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Biochem Lab
Biochem Lab
3. What are amino acids? Compare & contrast the essential and non-essential amino acids
Amino acids are chemical molecules that combine to form proteins and are
thus referred to as protein building blocks. The most important distinction
between essential and non-essential amino acids is that essential amino acids
cannot be produced by the body, whereas non-essential amino acids can.
4. What are the general test for amino acids? Discuss each
Ninhydrin Test: it is used to check for the presence of amino acids and
amines, and it produces a purple hue when it's positive. Only one amino acid,
proline, is known to cause the development of a yellow hue.
Xanthoproteic Test: is a biochemical test for detecting amino acids like
phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan that contain phenolic or indolic
groups (aromatic amino acids).
Millon’s Test: is a technique for detecting tyrosine-containing proteins in a
sample.The test can also assist distinguish tyrosine from other amino
acids.The test may be used to detect casein protein as well as the protein
present in raw meat.
Hopkins-Cole Test: A tryptophan test is a specialized test for detecting the
amino acid tryptophan. A reddish violet ring appears when tryptophan is
present in a solution.
Nitroprusside Test: is a biochemical test for detecting free –SH groups in
amino acids or cysteine as an amino acid in a protein. Because cysteine is the
only amino acid having a free –SH group in its structure, the test is specific
for it.
REFERENCES:
https://laboratoryinfo.com/biuret-test/
https://www.healthcheckup.com/tests/amino-acids-test/
https://study.com/learn/lesson/essential-nonessential-amino-acids-differences.html
https://byjus.com/biology/amino-acids/
https://www.verywellfit.com/what-are-amino-acids-224202
https://bitesizebio.com/5924/the-in%E2%80%99s-and-out%E2%80%99s-of-
protein-concentration-%E2%80%93-protein-precipitation/#:~:text=The%20Ins
%20and%20Outs%20of%20Protein%20Concentration
%20%E2%80%93,...%203%20Trichloroacetic%20acid.%20How%20it%20works.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/protein-precipitation
https://microbenotes.com/amino-acids-properties-structure-classification-and-
functions/#:~:text=Classification%20of%20amino%20acids%20on%20the
%20basis%20of,glutamine%2C%20proline%2C%20valine%2C%20methionine
%2C%20cysteine%2C%20histidine%2C%20and%20arginine.