Protein concentration - Essay Example

Protein analyses are used for basic research useful in determining specific activities of enzymes, hormones, antibodies and others substances. There are many methods used for the assay such as colorimetric detections, protein copper chelation chemistry and other methods. The Lowry method is one of the most common and useful protein assay methods used with ready to use reagents (Pierce, 2014). The use of absorbance reading for analyzing proteins has been proven to be very useful such that it can be used to predict protein sequence (Anthis and Clore, 2013).

Protein absorbs ultraviolet rays. The strong capacity of protein to absorb UV light allows analysis of protein samples through spectrophotometry (Craic Technologies, 2012). There has been many methodologies produced for protein analysis that proves to be accurate and produce good results which include the Bradford Assay and Lowry Assay considered as the most common method (Knight and Chambers, 2003), Biuret Assay, Bichinchoninic Acid Assay. These methods have their respective advantages and disadvantages when used to read protein concentrations (Sapan, et al. 1999). Other modern techniques are also developed such as DNA Pull down Assay, Microplate Capture and DetectionAssay, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay, and more (Pierce Protein Biology Products, 2014).

There will be fives test tubes properly labeled used for the assay. A test sample diluted with 85% Sodium Chloride Solution is used to reach a final concentration of 150-100 ug/ml. The blank test tube will be added with 0.20ml 85% Sodium chloride Solution. The blank test tube will be used as reference test tube. This will be the test tube for comparison purposes with the other test tubes containing the various reagents. The blank test tube will be the first tube to be read in the spectrophotometer that will set back the reading to zero.

All the other test tubes would be read in comparison with the blank test tube’s