Virus protein assay

Brett Phinney (phinney@bchserver.bch.ncsu.edu)
Mon, 9 Nov 1998 10:23:48 -0500

I have a protein assay question I wonder if someone could help me with. I am
working with an enveloped virus that contains 240 copies of two 55kd
proteins in it's envelope. In addition, it also contains 240 copies of a 20
kd capsid protein that binds to a ssRNA inside the virus. If I do a protein
assay on this intact virus, BCA etc.. What am I actually measuring? Am I
assaying only the envelope proteins, or am I getting the internal protein as
well. I am only interested in the amount of 1 of the envelope proteins, and
if the protein assay is picking up the third protein, then it will through
off my calculations.

Thanks a lot in advance

__________________________________
Brett Phinney
North Carolina State University
Department of Biochemistry
Ph# 919-515-5786, Fax 919-515-2047
ICQ# = 12442943