5
 Protei n Determination by UV Absorption Alastair Aitken and Michele Learmonth 1 Introduction 1.1. Near UV Absorbance 280 nm) Quantitation of the amount of protein in a solution is possible in a simple spectrom- eter. Absorption of radiation in the near UV by proteins depends on the Tyr and Trp content (and to a very small extent on the amount of Phe and disulfide bonds). There- fore the 4280 varies greatly between different proteins (for a 1 mg/mL solution, from 0 up to 4 for some tyrosine-rich wool proteins, although most values are in the range [1]). recoverable. The method has some disadvantages, including interference from other chromophores, and the specific absorption value for a given protein must be deter- mined. The extinction of nucleic acid in the 280-nm region may be as much as 10 times that of protein at their same wavelength, and hence, a few percent of nucleic acid can greatly influence the absorption. 1.2. Far UV Absorbance The peptide bond absorbs strongly in the far UV with a maximum at about 190 nm. This very strong absorption of proteins at these wavelengths has been used in protein determination. Because of the difficulties caused by absorption by oxygen and the low output of conventional spectrophotometers at this wavelength, measurements are more conveniently made at 205 nm, where the absorbance is about half that at 190 nm. Most proteins have extinction coefficients at 205 nm for a 1 mg/mL solution of 30-35 and between 20 and 24 at 210 nm 2). Various side chains, including those of Trp, Phe, Tyr, His, Cys, Met, and Arg (in that descending order), make contributions to the A205 3). The advantages of this method include simplicity and sensitivity. As in the method outlined in Section 3.1. the sam ple is recoverable and in addition there is little variation in response between different proteins, permitting near-absolute determination of pro- tein. Disadvantages of this method include the necessity for accurate calibration of the spectrophotometer in the far UV. M any buffers and other components, such as heme or pyridoxal groups, absorb strongly in this region. From: The Protein Protocols Handboo k Edited by: J. M. Walker Humana Press Inc. Totowa NJ

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Prote in De terminat ion by UV Absorpt ion

A l a s t a i r A i t k e n a n d M i c h e l e L e a r m o n t h

1 I n t r o d u c t i o n

1 .1 . N e a r U V A b s o r b a n c e 2 8 0 n m )

Qua nt i ta t i on o f t he am oun t o f p ro t e in i n a so lu t i on is poss ib l e i n a s imple spe c t rom-

e t er. Ab sorp t ion o f r ad i a t i on i n t he near UV by p ro t e ins dep ends on the Tyr and Trp

con ten t ( and to a very smal l ex t en t on t he amo un t o f Phe and d i su l f ide bonds) . T here-

fore the 4 2 8 0 var i es g rea t l y be tween d i f f e ren t p ro te ins ( fo r a 1 m g/m L so lu ti on , f rom 0

u p t o 4 f o r s o me t y r o s i n e - r i ch w o o l p r o t e i n s , a l t h o u g h m o s t v a l u es a r e i n t h e r an g e

0 . 5 - 1 . 5 [ 1 ] ) . The advan tages o f th i s method are tha t i t i s s imple , and the samp le i s

r ecoverab l e . The method has some d i sadvan tages , i nc lud ing in t e r f e rence f rom o ther

ch romophores , and the spec i f i c abso rp t ion va lue fo r a g iven p ro t e in mus t be de t e r -

mined . The e x t inc t ion o f nuc l e i c ac id in the 280-n m reg ion m ay be as mu ch as 10 t imes

tha t o f p ro t e in a t t he i r same w aveleng th , and hence , a f ew percen t o f nuc l e i c ac id can

great ly inf luence the absorpt ion.

1 .2 . F a r U V A b s o r b a n c e

The pep t ide bo nd absorbs s t rong ly i n t he f a r UV wi th a m ax im um a t abou t 190 nm.

Th i s very s t rong absorp t ion o f p ro t e ins a t these w aveleng ths has been u sed in p ro t e in

de t ermina t ion . B ecause o f the d i f f icu l t ies caused by absorp t ion by ox yge n and the l ow

outpu t o f conven t iona l spec t ropho tometer s a t t h is wavel eng th , mea surem en t s a re mo re

conve n ien t ly mad e a t 205 nm, whe re t he absorbance i s abou t ha l f t ha t a t 190 nm. M os t

p ro t e ins have ex t inc t i on coef f ic i en t s at 205 nm fo r a 1 m g/m L so lu t ion o f 30 -3 5 and

b e t w een 2 0 an d 2 4 a t 2 1 0 n m

2 ) .

Va r ious s ide cha ins , i nc lud ing those o f Trp , Phe , Tyr , His , Cys , M et , and A rg ( i n

that descending order) , make cont r ibut ions to the A205 3 ) .

The advan tages o f t h is m ethod inc lude s impl i c i t y and sens i t iv i t y . As i n the m ethod

out l ined in S ect ion 3 .1 . the sam ple i s recov erable and in addi t ion there i s l i tt l e var iat ion

in response be tw een d i f f e ren t p ro t e ins , perm i t ti ng near -abso lu t e de t e rm ina t ion o f p ro -

t e in . D i sadvan tag es o f th i s metho d inc lude t he necess i t y fo r accura te ca l i b ra t ion o f t he

spec t roph o tom eter i n t he f a r UV. M any buf fer s and o ther com ponen t s , such as hem e o r

pyr idoxal groups, absorb s t rongly in th i s region.

From:

The Prote in Protocols Handboo k

Edi ted by: J . M. Walker H uma na Press Inc. Totowa NJ

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  Aitken and Learmonth

2 M a t e r i a l s

1 . 0 . 1 M K 2 S O

4

(pH 7.0).

2 . 5 m M p o t a s s i u m p h o sp h a t e b u f fe r , p H 7 .0 .

3 . No nionic de t e rgen t (0 .01 Br i j 35)

4 . Guanid in ium-HC1.

5 . 0 .2-1am Mi l l i pore (W at ford , UK ) f i lt e r.

6 . U V -v i s ib l e sp ec t ro m e t e r : T h e h y d ro g en l am p sh o u l d b e s e lec t ed fo r m a x i m u m i n t en si t y

a t t he par t i cu l a r wav elength .

7 . Cuvet s , quar t z , fo r <215 nm.

3 M e t h o d s

3 .1 . Es t im a t io n o f Pro t e in b y N e a r U V A b s o r b a n c e 2 8 0 n m )

1. A re l i ab l e spec t rop hotom eter i s necessary . The pro t e in so lu t ion mu st be d i lu t ed in the

buffe r to a conce nt ra t ion tha t is wel l wi th in the accura t e range o f t he ins t rume nt

s ee

No tes 1 and 2) .

2 . The pro t e in so lu t ion to be mea sured c an be in a wide range of buffe rs , so it i s usua l ly no

pro blem to f ind one tha t i s approp r i a t e for t he pro t e in which m ay a l read y be in a par t i cu l a r

buffe r requi red for a pur i f ica t ion s t ep or assay for enzy me ac t iv i ty , fo r exam ple

see

N o t es

3 and 4) .

3 . M easur e the absorb ance o f t he pro t e in so lu t ion a t 280 nm, us ing quar t z cuve t s o r cuve t s

tha t a re know n to be transpa ren t t o th i s waveleng th , f i ll ed wi th a vo lum e o f so lu tion suf f i -

c i en t t o cover t he aper ture t h roug h wh ich the l igh t beam p asses .

4 . The v a lue ob ta ined w i l l depe nd on the pa th l ength of t he cuve t . I f no t 1 cm, i t mu st be

adjus t ed b y the appropr i a t e fac tor . The Bee r-Lam ber t l aw s t a t es tha t :

A (abso rbanc e) = e c / (1)

wh ere ~ = ex t inc t ion co eff i c i en t, c = conce nt ra t ion in mol /L an d l = op t ica l pa th l en gth in

cm . T h e re fo re , i f e i s k n o w n , m easu rem en t o f A g i v e s t h e co n cen t r a t i o n d i r ec tl y , e i s

norm al ly quoted for a 1 -cm pa th l ength .

5 . T h e ac t u a l v a l u e o fU V ab so rb an ce fo r a g i v en p ro t e in m u s t b e d e t e rm i n ed b y so m e ab so -

l u te m e t h o d , e . g ., c a l cu la t ed f ro m t he am i n o ac i d co m p o s i t io n , w h i ch can b ed e t e r m i n ed

b y am i n o ac i d an a l y s i s

4) .

T h e U V ab so rb an ce fo r a p ro te i n i s th en ca l cu l a t ed acco rd i n g

to the fo l low ing formu la :

A280 (1 mg /mL ) = (5690nw + 1280n y +

120nc) / M

(2)

wh ere n w, ny, an d n c a r e t h e n u m b er s o f T rp , T y r , an d C y s r e s id u es i n t h e p o l y p ep t i d e o f

ma ss M and 569 0, 1280 and 120 are the respec t ive ex t inc t ion coeff i c i en t s for t hese res i-

d u es

s ee

No te 5) .

3 . 2 . Es tim a t io n o f Pr o te in b y F a r U V A b s o r b a n c e

1. Th e pro t e in so lu t ion i s d i lu t ed wi th a sodium chlor ide so lu t ion (0 .9 w/v) un t i l t he

ext inc t ion a t 215 nm i s <1 .5

see

Notes 1 and 6) .

2 . Al t e rna t ive ly , d i lu t e t he sam ple in another non -UV -abso rb ing buffer such as 0 .1MK 2SO4,

co n t a i n in g 5 m M p o t a s s i u m p h o sp h a t e b u f f e r ad j u s ted t o p H 7 . 0

s ee

Note 6) .

3. M easu re the absorb ances at the appropriate wav elengths (ei ther A280an d A205,or A225 and A215,

depe nding on the fo rmu la to be appl ied), using a spect rom eter fi t ted wi th a hydroge n lamp that

i s a ccu ra t e a t t h e se w av e l en g t h s , u s i n g q u a r t z cu v e t s f i l l ed w i t h a v o l u m e o f so l u t i o n

sufficient to cover the aperture through w hich the l ight be am pa sses (de tai ls in Sect ion 3.1. ) .

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UV Absorption 5

4. The

A2o 5

for a 1 mg /mL so lu t ion of p ro t e in

(,42051

mg/mL)can be ca l cu la t ed w i th in +2 ,

a cco rd i n g t o t h e em p i r i c a l f o rm u l a p ro p o sed b y S co p es

2 ) s e e

N o t es 7 -1 0 ) :

A2051 mg/mL = 27 + 120 (A280/A205) (3)

5 . A l t e rn a ti v e l y , m easu rem en t s m ay b e m ad e a t l o n g e r w av e l en g t h s

5 ) :

Protein concent rat ion (~tg/mL) = 144

(,4215

A 2 2 5 )

(4)

The ex t inc t ion a t 225 nm i s sub t rac t ed f rom tha t a t 215 nm; the d i f fe rence mul t ip l i ed by

144 gives the protein concen t rat ion in the sample in ~g/m L. W ith a part icular protein und er

spec i f i c condi t i ons accura t e m easurem ent s o f conc ent ra t ion to wi th in 5 ~ tg /L are poss ib l e .

4 N o t e s

l . I t i s bes t t o me asure absorban ces in t he range 0 .05-1 .0 (b e tween 10 and 90 of t he inc i -

dent rad i a t ion) . At a roun d 0 .3 absorban ce (50 absorp t ion) , t he accu racy is g rea t es t .

2. Bov ine serum album in i s frequent ly used as a protein standard; 1 mg /mL has an A280 of 0.66.

3. If the solut ion i s turbid, the appare nt A280 wi l l be increas ed by l ight scat tering. F i l t rat ion

( through a 0 .2-~tm Mi l l i pore f i lt e r ) o r c la r i f i ca tion o f t he so lu t ion by cen t r i fuga t ion can be

car r i ed ou t . For t u rb id so lu t ions , a convenien t approximate cor rec t ion can be appl i ed by

subt rac t ing the A310 (pro t e ins do not no rmal ly a bsorb a t th i s wav eleng th un less t he y co n-

t a in par t i cu l a r c hrom opho res) f rom the A280.

4 . At l ow concent ra t ions , p ro t e in can be los t f rom so lu t ion by adsorp t ion on the cuve t ; t he

h igh ion ic s trength he lps to preven t t h is . Inc lus ion ofa nonionic de t e rgent (0 .01 Br i j 35)

in the bu ffer m ay a l so he lp to preven t t hese losses.

5 . The presen ce o f nonp ro te in chrom opho res (e .g ., heme, pyr idoxal ) can increase A28o. I f

nuc le i c ac ids a re presen t (wh ich absorb s t rongly a t 260 nm ) , the fo l lowing form ula can be

appl i ed . Thi s g ives an accu ra t e es t imate of the pro t e in conten t by rem oving the cont r ibu-

t ion to absorban ce by nuc leo t ides a t 280 nm , by measu r ing the

A260

wh ich i s l a rge ly owing

to the lat ter

6 ) .

Prote in (mg/mL) = 1 .55

A280- 0 . 7 6

A260 (5)

Other formulae (us ing s imi l a r p r inc ip l es of absorbance d i f fe rences) employed to de t e r -

mine p ro t e in in the poss ib l e presence of nuc le ic ac ids a re the fo l lowing

7 , 8 ) :

Prote in (mg/mL)

= (A235 -

A280)/2.51

(6)

Pro te in (mg/m L) = 0 .183

A230 -

0.075.8

A260 (7)

6 . Pro t e in so lu t ions obe y Beer-L am ber t ' s La w a t 215 nm provided the ex t inc t ion i s <2 .0 .

7 . S t r i c tl y speaking , t h i s va lue appl ies t o t he pro t e in in 6M guanid in ium-H C1, bu t the va lue

in buffe r i s gene ra l ly wi th in 10 of t h is va lue , and the re l a t ive absorba nces in guani -

dinium-H C1 and buffe r can be easi ly determined by paral lel di lut ions from a stock solut ion.

8 . Sod ium chlor ide , am mo nium su l fa t e , bora t e , phosph ate , and Tr i s do not i n t e r fe re , wh ereas

0 .1M aceta t e , succ ina t e , c i tra t e , ph tha l a t e , and barb i tura t e show h igh abso rp t ion a t 215 nm.

9 . T h e ab so rp t i o n o f p ro t e in s i n th e r an g e 2 1 5 -2 2 5 n m is p r ac ti c a l ly i n d ep en d en t o f p H

b e t w een p H v a l u e s 4 -8 .

10 . The spec i f i c ex t inc tion coeff i c i en t o f a num ber ofpro t e ins and pept ides a t 205 nm and 210

n m

3 )

has been de t e rmined . The average ex t inc t ion coeff i c i en t for a 1 m g/m L so lu t ion o f

40 se rum pro te ins a t 210 nm i s 20 .5 + 0 .14 . At th i s waveleng th , a p ro t e in con cent ra t ion of

2 ~tg/mL gives A = 0.04

5 ) .

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6 Aitken and Learmonth

R e f e r e n c e s

1. Kirsche nbaum , D. M. (1975) M olar absorptivity and Al /1 cm values for proteins at

selected wa velengths of the ultraviolet and visible regions.

A n a l B i o c h e m .

68, 465--484.

2. Scopes, R. K. (1974) Measu reme nt of protein by spectrometry at 205 nm. A n a l . B i o c h e m .

59 , 277-282 .

3. Goldfarb, A . R., Saidel , L. J . , and Mosovich, E. (1951) The ultraviolet absorption spectra

of proteins. Jr. Biol. Chem. 193, 397-404.

4. Gil l , S . C. and von Hippel, P . H. ' (1989) Calculation o f protein extinction coefficients from

amino acid sequence data. A n a l . B i o c h e m . 182, 319--326.

5. W addell , W. J. (1956) A simple UV spe ctrophotometric m ethod for the determination o f

protein . Jr. Lab. Clin . M ed . 48, 311-314.

6. Layne, E. (1957) Spectrophotometric and turbidimetric methods for measuring proteins.

M e t h o ds E n z y m o l. 3 , 447-454 .

7. W hitaker, J . R. and Granum, P. E. (1980) An absolute method for protein determination

based on difference in absorbance at 235 and 280 nm.

A n a l . B i o c h e m .

109, 156-159.

8. Kalb, V. F. and Bernlohr, R. W. (1977). A new spectrophotometric a ssay for protein in cell

extracts. A n a l . B i o c h e m . 82 , 362-371 .