The amino acids profile of the brain and eyes of African giant pouch rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

Abstract

The amino acid composition of the brain and eyes of the matured female African giant pouch rat (Cricetomys gambianus) was determined on dry weight basis. The total essential amino acids ranged from 36.2-36.9 g/100 g crude protein or from 48.1–49.9 % of the total amino acids. The amino acid score showed that lysine ranged from 0.81 – 0.85 (on whole hen’s egg comparison), 0.92–0.95 (on provisional essential amino acid scoring pattern) and 0.87–0.90 (on suggested requirement of the essential amino acid of a preschool child). The predicted protein efficiency ratio was 1.58 – 2.08, the essential amino acid index range was 1.10–1.10 and the calculated isoelectric point range was 4.28–4.25. The correlation coefficient (rxy) was highly positive and significant at r = 0.05 for the total amino acids, amino acid scores (on all the comparisons made) and the isoelectric point in the two samples. Results have good comparison with whole hen’s egg protein and other standard proteins.