Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, Volume. 29, Issue 9, 2351(2009)
Detection of Amino Acids Based on Terahertz Spectroscopy
Terahertz (THz) is the frequency region ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 THz, which lies in the far-infrared region. Compared to Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), terahertz time-domain spectra (THz-TDS) has low energy, high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and is non-ionizing radiation. Low-frequency vibrational modes of some amino acids, such as torsional and collective vibrational modes and hydrogen-bond modes, exist in the THz region. Amino acids are important organic compounds and are the fundamental components of proteins. Amino acids can exist with a highly ordered crystal structure linked by hydrogen intermolecular bonds in the solid phase. The absorption spectra of amino acids in the THz region show marked differences while mid-infrared absorption spectra usually show very little difference. Up to now, absorption spectra of twenty kinds of amino acids have been studied by many researchers using THz technique; the quantitative analysis of amino acids by THZ-TDS is also included. Investigation of THz spectra of amino acids are of fundamental interests, and will lead to further understanding of low-frequency vibrations of protein/DNA and relevant biological reactions and activities. In the present paper, the latest progress in absorption spectra of amino acids determined by THz spectroscopy is reviewed and a database is built. Some brief remarks on future developments in and prospects for THz application in amino acids are also provided.
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TANG Zhong-feng, LIN Hai-tao, CHEN Xiao-wei, ZHANG Zeng-fang. Detection of Amino Acids Based on Terahertz Spectroscopy[J]. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2009, 29(9): 2351