Biomaterial Database

Protein determination using bicinchoninic acid in the presence of sulfhydryl reagents. 1988

H D Hill, and J G Straka

Center for the Study of Advanced Liver Disease, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.

The bicinchoninic acid (BCA) copper reagent, developed for quantification of proteins, was found to react with thiol reagents in a linear and reproducible manner. The reactivity with thiols closely matched the extinction coefficient determined for the Cu(I)-BCA complex [6.6 X 10(3) liters (mol Cu.cm)-1], suggesting that the reaction is quantitative. This reaction interferes with the accurate determination of protein concentrations. A method was developed for determining protein concentrations in the presence of thiol reagents using the BCA protein reagent. The procedure involves preincubation of the protein solution with iodoacetamide prior to addition of the BCA protein reagent. Iodoacetamide does not react with the BCA reagent by itself. In the presence of a 10-fold molar excess of iodoacetamide over thiol equivalents, the reaction of the thiol with the BCA reagent is prevented. The method is simple and allows the assay of solutions of proteins which have been stabilized by the addition of thiol reagents.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007460	Iodoacetamide	An alkylating sulfhydryl reagent. Its actions are similar to those of iodoacetate.
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D011804	Quinolines
D012996	Solutions	The homogeneous mixtures formed by the mixing of a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance (solute) with a liquid (the solvent), from which the dissolved substances can be recovered by physical processes. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Solution
D013439	Sulfhydryl Reagents	Chemical agents that react with SH groups. This is a chemically diverse group that is used for a variety of purposes. Among these are enzyme inhibition, enzyme reactivation or protection, and labelling.	SH-Reagents,Sulfhydryl Compound Antagonists,Sulfhydryl Compound Inhibitors,Thiol Reagents,Sulfhydryl Compounds Antagonists,Sulfhydryl Compounds Inhibitors,Antagonists, Sulfhydryl Compound,Antagonists, Sulfhydryl Compounds,Compound Antagonists, Sulfhydryl,Compound Inhibitors, Sulfhydryl,Inhibitors, Sulfhydryl Compound,Inhibitors, Sulfhydryl Compounds,Reagents, Sulfhydryl,Reagents, Thiol,SH Reagents