Lowry Protein Assay

Question 1

What is the primary reason for performing a Lowry Assay?

Answer 1

Biochemical Assay for determining the protein concentration of an unknown solution

Question 2

How does the lowry protein assay work

Answer 2

1) Cu2+ ions, under alkaline conditions, form bonds with peptides in proteins - forming a monovalent copper ion
2) monovalent copper ion can react with Folin’s reagent, forming a blue compound called heteropolymolybdenum blue)
3) number of blue compounds directly proportional to protein concentration
4) blue colour can be quantified with colorimetric techniques