Aminoacidenrichment

Aminoacidenrichment is a term used in biochemistry and analytical chemistry to describe processes that increase the relative abundance or detectability of amino acids within a sample. The phrase is not universally standardized; researchers often refer to amino acid enrichment through more specific concepts such as derivatization, isotope labeling, enrichment by selective extraction, or targeted sample preparation.

Common strategies include concentration and cleanup steps such as solid-phase extraction or ion-exchange enrichment to reduce matrix effects; chemical derivatization to improve chromatographic separation and sensitivity in HPLC or LC-MS; and isotopic labeling (for example, stable isotopes like 13C or 15N) to enable accurate quantification and metabolic tracing.

Applications span metabolomics, nutrition research, clinical diagnostics, and metabolic flux analysis. Enrichment is used to detect low-abundance amino acids, resolve isomeric species, or improve quantification in complex biological samples.

Challenges include the wide chemical diversity of amino acids, which complicates uniform enrichment; potential losses or biases during derivatization and cleanup; matrix interferences; and the need for robust calibration, validation, and correction for natural isotopic abundance in tracing experiments.

Related concepts include amino acid profiling, derivatization chemistry, and isotopic labeling strategies such as SILAC and 13C/15N tracing.