The challenging measurement of protein in complex biomass-derived samples

TY - JOUR

T1 - The challenging measurement of protein in complex biomass-derived samples

AU - Haven, M.O.

AU - Jørgensen, H.

PY - 2014/1/1

Y1 - 2014/1/1

N2 - Measurement of the protein content in samples from production of lignocellulosic bioethanol is an important tool when studying the adsorption of cellulases. Several methods have been used for this, and after reviewing the literature, we concluded that one of the most promising assays for simple and fast protein measurement on this type of samples was the ninhydrin assay. This method has also been used widely for this purpose, but with two different methods for protein hydrolysis prior to the assay - alkaline or acidic hydrolysis. In samples containing glucose or ethanol, there was significant interference from these compounds when using acid hydrolysis, which was not the case when using the alkaline hydrolysis. We evaluated the interference from glucose, cellulose, xylose, xylan, lignin and ethanol on protein determination of BSA, Accellerase® 1500 and Cellic® CTec2. The experiments demonstrated that the presence of cellulose, lignin and glucose (above 50 g/kg) could significantly affect the results of the assay. Comparison of analyses performed with the ninhydrin assay and with a CN analyser revealed that there was good agreement between these two analytical methods, but care has to be taken when applying the ninhydrin assay. If used correctly, the ninhydrin assay can be used as a fast method to evaluate the adsorption of cellulases to lignin.

AB - Measurement of the protein content in samples from production of lignocellulosic bioethanol is an important tool when studying the adsorption of cellulases. Several methods have been used for this, and after reviewing the literature, we concluded that one of the most promising assays for simple and fast protein measurement on this type of samples was the ninhydrin assay. This method has also been used widely for this purpose, but with two different methods for protein hydrolysis prior to the assay - alkaline or acidic hydrolysis. In samples containing glucose or ethanol, there was significant interference from these compounds when using acid hydrolysis, which was not the case when using the alkaline hydrolysis. We evaluated the interference from glucose, cellulose, xylose, xylan, lignin and ethanol on protein determination of BSA, Accellerase® 1500 and Cellic® CTec2. The experiments demonstrated that the presence of cellulose, lignin and glucose (above 50 g/kg) could significantly affect the results of the assay. Comparison of analyses performed with the ninhydrin assay and with a CN analyser revealed that there was good agreement between these two analytical methods, but care has to be taken when applying the ninhydrin assay. If used correctly, the ninhydrin assay can be used as a fast method to evaluate the adsorption of cellulases to lignin.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84894465631&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s12010-013-0466-x

DO - 10.1007/s12010-013-0466-x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24046255

AN - SCOPUS:84894465631

SN - 0273-2289

VL - 172

SP - 87

EP - 101

JO - Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

JF - Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

IS - 1

ER -