Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Amino Acids

Amino acids are involved in many metabolic processes and in protein synthesis. In the central nervous system, they also function as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators (Davidson, 1976 ; Corradetti et al., 1983; Fonnum, 1981 , 1984 ). Numerous studies have demonstrated the excitatory effects of aspartate and glutamate (Watkins and Evans, 1981 ); the inhibitory effects of glytine, γ–aminobutyric acid (GABA), and taurine (Schaffer et al., 1981 ; Lloyd et al., 1983 ; Roberts, 1984 ), and the precursor roles of tryptophan in serotonin synthesis and of tyrosine and phenylalanine in the biosyntheses of catecholamines (Sved, 1983 ). It is not surprising, therefore, to see an ever-increasing interest in amino acid analysis in biological samples.