Nitrogen assimilation in sunflower leaves and upward and downward transport of nitrogen

The assimilation of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen into amino acids of mature sunflower leaves and their transport to the other plant parts were investigated using nitrogen-15 as a tracer. In the leaf, to which ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium was vacuum-infiltrated, the ¹⁵N content of glutamine was always the highest of the amino acids tested and that of alanine was higher than that of glutamic acid and aspartic acid at 15 min after the infiltration. On the other hand in the leaf to which ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate was vacuum-infiltrated, the ¹⁵N content of glutamic acid and aspartic acid was superior to that of glutamine. The incorporation of ¹⁵N into serine was not active in the case of either ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium or nitrate. In the internodes above and below the treated leaf, through which photosynthates were transported into other parts, the ¹⁵N content of γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamine was markedly high when both nitrogen sources were supplied. There were no differences in the labelling patterns of amino acids between the upper and lower internodes. From these results it may be concluded that glutamine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid play an important role in the assimilation of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen in leaves and that nitrogen is transported mainly in the forms of γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamine from the leaves to the other plant parts,     

Natural abundance of 15N in nitrate,ureides, and amino acids from plant tissues

The natural ¹⁵N abundances (δ¹⁵N values) were measured for nitrate and free and bound amino acids from the leaves of field-grown spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and komatsuna (Brassica campestris L.), as well as ureides and free and bound amino acids in the leaves and roots of hydroponically grown soybean (Glycine max L.) totally depending on dinitrogen. Nitrate from the spinach and komatsuna leaves and ureides from leaves and roots of soybean showed higher δ¹⁵N values than the total tissue N and N in free or bound amino acid fractions. The δ¹⁵N values of individual free and bound amino acids, determined by GC/C/MS using their acetylpropyl derivatives, were similar in leaf tissues except for proline but varied in soybean root tissues. The order of ¹⁵N enrichment was similar in the four samples: aspartic acid > glutamic acid > threonine, proline, valine > glycine + alanine +serine, γ-amino butyric acid, and phenylalanine.     

Comparative effects of app1ication of coated and non-coated urea in clayey and sandy paddy soi1 microcosms examined by the 15N tracer technique

Abstract

¹⁵N assimilation was studied in bacteroid and cytosol fractions of soybean nodules. In the first experiment, after exposing the intact nodules to ¹⁵N₂ for 5 min and 10 min, most of the fixed ¹⁵N was detected in cytosol fraction. In cytosol fraction, ¹⁵N content of glutamine was the highest and followed by glutamic acid, alanine, and allantoin in this sequence, whereas, in bacteroid fraction, glutamic acid showed the highest ¹⁵N content and alanine and glutamine followed. In the second experiment, ¹⁵N assimilation of various ¹⁵N-labeled compounds in the separated bacteroid and cytosol fractions was investigated. In the separated bacteroid fraction which was fed with ¹⁵NH₄, ¹⁵N was incorporated very rapidly into glutamic acid, alanine, and aspartic acid, but very slowly into glutamine.

From these results, it was suggested that most of the fixed ammonia was exported to cytosol and assimilated via glutamine synthetase to glutamine, then via glutamate synthase to glutamic acid, and from these compounds various nitrogenous compounds were formed, but in bacteroids glutamate dehydrogenase and alanine dehydrogenase played an important role in the assimilation of fixed ammonia though quantitatively the contribution to ammonia assimilation in nodules was much less compared with cytosol.     

Effects of nitrogen rate and nitrogen form on glycine uptake by pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) under sterile culture

It is well known that plants are capable of taking up intact amino acids. However, how the nitrogen (N) rates and N forms affect amino acid uptake and amino acid nutritional contribution for plant are still uncertain. Effects of the different proportions of nitrate (NO₃^?), ammonium (NH₄⁺) and ¹⁵N-labeled glycine on pakchoi seedlings glycine uptake were investigated for 21 days hydroponics under the aseptic media. Our results showed that plant biomass and glycine uptake was positively related to glycine rate. NO₃^? and NH₄⁺, the two antagonistic N forms, both significantly inhibited plant glycine uptake. Their interactions with glycine were also negatively related to glycine uptake and glycine nutritional contribution. Glycine nutritional contribution in the treatments with high glycine rate (13.4%–35.8%) was significantly higher than that with low glycine rate (2.2%–13.2%). The high nutritional contribution indicated amino acids can serve as an important N source for plant growth under the high organic and low inorganic N input ecosystem.     

Changes in the free amino acid composition with maturity of the noble cultivar of Vitis rotundifolia Michx. grape

The changes in amino acid composition that occur with maturity of the Noble cultivar of the Vitis rotundifolia Michx. (muscadine) grape were determined by HPLC. Eighteen amino acids were identified. Histidine was the most prominent amino acid followed by alanine. The concentrations of most of the major amino acids (alanine, glycine, histidine, valine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, and serine) were highest at verasion. Glutamine and threonine contents dropped sharply after fruit set, while those of arginine and proline increased gradually with maturity and ripening. Tyrosine content increased gradually with maturity and ripening following a slight drop after fruit set. In ripe grapes, seeds contained most of the amino acids in mature grapes (50%) followed by the pulp (23%), the juice (15%), and the skin (11%). Alanine, histidine, and arginine were the principal amino acids identified in the juice. Alanine, histidine, arginine, valine, glutamine, aspartic acid, proline, serine, and threonine accounted for about 90% of the amino acids in the pulp. In seeds, alanine, proline, asparagine, and histidine accounted for over 55% of the amino acids, while alanine and histidine were found to be the predominant free amino acids in the skin. The profile indicates some differences in the changes in amino acid composition with berry maturity and relative amounts of amino acids present in muscadine compared to those in nonmuscadine grape species.     

Root uptake of N-containing and N-free low molecular weight organic substances by maize: A C/N tracer study

Most studies showing potential organic nitrogen uptake were conducted with amino acids. They conclude that, in some ecosystems, amino acids significantly contribute to the N demand of plants and that roots have special transporters to re-uptake amino acids released into the rhizosphere. However, the relevance of the uptake of organic N compounds can only be evaluated by comparing the uptake of N-containing and N-free organic substances. We compared the uptake of alanine, glucose and acetate labelled with ¹⁴C by maize. Additionally, the N uptake was estimated by ¹⁵N labelled alanine and KNO₃. We found a similar uptake of ¹⁴C from alanine, glucose and acetate, amounting for the whole plant less than 1% of ¹⁴C input. These results show that maize did not prefer N-containing to N-free organic substances. The uptake of ¹⁵N by maize exceeded that of ¹⁴C (10- to 50-fold), irrespective of the ¹⁵N source. However, plant uptake of nitrate (23.6–35.2% of ¹⁵N input) always exceeded the uptake of N from alanine (9.6–28.8%). The uptake of organically bound N by maize growing in soil occurred mainly by transpiration flow – as dissolved organics. The contribution of specific amino acid transporters was minor.     

Incorporation of 15N into various nitrogenous compounds in intact soybean nodules after exposure to 15N2 gas

The intact nodules attached to the upper part of soybean roots were exposed to ¹⁵N₂ and the incorporation of ¹⁵N into various soluble nitrogen constituents was investigated. Results indicated that ammonia, a primary product of N₂ fixation, was located in more than two compartments. Ammonia reduced from N₂ gas seemed to be incorporated firstly into glutamine especially amido-group nitrogen. Newly fixed nitrogen was secondly incorporated into glutamic acid and alanine in this sequence. These results suggested that fixed ammonia was assimilated by glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase pathway. Turn-over rate of allantoin plus allantoic acid and serine was relatively high, although apparently these compounds were not primary products of newly fixed ammonia. ¹⁵N content of allantoin was always higher than that of allantoic acid. ¹⁵N incorporation to aspartic acid and asparagine was relatively slow, especially in early period. In bacteroid fraction there is much amount of ammonia comparing with other compounds, while allantoin and asparagine were presented exclusively in cytosol. ¹⁵N was incorporated into nitrate within a few minutes especially in bacteroids.     

Biochemical and microbial changes during the storage of minimally processed cantaloupe

The effect of storage time on pH, titratable acidity, degrees Brix, organic acids, sugars, amino acids, and color of minimally processed cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud. cv. Mission) was determined at 4 degrees C and 20 degrees C. Changes in most of the biochemical parameters with storage time were relatively slow at the lower temperature. At 20 degrees C, a 17% loss in soluble solids and a 2-fold increase in acidity occurred after 2 days. Organic acid content also increased considerably with time at this temperature as a result of the production of lactic acid. Oxalic, citric, malic, and succinic acids were the organic acids, and glucose, fructose, and sucrose were the sugars present in the freshly cut cantaloupe. Malic acid concentration decreased concurrently with lactic acid production indicating the possible involvement of anaerobic malo-lactic fermentation along with sugar utilization by lactic acid bacteria. The effect of storage on microbial growth was determined at 4, 10, and 20 degrees C. Gram-negative stained rods grew at a slower rate at 4 degrees C and 10 degrees C than the Gram-positive mesophilic bacteria that dominated microorganism growth at 20 degrees C. Eighteen amino acids were identified in fresh cantaloupe: aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, serine, glutamine, glycine, histidine, arginine, threonine, alanine, proline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenyl alanine, and lysine. The dominant amino acids were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, arginine, and alanine. Total amino acid content decreased rapidly at 20 degrees C, but only a slight decrease occurred at 4 degrees C after prolonged storage. Changes in lightness (L), chroma, and hue at both temperatures indicate the absence of browning reactions. The results indicate the potential use of lactic acid and lactic acid bacteria as quality control markers in minimally processed fruits.     

Identification of free amino acids in peat by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

The qualitative and quantitative composition of free amino acids in a typical Finnish peat bog at various depths down to 5.3 m below the surface was studied using capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Sixteen amino acids were identified at each depth: α-alanine, β-alanine, glycine, valine, leucine, proline, isoleucine, serine, threonine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, tyrosine, γ-aminobutyric acid, ornithine and lysine. Their amounts decreased markedly at a depth of 40–100 cm. The total amount of amino acids varied between 0.6 and 5.6 g kg^?1 dry matter (i.e. 0.06–0.56%) depending on the depth. The proportion of neutral amino acids was greatest at all depths studied, except at the surface layer where it ranged between 41 and 72% by mass. The acidic amino acids decreased with depth from 56 to 23% of the total. The proportion of aromatic amino acids was very small, 3.2–5.5% by mass. In samples from aerobic conditions, where the microbial production of free amino acids was the greatest, α-ala, gly, glu and asp were most abundant. In peat from anaerobic conditions, where the microbiological activity was low, the proportion of the most chemically stable amino acid was exceptionally high. This may have been because glycine was a degradation product of other amino acids or peptides. Peat type and degree of decomposition had a strong influence on the total amount of free amino acids and their qualitative composition.     

氨基酸部分替代硝态氮对小白菜生长、硝酸盐累积及大量元素含量的影响

A hydroponic experiment was carried out to determine the influence of replacing 20% of nitrate-N in nutrient solutions with 20 individual amino acids on growth, nitrate accumulation, and concentrations of nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P）, and potassium （K） in pak-choi （Brassica chinensis L.） shoots. When 20% of nitrate-N was replaced with arginine （Arg） compared to the full nitrate treatment, pak-choi shoot fresh and dry weights increased significantly （P ≤ 0.05）, but when 20% of nitrate-N was replaced with alanine （Ala）, valine （Val）, leucine （Leu）, isoleucine （Ile）, proline （Pro）, phenylalanine （Phe）, methionine （Met）, aspartic acid （Asp）, glutamic acid （Glu）, lysine （Lys）, glycine （Gly）, serine （Ser）, threonine （Thr）, cysteine （Cys）, and tyrosine （Tyr）, shoot fresh and dry weights decreased significantly （P ≤ 0.05）. After replacing 20% of nitrate-N with asparagine （Asn） and glutamine （Gin）, shoot fresh and dry weights were unaffected. Compared to the full nitrate treatment, amino acid replacement treatments, except for Cys, Gly, histidine （His）, and Arg, significantly reduced （P ≤0.05） nitrate concentrations in plant shoots. Except for Cys, Leu, Pro, and Met, total N concentrations in plant tissues of the other amino acid treatments significantly increased （P ≤ 0.05）. Amino acids also affected total P and K concentrations, but the effects differed depending on individual amino acids. To improve pak-choi shoot quality, Gln and Asn, due to their insignificant effects on pak-choi growth, their significant reduction in nitrate concentrations, and their increase in macroelement content in plants, may be used to partially replace nitrate-N.     

Amino acid metabolism in plant leaf

Recent studies have shown that the incorporation of ammonium nitrogen into amino acids in the leaves is strictly dependent on light (1-4). It is speculated that the effect of light on ammonium assimilation may be through the synthesis of the precursors of amino acids, or by the supply of the energy required for amination and amidation with organic acids. In the Vicia faba chloroplasts Givan et al. (1) exhibited that the synthesis of glutamic acid from a-ketoglutarate was linked with the generation of reduced pyridin nucleotide by photosynthetic electron transport. Mitchell and Stocking (2) suggested the direct coupling of glutamine formation with photophosphorylation in the pea chloroplasts. On the other hand. the processes of nitrate assimilation are more indebted to light than those of ammonium assimilation, because the former ones involve the reduction of nitrate to ammonium which is believed to be light-dependent (5). Canvin and Atkins (6). and Atkins and Canvin (7) reported that the incorporation of ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium and nitrate into amino acid fractiom was depressed by the dark treatment and by photosystem inhibitors; 3-(3′,4′-dichlrophenyl)-1-1-dimethylurea (DCMU) and carbonyl-cyanide-m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone(CCCP).     

Translocation of serine from leaves to roots in tobacco plants

It has been reported that nitrogen in the leaves of tobacco plant was translocated to the stem and root during the ripening period (1). Free amino acids in the leaves would play an important role in the translocation of nitrogen. It was also reported that the amino acids injected into the tobacco leaves were translocated to the roots (2,3). It seems probable that the translocation of amino acids would be characteristic among the individual amino acid. As reported previously, ¹⁴C assimilated in the leaves is translocated rapidly to the roots (2). Although it has been well known that the photosynthetic product was translocated mainly in the form of sugar, possibility that a part of photosynthetic products is translocated in the form of amino acid would be expected, because the carbon is incorporated rapidly into some of the amino acids, such as glycine, serine and alanine (4).     

Why does temperature affect relative uptake rates of nitrate, ammonium and glycine: A test with Eucalyptus pauciflora

Few studies have examined how temperature affects uptake of nitrate, ammonium and amino acids from soil. This study tests the hypothesis that cool temperatures favour uptake of the amino acid glycine while warm temperatures favour uptake of inorganic forms of N such as nitrate. We used glasshouse-grown ectomycorrhizal seedlings of the sub-alpine tree species Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Spreng. Seedlings were grown in soil (humic umbrosol, from species' habitat) that was dominated by amino acids and ammonium with only small amounts of nitrate. To examine if root physiology affects temperature responses of N uptake, we measured uptake from ¹⁵N-labelled hydrosolutions containing equimolar 100 μmol L⁻¹ mixtures of ammonium, nitrate and glycine at temperatures from 5 to 35 °C. We also examined if the effect of temperature on uptake of N forms was due to plant-microbe competition by following the fate of equimolar amounts of labelled ammonium, nitrate and glycine injected into the soil at temperatures of 5 °C and 25 °C. Hydrosolution experiments showed that uptake of glycine was favoured by warm temperatures and inorganic N by cool temperatures. In contrast, when ¹⁵N was injected into soil the uptake of glycine was favoured by low temperatures and nitrate by warm temperatures. At 25 °C, glycine was 17% of the N taken up from soil and nitrate was 51%; whereas at 5 °C glycine was 30% of the N taken up from soil and nitrate was 23%. Microbes were better competitors than seedlings for all forms of N, but temperature did not affect microbial preference for the different N forms. Hence, while microbes limit N available for plant uptake, they do not seem to be the cause of the greater plant uptake of glycine at cool temperatures and nitrate at warm temperatures. Intact uptake of glycine by plants was suggested by the positive relationship between uptake of ¹³C and ¹⁵N and detection by GC-MS of intact , ¹⁵N glycine molecules in roots. In conclusion, uptake of glycine is favoured by cool temperatures and nitrate by warm temperatures, but this is apparently not a function of root physiology or competition with soil microbes.     

Ammonium assimilation in rice based on the occurrence of 15N and inhibition of glutamine synthetase activity

Assimilation of ammonium (NH₄) into free amino acids and total reduced nitrogen (N) was monitored in both roots and shoots of two‐week old rice seedlings supplied with 5 mM 99% (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ in aerated hydroponic culture with or without a 2 h preincubation with 1 mM methionine sulfoximine (MSX), an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase (GS) activity. ¹⁵NH₄ was not assimilated into amino acids when the GS/GOGAT (glutamate synthase) cycle was inhibited by MSX. Inhibition of glutamine synthetase (GS) activity in roots with MSX increased both the amount of NH₄ and the abundance of ¹⁵N labeled NH₄. In contrast, the amount of Gln and Glu, and their proportions as ¹⁵N, decreased in roots when GS activity was inhibited. This research confirms the importance of GS/GOGAT in NH₄ assimilation in rice roots.

¹⁵N‐labeled studies indicate that NH₄ ions incorporated by roots of rice are transformed primarily into glutamine (Gln) and glutamic acid (Glu) before being converted to other amino acids through transamination (15). The formation of amino acids such as aspartic acid (Asp) and alanine (Ala) directly from free NH₄ in roots also has been reported (4,15). Translocation of free NH₄ to plant shoots, based on the concentration of free NH₄ in xylem exudate, has been reported in tomato (13), although NH₄ in shoots primarily originates from nitrate reduction in the shoot. Photorespiration also can contribute to the accumulation of NH₄ in leaves (7).

The GS/GOGAT cycle appears to be primarily responsible for the assimilation of exogenously supplied NH₄ and NH₄ derived from nitrate reduction in leaves, as well as NH₄ derived from photorespiration (2,3,6,8). Genetic evidence cited to support this conclusion includes the lethal effect of photorespiratory conditions on plant mutants deficient in chloroplast‐localized GS and GOGAT activities (2,3,9), and the rapid accumulation of free NH₄ in GS‐deficient mutants under photorespiratory conditions (2,3,5).

The present study was initiated to quantify the in vivo amino acid synthesis in rice roots and shoots by analysis of ¹⁵N labeling, and should provide a more complete understanding of this important system for NH₄ utilization.     

Yield and protein quality of five soft red winter wheat cultivars as affected by nitrogen fertilization rate

Abstract

This study reports the relationship between N levels (22, 56 and 112 kg/ha) and its effect on yield and protein quality for five cultivars of soft winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell). The objective was to determine the relationship of amino acid content and total protein at various levels of N. The 56 and 112 kg N/ha rates resulted in higher wheat yields than the 22 kg N rate over the 3 yr. mean. A cultivar x N level interaction for yield occurred when certain cultivars did not respond to higher N rates in 1972. Total seed protein increased with each increase in If. Increasing N levels generally resulted in a higher amlno acid content of the seed. Cultivar effects were found for 6 of the 17 amino acids (threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine and lysine) indicating that cultivars differed in total amino acid content. Cultivars Arthur and Holley gave the greatest response (percentage amino acid) to N application. Coker 68–8 was intermediate in response while Coker 68–15 and Blueboy showed small inconsistent responses to H application.     

Protein content and amino acid composition of seven wheat cultivars subjected to water stress: Effects of nitrogen fertilizer treatments

Seven wheat cultivars of wide genetic base were grown with three levels of N (0, 100, and 200 kg/ha), and were subjected to a water stress at the flowering stage. The protein content and amino acid composition of the wheat grain were determined. Crude protein content increased with each increase of N rate for each cultivar but the largest increase was from the first increment. The percentages of three amino acids (glutamic acid, proline, and phenylalanine) increased with the first increment of nitrogen, and the percentages of eight (lysine, histidine, arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, glycine, alanine, and valine) decreased. None of the cultivar x N interactions for amino acid composition was significant, indicating that the relative changes in amino acid composition for the seven cultivars were the same. This shows that successful manipulation of amino acid composition through N fertilization of selected cultivars that were subjected to a soil water stress at the flowering stage is remote.     

Distribution of nitrogen absorbed during different times of growth in the plant parts of wheat and contribution to the grain amino acids

Abstract

Wheats (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Nörin 61) were grown in culture solution in a greenhouse. The growth season was divided into six periods, and ¹⁶N labeling was applied during each period to different plants by supplying ¹⁶N-labeled KNO₃. Partitioning of the label in the plant parts and in the pro teins and amino acids of the grains was investigated.

Loss of nitrogen (N) from the plants was observed only for N absorbed early. N in each plant part was composed of newly absorbed N and retranslocated N, and N loss from a part was faster in the case of late partitioned N than early partitioned N. A considerable amount of N was estimated to be transferred to the ears after being distributed to other parts.

No significant differences in the distribution of the N absorbed at the different times of growth among the protein fractions of the grains were detected. Although the grain amino acids were synthesized with the N supplied any time during the growing season, there were some distinct differences in the preferential dependence of N origin on the time of N absorption. The dependence of lysine, histidine+arginine, and valine on early absorbed N was relatively more pronounced than in the case of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and alanine, while the reverse was observed for N absorbed in later stages of growth.     

Simultaneous Uptake of Multiple Amino Acids by Wheat

ABSTRACT

Recent research has proven that higher plants can utilize amino acids as nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) sources. Most studies have focused on single amino acids with or without inorganic N, but a range of amino acids may be expected under conditions where the main N input derives from turnover of organic N sources. This study investigated the uptake of multiple amino acids by plant roots and further the active versus passive uptake was determined. Under minimum microbial activity conditions, seedlings of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. ‘Baldus’) were exposed to a series of different concentrations of seven mixed amino acids solutions. Samples of the depleted solutions were periodically collected over a period of ten hours to measure the concentration of amino acids. For all tested amino acids passive uptake was a minor contribution compared to the total uptake. The uptake rates of the amino acids were well described by single Michaelis-Menten kinetic equations with R² ranging from 0.87 to 0.96. All of the tested amino acids showed a similar uptake pattern. Wheat plants had the highest affinity (lowest K _m values) for glutamine followed by tryptophan, alanine, arginine, glycine, and serine. The V _max values for amino acids uptake by wheat ranged from 2.26 for tryptophan to 16.6 μmol g^?1 root FW h^?1 in case of serine.     

Glucose metabolism in detached leaves of tomato plants grown with ammonium and nitrate as nitrogen sources

The metabolism of exogenous glucose-¹⁴C in the light and the dark was studied in the detached leaves of tomato plants grown with ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. In the light, ¹⁴CO₂, release and incorporation of glucose into insoluble materials were hardly affected at all by the nitrogen sources. Among the soluble labelled amino acids, serine had the greatest amount of label in the ammonium-plants while aspartate had the greatest amount in the nitrate-plants. This aspartate was synthesized from C₃-compounds by carboxylation. During dark-light transition, the change in the composition of soluble amino acids was more rapid in the ammonium-plants than in the nitrate-plants. In the dark, ¹⁴CO₂-release, which was ten times as much as in the light, was larger in the ammonium-plants than in the nitrate-plants; but the synthesis of high molecular compounds from glucose in the ammonium-plants was about half that in the nitrate-plants. So, it is considered that respiration operates sufficiently in the ammonium-plants. The effects of DCMU and a 100% O₂ atmosphere on glucose metabolism in both groups of plants were studied and the respiration of leaves in the light was discussed.     

Comparative study on free amino acid composition of wild edible mushroom species

A comparative study on the amino acid composition of 11 wild edible mushroom species (Suillus bellini, Suillus luteus, Suillus granulatus, Tricholomopsis rutilans, Hygrophorus agathosmus, Amanita rubescens, Russula cyanoxantha, Boletus edulis, Tricholoma equestre, Fistulina hepatica, and Cantharellus cibarius) was developed. To define the qualitative and quantitative profiles, a derivatization procedure with dabsyl chloride was performed, followed by HPLC-UV-vis analysis. Twenty free amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, glycine, alanine, valine, proline, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, cysteine, ornithine, lysine, histidine, and tyrosine) were determined. B. edulis and T. equestre were revealed to be the most nutritional species, whereas F. hepatica was the poorest. The different species exhibited distinct free amino acid profiles. The quantification of the identified compounds indicated that, in a general way, alanine was the major amino acid. The results show that the analyzed mushroom species possess moderate amino acid contents, which may be relevant from a nutritional point of view because these compounds are indispensable for human health. A combination of different mushroom species in the diet would offer good amounts of amino acids and a great diversity of palatable sensations.