太赫兹(THz)波是指频率从 0.1到 10 THz之间的电磁波。氨基酸分子间的振动模式(扭转, 集体振动和氢键)大都处于 THz波段, 相比红外, 氨基酸在 THz波段体现出很多独特的吸收特征。因此对氨基酸的太赫兹光谱进行研究, 有利于更全面地认识氨基酸的生物特性, 也为进一步研究生物大分子蛋白质提供了借鉴。本文系统分析了太赫兹时域光谱技术在氨基酸领域应用的研究进展, 总结了包括氨基酸的鉴定与识别、太赫兹指纹谱数据库的建立、振动模式指认及理论模型构建、太赫兹光谱与温度相关性以及基于 THz光谱的定量分析等 5个方面的研究内容。依据大量前人的研究成果, 总结了 20种基本氨基酸在 0～6 THz的指纹谱数据库, 针对当前的研究现状, 提出了氨基酸太赫兹光谱研究方面仍存在的问题, 为今后的研究工作提供了重要的指导价值。

Terahertz (THz) waves usually refer to electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 0.1 and 10 THz. The intermolecular vibration modes of amino acid molecules(torsion, collective vibration, and hydrogen bonding)are mostly in the THz band. Compared with amino acids in the infrared band, those in the THz band have more unique absorption characteristics. Therefore, the study of the THz spectrum is conducive to a comprehensive understanding of the biological characteristics of amino acids. This study systematically analyzes the application of THz spectroscopy in the field of amino acids and summarizes the identification of amino acids, the establishment of a THz fingerprint database, the identification of vibration modes and the construction of theoretical models, the study of the temperature dependence of THz spectroscopy, and the quantitative analysis based on the THz spectrum. On the basis of a large number of previous research results, the paper summarizes the fingerprint database of 20 basic amino acids at 0-6 THz. In view of the current research situation, the existing problems are put forward, which will provide important guidance for future research.