Interfacing a programmable electronic calculator with an automatic amino acid analyzer

Abstract

The rapid calculation of data from an automatic amino acid analyzer by a programmable electronic calculator is now possible. The programmable electronic calculator offers a less expensive and more flexible alternative to large computers. Typically, data in the form of retention times and peak areas are read from a punched tape and converted into final values with a minimum of data handling. A digital integrator, teletypewriter with tape punch and reader, tape editor and printer also are required. A mathematical program is described that has been devised to convert raw data from a 4-h protein hydrolyzate run into final values. The final printout presents in tabular form each amino acid as a percentage of the sample dry weight and crude protein. The total weight percentage of amino acids and percentage recovery of protein based on Kjeldahl nitrogen are also calculated. Other features of the program include the ability to eliminate up to 20 extraneous peaks from the sample and to correct for sampling errors with the aid of internal standards. Amino acid molecular weights and color constants, which are also calculated, are stored without destruction so as to permit the calculation of an unlimited number of samples from the same set of standards.