ELLMAN REAGENT Meaning and
Definition
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Ellman Reagent, also referred to as 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), is a chemical compound widely used in biochemical and diagnostic laboratories as a colorimetric agent for the detection and quantification of thiol groups (sulfhydryl or SH groups) in proteins and other biomolecules.
The Ellman Reagent derives its name from the American biochemist Alfred G. Ellman, who developed and described this compound in the 1950s. It consists of a central disulfide bond (-S-S-) flanked by two nitrobenzene rings, resulting in a yellow-colored molecule.
When the Ellman Reagent is added to a sample containing thiols, the disulfide bond of the reagent reacts with the thiol groups through a nucleophilic substitution reaction. This reaction yields a mixed disulfide bond (-S-SR'), causing a reduction in the yellow color of the reagent solution. The color change can be measured spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 412 nm.
The intensity of the color change is directly proportional to the concentration of thiol groups present in the sample, allowing for quantitative determination. The Ellman Reagent is highly sensitive and widely used in assays that involve thiol-containing biomolecules, such as enzymatic activity measurement, protein-protein interactions, and redox status determination.
Overall, the Ellman Reagent represents an essential tool in biochemical research, enabling the detection and quantification of thiols, which are crucial for understanding redox signaling, oxidative stress, and various biological processes.
Common Misspellings for ELLMAN REAGENT
- wllman reagent
- sllman reagent
- dllman reagent
- rllman reagent
- 4llman reagent
- 3llman reagent
- eklman reagent
- eplman reagent
- eolman reagent
- elkman reagent
- elpman reagent
- eloman reagent
- ellnan reagent
- ellkan reagent
- elljan reagent
- ellmzn reagent
- ellmsn reagent
- ellmwn reagent
- ellmqn reagent
- ellmab reagent
Etymology of ELLMAN REAGENT
The word "Ellman reagent" is named after the American biochemist and Nobel laureate, Nathan O. Kaplan (1926–2022) and his colleague Harvey P. Eccleston, who developed the reagent. The term "Ellman reagent" is derived by combining the first few letters of their last names, forming "El" for Ellman and "lman" for Eccleston. The Ellman reagent, also known as 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) or DTNB, is a commonly used chemical compound in biochemistry for the detection and quantification of free thiols (sulfhydryl groups) in proteins or other biomolecules.
