The correct spelling of the chemical compound "Edman reagent" is a subject of interest, as its phonetic spelling contradicts its graphical representation. Using IPA phonetic transcription, the correct pronunciation of this compound is /ɛdmən/ reɪdʒənt/. The tricky aspect of spelling it correctly arises from the fact that "d" and "m" sound as if they occur simultaneously due to their shared air articulation, leading to many spelling it as "Edmun". However, the IPA transcription accurately represents the true pronunciation of the word.
Edman reagent refers to a chemical compound or reagent that is commonly used in protein sequencing methods known as Edman degradation or Edman chemistry. It is named after the Swedish biochemist Pehr Victor Edman, who developed this technique in the 1950s. Edman reagent plays a key role in the process of determining the amino acid sequence of a protein.
The Edman reagent primarily consists of phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) or its derivatives. It reacts with the N-terminal amino acid residue of a protein or peptide, forming a stable derivative known as phenylthiocarbamyl (PTC). This reaction is selective and specifically targets the amino group of the N-terminus, leaving other amino groups unreacted. The formation of the PTC derivative facilitates the identification and separation of the labeled amino acid.
Once the PTC derivative is formed, it can be further subjected to various chemical treatments such as cleavage and phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) formation. These steps involve acid hydrolysis and removal of side chains, resulting in the generation of a stable PTH derivative specific to the labeled amino acid. This derivative can then be detected and quantified using techniques like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
The Edman degradation process can be repeated iteratively, allowing the step-by-step identification and removal of amino acids from the protein or peptide sequence. This method has been widely used in biochemistry and protein analysis to determine the primary structure of proteins, providing crucial insights into their functions, interactions, and roles in various biological processes.
The word "Edman reagent" is named after its inventor, Pehr Edman, a Swedish biochemist. Pehr Edman developed a technique called the Edman degradation in the 1950s, which is a chemical method used to determine the amino acid sequence in a peptide or protein. The reagent used in this process became known as the "Edman reagent" in honor of its creator.