides by the absolute analysis method

One classical method for quantitation of amino acids in proteins is hydroly sis of the proteins and determination of the free amino acids. Although the drastic experimental conditions necessary for complete hydrolysis always c ause degradation of some of the amino acids, if mild hydrolysis conditions are used, a mixture of amino acids and oligopeptides is obtained. If these conditions are adequately tuned, the oligopeptides are almost exclusively d ipeptides. For this reason we have initiated a study to find a derivatizing agent suitable for the analysis of amino acids and dipeptides by an absolu te method of quantitation already tested for amino acids. FMOC-Cl was found to be a suitable derivatizing agent for this purpose.