Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Isolation of protein from humic acid extracted from soil

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Chromatography of humic acid in a phenol containing solvent system reveals, in the case of the three types of soil analyzed, the presence of humoprotein containing 11 per cent of nitrogen. Isolation of a humoprotein complex from humic acid, according to the method used by Kirby, followed by paper chromatography allowed the isolation of a protein fraction containing 14.8 per cent nitrogen. This fraction is not dialysable; it has a maximum absorption in ultraviolet light between 260–280 mµ, a small electronegative charge and gives rise to twenty different amino acids. This is the first time that a protein has been separated from humus. Thereby demonstrating that part of the nitrogen contained in humic acid is in the form of protein protected from decomposition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Bibliography

  1. Bremner, J. M., A review of recent work on soil organic matter. Part I. J. Soil Sci.2, 67–82 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Flaig, W., Chemistry of humic substances. Rap. FAO/IAEA Tech. Meet. Brunswick-Völkenrode (1963), 103–127 (1966).

  3. Jenkinson, D. S. and Tinsley, J., A comparison of the ligno-protein isolated from a mineral soil and from a straw compost. Sci. Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc. X, 141–147 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kirby, K. S., A new method for the isolation of ribonucleic acids from mammalian tissues. Biochem. J.64, 405–408 (1956).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ladd, J. N. and Butler, J. H. A., Comparison of properties of synthetic and natural humic acid. Rap. FAO/IAEA tech. Meet. Brunswick-Volkenröde (1963), 143–151 (1966).

  6. Scharpenseel, H. W. and Krausse, E.: Aminosäurenuntersuchungen an verschiedenen organischen Sedimenten, besonders Grau- und Braun-huminsäurefractionen verschiedenen Bodentypen. Einschlisslich C:: markierter Huminsäuren. Z. Pflanzenernähr. Düng. Bodenk.96, 11–34 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Simonart, P. et Mayaudon, J., Humification des protéines C:: dans le sol. Pédol. Symp. Intern. 2, Applied Sci. Nucl. Péd. Gand 1961, 91–103 (1961).

  8. Smith, I., Chromatographic and Electrophoretic Techniques, Vols. I and II. Wd. W. Heinemann. Medical Books Ltd. London (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Swaby, R. J. and Ladd, J. N., Chemical nature, microbial resistance and origin of of soil humus. Chem. Abstr.60, 4727 b (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tinsley, J. and Zin, M. K., The isolation of ligno-protein from soil. Trans. V Congr. Intern. Sci. Soil Comm.2, 342–347 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Chimie Biologique et Colloïdale du Sol, Université de Louvain, Belgique

    P. Simonart, L. Batistic & J. Mayaudon

Authors
  1. P. Simonart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Batistic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Mayaudon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Research supported by the ‘Institut pour l'Encouragement de la Recherche Scientifique dans l'Industrie et l'Agriculture (I.R.S.I.A.).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Simonart, P., Batistic, L. & Mayaudon, J. Isolation of protein from humic acid extracted from soil. Plant Soil 27, 153–161 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01373385

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01373385

Keywords

Search

Navigation