The Protein Purification Facility
The Wolfson Centre for Applied Structural Biology
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Dr. Mario Lebendiker
mariol@mail.ls.huji.ac.il  Tel: 972-2-6586920 

COMPARISION OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN DETERMINATION METHODS


Company Method Detection 
Range
Applications
-Compatibility
Assay protocol
Precautions-
Interferences

Absorbance 280nm 0.1-1 OD280nm/ml Absorbance of aromatic amino-acids (Trp, Tyr and Phe at less extent). Only for purified proteins with known absorptivity factor (Use ExPASy ProtParam tool to inquire E1% 280nm) Read absorbance 280nm. Nucleic acid, detergents, cofactors, phenolic compounds, pigments, reducing agents, etc etc.
AMERSHAM-
BIOSCIENCE (PHARMACIA)
(# 80-6483-56)
2-D Quant Kit  0–50 µg

(1–50 µl) 

Designed for the accurate determination of protein concentration in samples prepared for electrophoresis and presence of detergents, Urea, DTT, EDTA, Ampholites, etc, and many buffer components. Quantitative precipitation of proteins while leaving interfering substances behind. 
BIO-RAD
(#500-0001/2/6)
Bio-Rad Protein Assay 
(Modified 
Bradford) (pdf)
0.2–0.9 mg/ml Compatible with reducing agents 
(See list of compatible 
reagents on BioRad cataloge)
Minimum incubation time 15minutes.
Assay wavelength 650-750nm
Detergents, basic buffers
BIO-RAD
(#500-0111/2)
DC Protein Assay (Modified Lowry)
(pdf)
0.1–2.0 mg/ml Compatible with detergents, basic buffers (See list of compatible reagents on BioRad cataloge) Minimum incubation time 15minutes.
Assay wavelength 595nm
Reducing agents
BIO-RAD (#500-0121/2) RC DC Protein Assay (Modified Lowry) (pdf) 0.1–2.0 mg/ml Compatible with detergents, reducing agents, Laemmli sample buffer with 5% beta-mercaptoethanol, etc (See list of compatible reagents on BioRad cataloge) Minimum incubation time 15minutes.
Assay wavelength 650-750nm

EXPEDEON BradfordUltra™ kit
(pdf)
2.0 mg/ml low protein range Compatible with 1% detergents, chelators, reducing agents and amines Mix, vortex and read 595nm
GENO TECHNOLOGY (#786-005) Non-Interfering Protein AssayTM
Compatible with reducing agents(2ME, DTT), chelating agents EDTA , detergents (non-ionic, anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic) , amines (Tris), sugar, urea, ammonium sulfate, guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine thiocyanate, drugs, antibiotics, cobalt, and numerous other agents. Quantitative precipitation of proteins while leaving interfering substances behind.
MOLECULAR PROBES 
(N-6666)
Nano Orange Protein Quantitation Kit (pdf) 10 ng/mL - 

10 µg/mL

Little protein-to-protein variability. Compatible with the presence of reducing agents and nucleic acids.  Mix and heat 10' 95ºC. Fluorescence emissions are measured directly Unusually high concentrations of lipids in the sample can interfere. This interference can be eliminated by acetone precipitation of the protein, followed by delipidation with diethyl ether.
MOLECULAR PROBES 
(C-6667)
CBQCA Protein Quantitation Kit
(pdf)
10 ng/mL - 150 µg/mL Functions well in the presence of lipids and detergents (to determine the protein content of lipoprotein samples or lipid–protein mixtures)

OZ Biosciences
(#BA00100/
#BA00050)

Bradford Protein Assay Kit
(pdf)

Low: 0.5 – 50 µg/mL
High: 50 – 1500 µg/mL

Determination of protein amount in the presence of detergent (< 0.1%), reducing agents, Urea 4M,
Guanidine-HCl 2M, etc (see Table 1)
0.14ml reagent + 0.01ml sample

Incubation 5' RT. Read 595nm

See Table 1
PIERCE
(#23225)
BCA Protein Assay (pdf) 0.5-20 µg/ml Compatible with detergents solubilized proteins. Proteins on affinity supports. Chaotropic agents, sugars, DNA, protease inhibitors 2ml reagent + 0.1ml sample

Incubation 30' 37ºC. Read 562nm

Reducing agents (can be eliminated with TCA, see Protocol)
PIERCE
(#23235)
Micro-BCA Protein Assay (pdf) 0.5-20 µg/ml Compatible with detergents solubilized proteins. Proteins on affinity supports. Chaotropic agents, sugars, DNA, protease inhibitors 1ml reagent + 1ml sample

Incubation 60' 60ºC. Read 562nm

Reducing agents (can be eliminated with TCA, see Protocol)
PIERCE
(#23236)
Coomassie Plus Protein Assay 1-1500 µg/m For quick estimation where accuracy is not important. Reducing agents. Chaotropic and chelating agents, metals, protease inhibitors. DNA. 3 ml reagent + 0.1ml sample

Vortex and read 595nm

Detergents (sometimes you can normalize using same detergent concentration in blank and standarts)
PIERCE (#23200)

SIGMA (#610-A)

Coomassie Protein Assay (pdf)
BRADFORD
1-1500 µg/ml For quick estimation where accuracy is not important: great variability. Compatible with reducing agents. Chaotropic and chelating agents, metals, protease inhibitors. DNA. 5 ml reagent + 0.1ml sample

Vortex and read 595nm

Detergents (sometimes you can normalize using same detergent concentration in blank and standarts)
PIERCE
(#23240)
Modified Lowry Protein Assay (pdf) 1-1500 µg/ml Accurate. Compatible with protease inhibitors. DNA. 1 ml reagent + 0.2ml sample. Incubate 10' RT. Add 0.1ml Folin-Ciocalteu. Incubate 30' RT. Read 750nm Reducing agents (can be eliminated with TCA, see Protocol,pdf) and some detergents
PIERCE
(#23255)
Fluoraldehyde Protein/Peptide Assay 0.05-500 µg/ml Compatible with reducing agents and some detergents. Chelating agents, metals and sugars 2 ml reagent + 0.2ml sample. Mix and read fluorescence; excitation 330-390nm; emission 436-475nm. Great variability. Cannot meassure in the presence of TRIS or Glycine buffer.
ROCHE 
(#1 767 283)
(#1 767 003)
ESL Protein Assay  (pdf) 20-800 µg/ml.
Detection limit 1µg/sample
Biuret-like reaction, detect peptide bonds. The assay is compatible with several detergents. Coul be used for determination of peptides and immobilized proteins 7 minutes reaction. Read at 485nm.
SIGMA
(#690-1)
BIURET 1-10 mg/ml Very accurate and simple Read 550nm Glucose, Ammonium sulphate, Sulphydryl compounds, PO4 buffers
Folin-Ciocalteu reagent: SIGMA (#F9252) - MERCK LOWRY 10 µg/ml -
1 mg/ml
Very accurate 1 ml reagent + 0.2ml sample. Incubate 10' RT. Add 0.1ml Folin-Ciocalteu. Incubate 30' RT. Read 750nm Many detergents, reducing agents, EDTA, GuHCl, AmmSO4, >0.1M TRIS.
Interfernce elimination with TCA or DOC-TCA
SIGMA (#P5656)
Folin-Ciocalteu reagent: SIGMA (#F9252) - MERCK
LOWRY-PETERSON 1-10 µg protein Modified Lowry for membrane proteins. Compatible with detergents and with the presence of all kind of interferents that can be eliminated by DOC-TCA precipitation. DOC-TCA precipitation of proteins before Lowry assay

BUTTERFLY
(coomassie staining into 3MM Whatman paper)

Very useful technique for proteins in all kind of solutions (like PAGE-SDS sample buffer) Dry samples into 3MM Whatman paper.Treat with coomassie staining solution for ~30 min. Distain. Extracted ON with 3% SDS solution and read at 590 nm

 
 
 
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Dr. Mario Lebendiker The Protein Purification Facility
The Wolfson Centre for Applied Structural Biology
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
mariol@mail.ls.huji.ac.il  Tel: 972-2-6586920  FAX: 972-2-6758963

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