Quantitative estimation of aminoacids by Ninhydrin Method

Amino acids are known to be the building block of all proteins. Twenty different amino acids are commonly found in proteins. Amino acids comprises of a carboxyl group and an amino group bonded to the same carbon atom (the α carbon).They differ from each other in their side chains (R groups),which vary in structure, size, electric charge and solubility in water. Hence their detection, quantification and identification in any sample constitute important steps in the study of proteins.