Difference-derivative absorbance spectrophotometry as a technique to measure state changes of phenylalanine residues in proteins

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The first derivatives of difference absorbance spectra of several proteins were measured to examine the applicability of this technique as a tool to investigate state changes of phenylalanine residues in proteins. It was found by this technique that phenylalanine residues in insulin and those in lysozyme are exposed to more aqueous environment by denaturation with guanidine hydrochloride. Heat denaturation of collagen caused similar changes of some of its phenylalanine residues. It was thus demonstrated that difference-derivative absorbance spectrophotometry gives the information about state changes of phenylalanine residues in native proteins, which are hardly detected by common difference spectrophotometry.