When is Edman's reagent used?
Sequencing is a stepwise process of identifying the specific amino acid at each position in the peptide chain, beginning at the N-terminal end.
Phenylisothiocyanate, known as Edman reagent, is used to label the amino terminal residue under mildly alkaline conditions. The resulting phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) derivative introduces an instability in the N-terminal peptide bond that can be selectively hydrolyzed without cleaving the other peptide bonds. The identity of the amino acid derivative can then be determined. Edman reagent can be applied repeatedly to the shortened peptide obtained in each previous cycle. (Ref. Lippincott’s, 5th Edition, Pg. 15)
To determine amino acid composition of a peptide
To determine the amino acid sequence of a peptide
To cleave a peptide bond formed by basic amino acids
To cleave a peptide bond formed by acidic amino acids