EXERCISE 6 PRIMARY PRODUCTS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS B.

PROTEINS

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements in Bio 20 TFEG2

Group 4 Lourdes P. Pecundo Mary Anne Gabrielle M. dela Chica

July 16, 2013

Abstract

Photosynthesis is a complex process that uses light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates. It has primary products which are essential for the growth and development of plants. One of them is protein. Protein is the most diverse in structure and function among organic compounds. Some of its function is for the structure, movement, storage, protection, transport and the speeding up of chemical processes. Proteins are composed of amino acids. Amino acids are simple organic compounds containing both a carboxyl (COOH)
and an amino (NH2) group.

There are 20 kinds of amino acids, one of which is the aromatic amino acid. Aromatic amino
acids are amino acids which include an aromatic ring.

To test the presence of proteins in various plant materials, the Xanthoprotein test is conducted. Xanthprotein test involves the reaction of concentrated nitric acid with the proteins to form a yellow color that is intensified to orange by the addition of alkali such as 10% NaOH. Once the concentrated nitric acid is added, the proteins reacted with it and underwent nitration. The plant materials tested are mongo, corn and soya seeds. All of them formed a yellow color

and therefore gave a positive result in the Xanthoprotein test. It gives a positive result only when the proteins present are composed of aromatic amino acids.

I. Introduction Photosynthesis is a complex process that uses light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates. It has primary products which are essential for the growth and development of plants. One of them is protein. Protein is the most diverse in structure and function among organic compounds. Some of its function is for the structure, movement, storage, protection, transport and the speeding up of chemical processes. Proteins are composed of amino acids. Amino acids are simple organic compounds containing both a carboxyl (COOH) and an amino (NH2) group. There are 20 kinds of amino acids, one of which is the aromatic amino acid. Aromatic amino acids are amino acids which include an aromatic ring.

Proteins are mostly found in seeds such as mongo, corn and soya seeds. To test the presence of proteins in various plant materials, the Xanthoprotein test is conducted. Xanthprotein test involves the reaction of concentrated nitric acid with the proteins to form a yellow color that is intensified to orange by the addition of alkali such as 10% NaOH. The objectives of this experiment are to detect the presence of protein from a given sample through the Xanthoproteic test. 2nd objective PROBLEM:

II. Materials and Methods A. Materials 1. Mongo, corn and soya seeds 2. Mortar and pestle 3. Alcohol lamp 4. Test tube and test tube holder 5. Reagents a. Concentrated nitric acid b. 10% Sodium hydroxide B. Methods 1. Soak a small amount of monggo, soya and corn seeds overnight. 2. Ground these materials separately with a mortar and pestle. Add water and let stand for 30 minutes. 3. Filter the materials and test for the presence of proteins using the Xanthoprotein test. 4. Put 3ml of the filtrate to separate test tubes. To each test tube, carefully add 1ml of concentrated nitric acid. 5. Boil in a water bath for 5 minutes. A white precipitate forms which upon heating turns yellow and finally dissolves, giving rise to a yellow solution.

6. Cool the solution and add 8-10 ml of 10% NaOH to make the solution alkaline. The yellow color deepens to orange.

III. Results Test reagent Mongo Corn Soya Concentrated nitric acid, 10% Sodium hydroxide Concentrated nitric acid, 10% Sodium hydroxide Concentrated nitric acid, 10% Sodium hydroxide Positive result +, yellow color deepened to orange +, yellow color deepened to orange +, yellow color deepened to orange

IV. Discussion Xanthoproteic acid is a non-crystallizable yellow substance derived from proteins upon treatment with nitric acid. Nitric acid reacts with proteins to form yellow nitrated products. This reaction is known as the xanthoproteic reaction. This test is carried out by adding concentrated nitric acid to the substance being tested, and then heating the mixture. If proteins are present that contains amino acids with aromatic rings, the mixture turns yellow. Upon adding a strong base such as 10% sodium hydroxide, the color turns orange. These color changes are caused by nitrated aromatic rings in the protein. Xanthoproteins are formed when the acid contacts epithelial cells and are a certain giveaway of inadequate safety precautions when handling nitric acid. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthoproteic_acid)

V. Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations SUMMARY Xanthoproteic test is a qualitative test for the presence of protein; when the substance under consideration is treated with hot, concentrated nitric acid, a positive result is indicated if a yellow product, xanthoprotein, is formed when protein is treated with hot concentrated nitric acid. Mongo, corn and soya seeds were tested to determine the presence of protein. The results show that the color of these seeds turned from yellow to orange when treated with concentrated nitric acid and 10% NaOH. CONCLUSIONS Considering the findings of the experiment, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Mongo, corn and soya seeds have the presence of protein. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the findings, the following are hereby recommended: 1. Conduct a follow-up experiment using other kinds of seeds. 2. Conduct an experiment determining the quantity of proteins using the Biuret reaction and with the analysis made by a photometric spectrum.

Amino acid with aromatic ring structure

Ano nangyayari pag nag undergo ng nitration ung amino acid. Result ex8