Sofia Fernando

1NUR-8

Pre-Laboratory Sheet
Proteins

Study Questions:
1.) Polypeptide A: arg-leu-tyr-glu-lys-ile-ile-met-gly-phe-his-trp
Polypeptide B: phe-his-cys-cys-thr-trp-met-glu-asp-tyr-phe

2.)
Test A B Test A B
Biuret + + Sakaguchi + -
Ninhydrin + + Lead Acetate - +
Xanthoproteic + + FeCl3 + +
Hopkins-Cole + +

3.) An isoelectronic point is the pH value at which the protein is least soluble,
therefore, the isoelectric point of 4.6 for casein, the main protein in milk, yield the
greatest amount of cottage cheese. A pH value of 4.9 yields tough and rubbery
cheese while a lower pH such as 4.4 results in the shattering of curds, producing
fines or curd dust.

4.) Denaturation is used in hospitals for common practices such as the sterilization of
medical supplies and equipment by heating in order to denature proteins in
bacteria, thus ultimately destroying the bacteria.

5.)
Test Name of the Amino Acid Identified Positive Visible
Group Result
Ninhydrin α-NH2 group All amino acids except Proline Blue-violet solution
Xanthoproteic benzene ring Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Yellow precipitate
Tryptophan
Hopkins-Cole Indole group Tryptophan Violet ring
Sakaguchi Guanidine Arginine Red solution
group
Lead Acetate thiol group Cytosine Black precipitate
FeCl3 Phenolic Tyrosine Violet solution
group