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Edman Degradation definitions

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  • Edman Degradation
    Protein sequencing method that removes and identifies the N-terminal amino acid from a small peptide, using a cycle of three chemical reactions.
  • N-terminal Amino Acid
    Residue at the start of a peptide chain, sequentially released and identified during protein sequencing procedures.
  • Polypeptide Chain
    Linear sequence of amino acid residues forming a protein, targeted for sequencing in protein analysis techniques.
  • Phenyl Isothiocyanate
    Chemical reagent used under basic conditions to react with the N-terminal residue, initiating the sequencing process.
  • PITC
    Abbreviation for the reagent that binds to the N-terminal amino acid, enabling its selective removal in sequencing.
  • Trifluoroacetic Acid
    Acidic reagent applied after PITC treatment to cleave the N-terminal amino acid derivative from the peptide chain.
  • Aqueous Acid
    Solution used to convert the released amino acid derivative into a stable form for identification.
  • PTH-amino Acid
    Stable derivative formed from the N-terminal residue, allowing precise identification via chromatographic techniques.
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography
    Analytical method used to identify the stable amino acid derivative produced during sequencing cycles.
  • Primary Structure
    Linear sequence of amino acids in a peptide, determined by sequential removal and identification of residues.
  • Protein Purification
    Process of isolating a single peptide chain before sequencing, ensuring accurate analysis of amino acid composition.
  • Residue
    Individual amino acid unit within a peptide chain, sequentially removed and analyzed during protein sequencing.
  • Derivative
    Modified form of the N-terminal amino acid released during sequencing, later converted for identification.
  • Cycle
    Series of repeated chemical reactions in sequencing, each revealing one amino acid from the peptide chain.
  • Sequencing
    Process of determining the order of amino acids in a peptide by systematic removal and identification.