Automated Protein Analzyer

Abstract

A dye binding method for protein analysis is disclosed. The method includes the steps of preparing an initial reference dye solution of unknown concentration from an initial reference dye concentrate and creating an electronic signal based upon the absorbance of the initial reference dye solution. Thereafter, an electronic signal is created based upon the absorbance of a dye filtrate solution prepared from the initial reference dye solution and an initial protein sample. The absorbance signals from the reference dye solution and the dye filtrate solution are sent to a processor that compares the respective absorbances and calculates the protein content of the protein sample based upon the difference between the absorbances. An electronic signal is created based upon the absorbance of a successive dye filtrate solution prepared from the reference dye solution and a successive protein sample, and the absorbance signal from the successive sample dye filtrate solution is sent to the processor to calculate the protein content of the successive sample based upon the difference between the absorbance of the initial reference dye solution and the absorbance of the successive dye filtrate solution.

1 . In a dye-binding method of protein analysis, the improvement comprising:
 mixing and homogenizing a non-homogeneous, insoluble protein sample directly with a dye-binding solution;   drawing and filtering the remaining unreacted dye solution directly from the homogenized mixture of protein sample and dye-binding solution; and   measuring the absorbance of the filtrate.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising weighing the protein sample prior to the step of mixing and homogenizing the protein sample with the dye-binding solution. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  where in the step of mixing the protein sample comprises blending the protein sample with the dye binding solution. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising repeating the mixing, homogenizing, drawing, filtering and measuring steps for a second successive sample. 
     
     
         5 . A protein analysis method according to  claim 1  comprising mixing and homogenizing a meat sample directly with the dye binding solution. 
     
     
         6 . A protein analysis method according to  claim 1  comprising carrying out the mixing, drawing, filtering, and measuring steps in less than two minutes. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising repeating the mixing, homogenizing, drawing, filtering and measuring steps for a plurality of successive samples. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  comprising repeating the mixing, homogenizing, drawing, filtering and measuring steps in less than two minutes for each successive sample. 
     
     
         9 . A protein analysis method comprising:
 mixing a binding dye composition with a protein sample;   attaching a filter to a colorimeter;   pumping unreacted dye composition from the mixture, through the filter and to the colorimeter while the filter is attached to the colorimeter; and   measuring the absorbance of the filtered dye composition in the colorimeter.   
     
     
         10 . A protein analysis method according to  claim 9  further comprising the steps of detaching the filter from the colorimeter following the step of measuring the absorbance. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  further comprising weighing the protein sample prior to the step of mixing and homogenizing the protein sample with the dye-binding solution. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9  where in the step of mixing the protein sample with the dye binding composition comprises blending the protein sample with the dye binding composition. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9  further comprising repeating the mixing, attaching, pumping and measuring steps for a second successive sample. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9  comprising repeating the mixing, attaching, pumping and measuring steps for a plurality of successive samples. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  comprising repeating the mixing, attaching, pumping and measuring steps in less than two minutes for each successive sample. 
     
     
         16 . A method of normalizing a protein analysis instrument so that different initial binding dye concentrations produce consistent protein content results, the method comprising:
 preparing a first binding dye solution having a first arbitrary concentration and measuring the absorbance of the first binding dye solution in a colorimeter in an instrument that includes a homogenizer and a filter between the homogenizer and the colorimeter;   immediately thereafter measuring the absorption of a blank sample of deionized water in the same colorimeter in the same instrument;   mixing a plurality of separate portions of a single protein sample with the first dye binding solution using the homogenizer and measuring the absorbance of each of the separate portions in the same colorimeter in the same instrument;   measuring the protein content of another portion of the same sample using the Kjeldahl method;   preparing a second binding dye solution having a second arbitrary concentration different from the arbitrary concentration of the first binding dye solution and measuring the absorbance of the second binding dye solution in the same colorimeter in the same instrument;   immediately thereafter measuring the absorption of a blank sample of deionized water in the same instrument;   mixing a plurality of separate portions of the same single protein sample with the second dye binding solution using the homogenizer and measuring the absorbance of each of the separate portions in the same colorimeter in the same instrument;   measuring the absorbance of the mixture of a protein sample and the second arbitrary solution for a plurality of separate portions taken from the same single protein sample used in all of the previous steps and in the same colorimeter in the same instrument.