Ch431_BiochLab.WriteUp

Humboldt State University ® Department of Chemistry

Richard A. Paselk

Chem 438L - Biochemistry

Nature style Laboratory Reports: Tables and Figures

Grading

1. Tables & Figures have appropriate labels and are well done [ /40 % ]

2. Legends for Tables and Figures: 1) describe in adequate detail for the informed reader to understand and evaluate the quality of your work without having to go to the literature. This description, along with cited references, should allow the reader to repeat the work. Any special chemicals or equipment should be listedi.e. HPLC solvents, biochemicals etc., chromatographic media, special ized apparatus and glassware etc. and 2) summarize/present your findings in brief written statements [ /40 % ]

3. General wonderfulness [ /20 % ]

Grading
1.	Tables & Figures have appropriate labels and are well done	[ /40 % ]
2.	Legends for Tables and Figures: 1) describe in adequate detail for the informed reader to understand and evaluate the quality of your work without having to go to the literature. This description, along with cited references, should allow the reader to repeat the work. Any special chemicals or equipment should be listedi.e. HPLC solvents, biochemicals etc., chromatographic media, special ized apparatus and glassware etc. and 2) summarize/present your findings in brief written statements	[ /40 % ]
3.	General wonderfulness	[ /20 % ]

Model Table

The table below is meant as an example of the type of presentation I expect. If this were from a real experiment we would expect more standards to demonstrate the unknown did not correspond to other amino acids with similar properties. The legend for a figure would follw the same format.

Table I Chromatographic determination of the amino acid composition of an unknown mixture. Comparison of the resultant Rf values and colors demonstrate unknown X to be composed of alanine and glycine. Methods: An unknown mixture of amino acids was analysed as described by Boyer and modified by Wallace. The sample was fractionated using ion-exchange chromatography with a pH gradient. Fractions showing the highest concentrations of amino acids as determined by reaction with ninhydrin were isolated. These samples were further analyzed by co-chromatography against a series of amino acid standards on paper in methanol:pyridine:water. The results are summarized in the table.

Sample R_fvalue color

alanine 0.243 violet

glycine 0.235 yellow

unknown X 0.233 yellow

0.244 violet

**Table I** Chromatographic determination of the amino acid composition of an unknown mixture. Comparison of the resultant Rf values and colors demonstrate unknown X to be composed of alanine and glycine. Methods: An unknown mixture of amino acids was analysed as described by Boyer and modified by Wallace. The sample was fractionated using ion-exchange chromatography with a pH gradient. Fractions showing the highest concentrations of amino acids as determined by reaction with ninhydrin were isolated. These samples were further analyzed by co-chromatography against a series of amino acid standards on paper in methanol:pyridine:water. The results are summarized in the table.
Sample	R_fvalue	color
alanine	0.243	violet
glycine	0.235	yellow
unknown X	0.233	yellow
	0.244	violet

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Last modified 28 August 1999