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#REDIRECT [[biuret test]]

The '''Biuret reagent''' is made of [[potassium hydroxide]] (KOH) and [[copper (II) sulfate]] (CuSO<sub>4</sub>), together with [[potassium sodium tartrate]] (KNaC<sub>4</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O<sub>6</sub>·4H<sub>2</sub>O). The blue reagent turns violet in the presence of [[proteins]], and changes to pink when combined with short-chain [[polypeptides]]. The potassium hydroxide does not participate in the reaction at all, but is merely there to provide an [[alkaline]] medium so that the reaction can take place.

The reagent is commonly used in a biuret [[protein]] [[assay]], a [[colorimetric]] assay used to determine protein [[concentration]]--such as [[UV/VIS spectroscopy|UV-VIS]] at wavelength 540nm (to detect the Cu<sup>2+</sup> ion).

==The Biuret Test==
:''Main Article: [[Biuret test]]''

The principle underlying the test can easily be demonstrated with the chemical compound [[biuret]] which, just as proteins, is able to [[Complex (chemistry)|complex]] [[copper]] (II) [[ion]]s. The biuret assay does not in fact use [[biuret]], but is so named as it detects the [[peptide bond]] between the urea molecules or between amino acids.

Not all biuret tests actually require the Biuret reagent. Rather, the term "biuret test" is a generic term for the testing of proteins by using copper (II) sulfate solution in an alkaline environment. Thus, the process of testing for proteins in a solution by first adding a small amount of [[sodium hydroxide]], and then adding copper (II) sulfate drop by drop, is also known as a biuret test.

==References==
*[http://faculty.mansfield.edu/bganong/biochemistry/reagents.htm Chemical Reagents]

{{Protein methods}}
[[Category:Protein methods]]
[[Category:Chemical tests]]

[[cs:Biuretová reakce]]
[[de:Biuretreaktion]]
[[fr:Réaction du biuret]]
[[nl:Biureetreactie]]
[[pl:Reakcja biuretowa]]
[[pt:Reagente de biureto]]
[[uk:Біуретова реакція]]

Revision as of 21:36, 30 January 2010

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