Edman Degradation Technique
A Nobel Prize-Winning Protein Sequencing Discovery
By [Author's Name]
Edman degradation is a Nobel Prize-winning, groundbreaking technique developed by Swedish biochemist Pehr Edman in 1949. It revolutionized the field of protein sequencing, allowing scientists to determine the amino acid sequence of polypeptides.
This technique involves a multi-step process where the amino-terminal residue (the first amino acid in the peptide sequence) is labeled with a chemical reagent. This labeled amino acid is then cleaved from the peptide, releasing it as a phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) derivative.
By repeating this process through a series of cycles, the Edman degradation method sequentially removes and identifies amino acids from the peptide's N-terminus, ultimately providing a complete sequence of the peptide and contributing to the understanding of protein structure and function.
Comments