Product Description
Aspartic acid, also known as asparctic acid, is an α-amino acid. Its L-isomer is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids, serving as a building block of proteins, with codons GAU and GAC. It, along with glutamic acid, is classified as an acidic amino acid. It is a non-essential amino acid in humans, produced through transamination from oxaloacetic acid. Aspartic acid is involved in the synthesis of lysine, threonine, isoleucine, methionine, and purine and pyrimidine bases. It acts as a carrier for K+ and Mg2+ ions, improving myocardial contractility and reducing oxygen consumption, thereby protecting the heart under coronary circulation impairment. It also participates in the urea cycle, converting ammonia and carbon dioxide into urea, reducing nitrogen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, enhancing liver function, and relieving fatigue. For mammals, it is non-essential as it can be synthesized from oxaloacetic acid. In plants and microorganisms, it is a precursor for several amino acids, including essential ones like methionine, threonine, isoleucine, and lysine. Aspartic acid is converted into these amino acids starting with its conversion to its "semi-aldehyde" form. Aspartamide is produced from aspartic acid through transamination.
Production Process
Chemical Synthesis.
Figure 1: Synthesis Route of L-Aspartic Acid.
Dissolve oxazaborolidine ketone (4 mmol) in methanol (8 mL) with concentrated HCl (4 mL). Stir the reaction mixture at room temperature for 30 minutes and evaporate the solvent. Add hot THF (20 mL) and stir for 15 minutes. Filter to collect the precipitate and purify with hot THF (20 mL) to obtain L-aspartic acid. See Figure 1 for the synthesis route.
Figure 2: Synthesis Route of L-Aspartic Acid.
Expose an aqueous solution of urea and maleic acid (each 5 x 10⁻³ M, 200 mL) to Xe excimer lamp. Pass helium gas through the reaction vessel. Maintain the temperature at 20°C using a cold bath. Expose the solution for 10 hours. Every 2 hours, sample 1 mL of the reaction mixture for product analysis. Heat 50 mL of the UV-irradiated reaction mixture under reflux for 1 hour. Concentrate 10 mL of the mixture under reduced pressure. Hydrolyze the residue with 6 M HCl (2 mL) in a sealed tube at 110°C for 48 hours. Concentrate the hydrolysis product under reduced pressure to obtain L-aspartic acid. See Figure 2 for the synthesis route.
Benefits and Uses
Aspartic acid's primary biochemical role is as a cofactor in the electron transport chain, participating in redox reactions for ATP synthesis. Since most cellular functions rely on adequate ATP supply, it is crucial for all body tissues and organs. Additionally, aspartic acid is a key lipid antioxidant, preventing the formation of free radicals and changes in proteins, lipids, and DNA.
Applications
Aspartic acid has broad applications in medicine, food, and chemicals:
- Medicine: Used to treat heart disease, liver disease, and hypertension; helps prevent and recover from fatigue; used in amino acid infusions as a detoxifier, liver function enhancer, and fatigue recovery agent.
- Food Industry: A good nutritional supplement added to various beverages; a key raw material for the sweetener aspartame (aspartylphenylalanine methyl ester).
- Chemicals: Used as a raw material for synthetic resins and as a nutritional additive in cosmetics.
Packaging and Storage
Storage Conditions: Store sealed, protected from light, avoid high temperatures, in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place.
Packaging: Bulk in 25 kg cardboard drums, small samples in 1 kg foil bags; custom packaging available.
Shipping: Courier or logistics; domestic courier delivery within three days, logistics within five days. Pricing generally includes domestic shipping costs.
Shelf Life: Two years.
