Automated analysis of common basic amino acids, mono-, di-, and polyamines, phenolicamines, and indoleamines in crude biological samples.

A fully automated, fast, and sensitive method for the separation of common basic amino acids and mono-, di-, and polyamines as well as phenolic- and indoleamines is described. Picomole level determination of hydroxytryptophan, tryptophan, histidine, lysine, ethanol amine, arginine, noradrenaline, diaminopropane, putrescine, histamine, cadaverine, dopamine, hexamethylenediamine, agmatine, tyramine, phenethylamine, serotonin, 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine, 5-methoxytryptamine, tryptamine, spermidine, and spermine is carried out by ion-exchange column chromatography on a single sample in 170 min of total analysis. This method is well suited for crude extracts without preliminary purification, thus reducing preparative losses. The reproducibility of the method has been studied and the percentage recovery of the different compounds after column chromatography is reported. Its application to crude samples from different biological sources such as microorganisms, vegetables, platelets, and urine is presented. This method could serve as a powerful tool for the analysis of these amino compounds in which there is currently a considerable interest.