Denaturing and Precipitating Proteins
Description: Acid, heat, and heavy metal ions such as lead all change the nature of egg white, illustrating protein denaturation. Proteins can be precipitated with ammonium sulfate and still remain active.
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: N/A Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Denaturation, Protein, Egg white, Precipitation
Rating: 
Hazard: Medium
- Acute toxicity hazard
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Inhalation hazard
- Aquatic toxicity hazard
- Flammability hazard
- Electric shock hazard
- Corrosive to metals
- Oxidizing solids
- Carcinogenicity
- Reproductive toxicity
- Specific organ toxicity – kidneys, central nervous system, blood, immune system
Effectiveness: Good
- Results are clearly observable without guidance
- Good connection to course material
- Low failure rate
Difficulty: Medium
- Procedures with some intermediate steps to results
- Demos at non-standard conditions
- Some sequential manipulations
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required.
- Thermal gloves recommended
- UL-approved three-prong plug and outlet
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Absorbent materials on hand
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
- Prevent release of reagents to the environment
Class: Biochemistry, Denaturation
Division: General, Biological Chemistry
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