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Measuring Protein Concentration with Absorbance, Lowry, Bradford Coomassie Blue, or the Smith Bicinchoninic Acid Assay Before Electrophoresis

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Electrophoretic Separation of Proteins

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1855))

Abstract

Measuring the concentration of proteins is an essential part of enzyme analysis or serves to monitor protein yields and losses during protein isolation procedures. Decisions on the usefulness of any protein isolation procedure depend on knowing the concentration of proteins before and after a procedure. Protein concentration in solution is generally measured with spectrophotometry in the UV range or in the presence of dyes or copper interacting with the protein. This review describes absorbance at 280 nm, the Lowry, Bradford (Coomassie Blue), and Smith (bicinchoninic acid) assays for measuring protein and includes suggestions for optimizing each method.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa

    J. P. Dean Goldring

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  1. J. P. Dean Goldring
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Correspondence to J. P. Dean Goldring .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    Biji T. Kurien

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    R. Hal Scofield

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Goldring, J.P.D. (2019). Measuring Protein Concentration with Absorbance, Lowry, Bradford Coomassie Blue, or the Smith Bicinchoninic Acid Assay Before Electrophoresis. In: Kurien, B., Scofield, R. (eds) Electrophoretic Separation of Proteins. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1855. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8793-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8793-1_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8792-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8793-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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