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BIOCHEMISTRY
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Biochemistry Laboratory – CH600 (2008-2009) Experiment 3

Protein Assay by the Bradford Method

*Michelle Dy Sim, Gellina Ann Ram Suderio, Jonnah Kristina Chua Teope
Department of Biology, 3Biology-6, College of Science
University of Santo Tomas, España Street, Manila 1008

December 12, 2008

Abstract:

The Bradford protein assay is a spectroscopic analytical procedure used to measure the concentration of protein in a solution.
This experiment aims to determine the concentration of the unknown protein solution and to draw the standard curve by
plotting the 595nm (A595) against a reagent blank. Standards were prepared by adding 0.3 and 0.4mL of BSA stock solution.
Distilled water was added to each of the test tube to bring the volume to 1mL. For the determination of the unknown
concentration, 1mL of the unknown protein sample was used. Through the use of the spectrophotometer, the absorbances (in
nm) for the unknown proteins were determined. A standard curve was drawn by plotting the A595 versus the BSA concentration.
The concentrations of the unknown proteins were solved by using linear regression. The result obtained for the concentration of
the unknown for trials 1 and 2 are 106.117µg/mL and 88.335µg/mL. The average concentration is 97.226µg/mL. The average
absorbance is 0.2929nm.

Keywords:
• Protein
• Bradford Assay Method
• Spectrophotometer
• BSA standard (bovine serum albumin)

I. Introduction

There is no single protein assay method that yields absolutely accurate results. The only true and
accurate method for determining protein concentration is by acid hydrolyzing a portion of the sample
and then carries out amino acid analysis on the hydrolyzate. But, this method is time-consuming. Each
method and assay has its own disadvantage and limitations.

The most commonly used assays are the Ultraviolet Absorbance, Lowry Assay, BCA assay and
the Bradford Assay. The UV absorbance monitors the absorbance of aromatic amino acids, tyrosine and
tryptophan or if the wavelength is lowered, the absorbance of the peptide bond. It is quick, with the
samples that can be recovered. But, it is also highly susceptible to contamination by buffers, biological
materials and salts. The Lowry Assay or enhanced copper since it reduces Cu+2 to Cu+1 , sensitive over a
wide range and is the most commonly referenced procedure for protein determination but, it also takes a
considerable amount of time. And the BCA assay or the bicinchoninic acid which is less susceptible to
interference from common buffer substance and is very sensitive and rapid if you use elevated
temperatures, but, the reaction does not go to completion when performed at room temperature and
dilution is often necessary for concentrated protein samples.

The Bradford protein assay is a spectroscopic analytical procedure used to measure the
concentration of protein in a solution. It is dependent on the amino acid composition of the measured
protein. It is more efficient than other methods because assay it is faster, involves fewer mixing steps,
does not require heating, and gives a more stable colorimetric response than other methods.

The Bradford assay is faster, involves fewer mixing steps, does not require heating, and gives a
more stable colorimetric response. Its response is prone to influence from non protein sources and
becomes progressively more nonlinear at the high end of its useful protein concentration range. The
response is also protein dependent, and varies with the composition of the protein. These limitations
make protein standard solutions necessary.

A spectrophotometer is employed to measure the amount of light that a sample absorbs. The
instrument operates by passing a beam through a sample and measuring the intensity of light reaching a
detector. The beam of light consists of a stream of photons. When, a photon encounters an analyte
molecule, there is a chance the analyte will absorb the photon. This absorption reduces the number of
photon in the beam of light, thereby reducing the intensity of the light beam.

The objective of this experiment is to determine the concentration of the unknown protein
solution and to draw the standard curve by plotting the 595 nm (A595) against a reagent blank.
II. Methodology

The class was divided into two teams. Team A comprised of groups 1 to 5. Team B comprised of
groups 6 to 9. The members of this group were assigned to perform only test tube numbers 3 and 4.

Standards were prepared. For test tubes number three and four, 0.3mL and 0.4mL of the BSA
stock solution were used. Then, distilled water was added to each tube to bring the volume to 1mL. To
each of these test tubes, 5mL of Bradford reagent was added.

Table 1. The volume (mL) of each test tube, BSA stock Solution (mL), distilled water (mL), Bradford reagent(mL)
Test Tube # 3 4
BSA Stock, mL 0.3 0.4
Distilled Water, mL 0.7 0.6
Bradford Reagent, mL 5 5

For the unknown protein solution, 1mL was used. Then, 5mL of the Bradford reagent was added.

The spectrophotometer was then zeroed using a test tube 1 as the reagent blank. After five
minutes, but before one hour, the absorbance of the standards and the unknown protein solution were
read at 595 nm (A595). A standard curve was drawn by plotting the A595 versus the concentration of
BSA.

III. Results and Discussion

A. Results
Table 2. The volume (mL) of the BSA stock solution, distilled water, Bradford reagent, the Concentration and the Absorbance of the 1st to the 6th
test tube
Test Tube # 1 2 3 4 5 6
BSA Stock, mL 0 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
Distilled Water ,mL 1 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4
Bradford Reagent, mL 5 5 5 5 5 5
Concentration µg/mL 0 40 60 80 100 120
Absorbance -0.0002 0.1404 0.2099 0.2657 0.3117 0.3632

Table 3. The volume (mL) of the BSA stock solution, distilled water, Bradford reagent, the Concentration and the Absorbance of the 7th, 8th and the
2 tubes containing the unknown
Test Tube # 7 8 Unknown Trial # 1 Unknown Trial # 2
BSA Stock, mL 0.8 1 - -
Distilled Water ,mL 0.2 0 - -
Bradford Reagent, mL 5 5 5 5
Concentration µg/mL 160 200 106.117 88.335
Absorbance 0.4624 0.5129 0.3133 0.2724

COMPUTATIONS:
A = 0.06923
B = 0.0023

y = A + Bx
y = 0.06923 + 0.0023x

Concentration of Unknown Trial # 1:

Substitute (y = 0.3133)

0.3133 = 0.06923 + 0.0023x

X = 0.3133 – 0.06923
0.0023
X = 106.117 µg/mL

Concentration of Unknown Trial # 2:

Substitute (y = 0.2724)

0.2724 = 0.06923 + 0.0023x

X = 0.2724 – 0.06923
0.0023
X = 88.335 µg/mL

Average Concentration:
Average concentration = 106.117 + 88.335
2

= 97.226 µg/mL

Average Absorbance:
Average Absorbance = 0.3133 + 0.2724
2
= 0.2929nm
 The Standard Curve of A 595 Versus
The Concentration of BSA

0.6

200, 0.5129
0.5

160, 0.4624

0.4

120, 0.3632

100, 0.3117
0.3
absorbance (y)

97.226, 0.2929
80, 0.2657

60, 0.2099
0.2

40, 0.1404

0.1

0 0, -0.0002
0 50 100 150 200 250

-0.1
concentration (x)

Graph 1. Standard curve for BSA, Absorbance (nm) versus Concentration (µg/mL)
B. Discussion

The Bradford assay, a colorimetric protein assay, is based on an absorbance shift in the dye
Coomassie when the previously red form Coomassie reagent changes and stabilizes into Coomassie blue
by the binding of protein. During the formation of this complex, two types of bond interaction take
place: the red form of coomassie dye first donates its free proton to the ionizable groups on the protein,
which causes a disruption of the protein’s native state, consequently exposing its hydrophobic pockets.
These pockets on the protein’s tertiary structure bind non-covalently to the non-polar region of the dye
via Van der Waals forces, positioning the positive amine group in proximity with the negative charge of
the dye. The bond is further strengthened by the ionic interaction between the two. Binding of the
protein stabilizes the blue form of coomassie dye, thus the amount of complex present in solution is a
measure for the protein concentration by use of an absorbance reading.

Figure 1. Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 structure

Protein

Red <=> Green <=> Blue <=> Blue-Protein

(470 nm) (650 nm) (590 nm) (590 nm)
H+ H+
Figure 2. Equilibrium of Coomassie brilliant blue G-250

The assay is useful since the extinction coefficient of a dye-albumin complex solution is constant
over a 10-fold concentration range.
 Because the Bradford assay essentially measures the amount of arginine and hydrophobic amino
acid residues, the amino acid composition can alter the concentration-absorbance curve depending on
the percentage of arginine or hydrophobic amino acids in each protein. It is therefore necessary to use a
standard (e.g. BSA-- Bovine Serum Albumin) whose protein closely matches the measured protein in
composition

The dye reagent reacts primarily with arginine residues and less so with histidine, lysine,
tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine residues. Obviously, the assay is less accurate for basic or acidic
proteins. The Bradford assay is rather sensitive to bovine serum albumin, more so than "average"
proteins, by about a factor of two. Immunoglogin G (IgG - gamma globulin) is the preferred protein
standard. The addition of 1 M NaOH was suggested by Stoscheck (1990) to allow the solubilization of
membrane proteins and reduce the protein-to-protein variation in color yield.

Error in the experiment can be a cause of a lot of factor: the prediluted standards are
conveniently packaged eliminating wasteful and sharp ampoules, and ensuring protein stability over the
shelf life. Pipetting of the reagents and the dye can cause problems such as the inadequate or too much
addition of both.

Spectrophotometer should be down to the zero point by the reagent blank since it can be a very
big factor for error in the experiment. It is also suggested that at least two reagents blank should be
performed or one can use a water buffer instead. But, if the spectrophotometer was not zeroed with the
blank, take the average of the blank value from the standard and unknown sample values instead.

When the absorbance of protein standard and sample is very low, the 1x dye reagent may be cold
from 40 storage, and then warm the dye reagent to ambient temperature. If the absorbance of the
standard is acceptable, but if the absorbances of samples are very low, then the samples may contain a
substance that interferes with the reaction, such as detergents or basic solutions.

IV. Conclusion
 Through the experiment, the group was able to solve for the concentration of the unknown
protein solution by using the linear regression method and by plotting the standard curve by absorbance
versus concentration. Using the standard curve, The unknown protein solution had a concentration of
106.117µg/mL and 88.335µg/mL. The absorbance obtained for the unknown are 0.3133nm and
0.2724nm. The average concentration is 97.226µg/mL. The average absorbance is 0.2929nm.

The Bradford method shows that the absorbance has a direct relationship with the concentration
of the protein sample, meaning if the absorbance is high, the concentration of the sample is also high.

V. References
Books:
[1] Bollag, D., Rozycki M. Edelstein. Protein Methods Second Edition. New York: Wiley – Liss, 1996.

[2] Boyer, Rodney. Modern Experimental Biochemistry Third Edition. California: Addison Wesley
Longman Inc., 2000.

[3] Davis, W. and Peck Stanley. Chemistry Eighth Edition. United States of America: Thomson Brooks
Cole, 2007.

[4] McMurry, John. Organic Chemistry: A Biological Approach. United States of America: Thomson
Brooks Cole, 2007.

[5] Walker, John M. Basic Protein and Peptide Protocol Volume 32. New Jersey: Human Press Inc.,
1994.

Articles:
[1] Bradley J.S.C. Olson and John Markwell. Current Protocols in Protein Science. 3.4.1-3.4.29. John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007.

[2] BRADFORD ASSAY: Generating Standard Curve – Retrieved December 9, 2008

http://molecool.wustl.edu/krolllab/Kroll_Lab_Protocols/Protein%20methods/Protein%20Assay
%20Guides/Bradford%20assay-Biorad.pdf

Internet Sources:
[1] Bradford Protein Assay – Retrieved December 8, 2008
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/methods/protein/bradford.html

[2] Bradford Protein Assay – Retrieved December 7, 2008

http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biochem/Biochem_353/Bradford.html#theory
[3] Spectrophotometry – Retrieved December 8, 2008
http://www.spectrophotometer.com/FAQ.htm