UF-Amino Station LC/MS Ultra Fast Amino Acid Analysis System (Part 1) - A Novel Approach for Ultra High Speed Analysis of Amino Acids

Importance of the Topic

The rapid and accurate quantification of amino acids is essential in fields such as clinical diagnostics, food and nutrition analysis, and biopharmaceutical quality control. Traditional ion-exchange methods with post-column derivatization provide comprehensive profiles but require long analysis times. There is a growing demand for high-throughput workflows capable of simultaneous multi-component analysis without sacrificing sensitivity or resolution.

Study Objectives and Overview

This work presents a novel UF-Amino Station for ultra-fast analysis of 38 amino acids and related compounds within nine minutes. Developed in collaboration with Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and Shimadzu, the system integrates high-speed reversed-phase chromatography, automated pre-column derivatization, and ultra-high-speed mass spectrometric detection. A comparative evaluation against conventional cation-exchange post-column fluorescence methods demonstrates a dramatic reduction in analysis time while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Chromatographic Separation: Shim-pack UF-Amino column (100 mm × 2.1 mm I.D., 2 µm particles), 0.3 mL/min, 40 °C, gradient elution with proprietary Amino Tag Wako buffers and acetonitrile.
• Derivatization: Automated pre-column reaction using Amino Tag Wako reagents in a heated unit integrated in the SIL-20ACPT autosampler; overlap pretreatment cycle maximizes throughput.
• Detection: Shimadzu LCMS-2020 mass spectrometer with ESI positive ionization, enabling selective and sensitive detection of all target analytes.

Main Results and Discussion

The UF-Amino Station achieved baseline separation and detection of 38 amino acids in nine minutes, compared to over two hours required by traditional cation-exchange post-column fluorescence methods. Overlap pretreatment allows simultaneous derivatization of the next sample during column analysis, reducing idle time. High resolution and sensitivity were maintained despite the rapid cycle, demonstrating the robustness of the 2 µm stationary phase and fast MS scan speeds.

Practical Benefits and Applications

• High throughput: Up to four samples can be prepared and analyzed in parallel cycles, dramatically increasing daily sample capacity.
• Automation: Simplified workflow with minimal manual handling reduces errors and enhances reproducibility.
• Comprehensive profiling: Simultaneous quantitation of proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic amino acids, including isomers and modified forms.

Future Trends and Possibilities of Use

Advances may include further miniaturization of flow paths to reduce reagent consumption, integration with real-time monitoring for bioprocess control, and expansion of the platform to peptides and related metabolites. Machine-learning-driven data analysis could further streamline quantitation and identification workflows.

Conclusion

The UF-Amino Station delivers a breakthrough in amino acid analysis by combining ultra-fast separation, automated derivatization, and high-speed mass spectrometric detection. It offers a powerful tool for laboratories requiring rapid, reliable, and comprehensive amino acid profiling.

References

• Shimadzu Application News No. L433: UF-Amino Station LC/MS Ultra Fast Amino Acid Analysis System.