UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

THE PONTIFICAL AND ROYAL CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF NURSING

Pre-Laboratory Sheet
Proteins
Fernandez, Amira Marie M. 09/02/2023

1Nur-2 Ma’am Abigail Arillaga

Objectives:
1. Outline several chemical properties of amino acids and proteins.
2. Describe the effects of several denaturing agents on a protein sample.
3. Differentiate amino acids through their reactions with specific reagents.

Study Questions:
1. Given the following polypeptides:
Polypeptide A: R–L–Y–E– K–I–I– M– G–F–H–W
Polypeptide B : F–H–C–C– T –W–M– E–D–Y– F
Write the corresponding 3- letter abbreviation of the amino acids in each polypeptide.

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. Complete the table below by writing (+) for a positive result and (-) for a negative result
if the given tests are done

Test A B Test A B

Biuret + + Sakaguchi + -

Ninhydrin + + Lead Acetate - +

Xanthoproteic + + FeCl3 + +

Hopkins-Cole + +

3. What is the isoelectric point? How is its principle applied in the preparation of cottage
cheese (kesong puti)?

The isoelectric point (pI) is the pH at which a particular molecule carries no net
electrical charge. It is the pH where a specific molecule does not move in a specific
electric field, indicating that it is at this pH that the total charge of the molecule is
neutral. When casein has an isoelectric point of 4.6 (the casein pH value), which is
attained during cottage cheese processing, the casein is able to separate from the liquid
and cluster together.
 UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
THE PONTIFICAL AND ROYAL CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF NURSING

4. How is denaturation made use of in a hospital setting?

Denaturation is applied in hospitals in a variety of ways. The following are application
of concept of Denaturation in hospitals:
- destroying out-of-date controlled medicine supplies in the hospital or in the
neighborhoods where patients reside.
- Denaturing controlled substances in a central location while authorized staff
looks on.
- Denaturing restricted substances before leaving the premises in the patients'
residences.
5. Give the name of the group in an amino acid that will be positive in the following tests,
the amino acid/s identified, and the corresponding positive visible result.

Test Name of the group Amino acid identified Positive visible result

Ninhydrin aNH2 group all amino acids except P Blue-violet solution

pro

Xanthoproteic Benzene ring F, Y, W Yellow precipitate

Hopkins-Cole Indole group W Yellow precipitate

Sakaguchi Guanido group R Red solution

Lead Acetate Thiol group C Black precipitate

FeCl3 Phenolic group Y Violet solution