Conditions are described for the low-temperature pyrolysis of amino acids and gas-liquid chromatography of the amines produced. Pyrolysis is accomplished at 300 C, and the amines are stablized at 110 C prior to chromatography on Quadrol. Aliphatic amines C1 to C5 can be observed under these conditions. Each amino acid gives a unique amine profile, and proteins give reporducible amine profiles related to their amino acid content.