( Introductio...)Total Cellular Protein Determination Using the DC Protein Assay

Introduction
The DC Protein Assay reagents contain both detergent and base which are required for cell lysis of many cell samples prior to determination of total cellular protein. The following protocol can be used for tissue cells; dry cells; protein precipitates from heat, acid, or acetone treatment; or any other samples that require both sodium hydroxide and detergent for solubilization.

Protocol
1. Wash cells or protein precipitate. Using an isotonic solution such as TBS or PBS, suspend the sample in excess buffer and mix by inversion or vortex mixer. Centrifuge sample or precipitate until a tight pellet has formed. Discard the supernatant.

2. Prepare working reagent A' by mixing 20 l Reagent S to each milliliter of Reagent A that will be needed for the assay. Mix by gentle inversion to prevent foaming.

3. Add 1 ml working reagent A' to approximately 1 x 10⁶ cells. Vortex intermittently for 510 minutes, and heat to 60 C (if necessary) to solubilize the pellet.

4. Cool mixture to room temperature. In order to accurately determine protein concentration, several dilutions of the digestion with reagent A' should be made (1:2, 1:4, 1:8, etc.). Record the dilution factors for correction in the final protein concentrations.

5. Create a standard curve. Transfer 100 l of the standard into a clean test tube. Three to five data points should be generated. Either standard supplied with the kit (BSA or IgG) can be used, since both react similarly to the DC Protein Assay reagents.

6. Transfer 500 l sample of serially diluted samples from step 5 into clean test tubes.* To correct for volume difference between samples and standard
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