The basic amino-acids of leaf proteins. With a discussion of various methods of analysis

DURING the past few years numerous protein preparations have been made in this laboratory from forage plants at various stages of growth and growing under different climatic and manurial conditions. To compare these products one with another, and with the whole leaf protein of which they represent a part, it has been necessary to make amino-acid analyses not only of the protein preparations themselves, which may contain some 13-15 % N, but also of leaf residues con- taining unextracted protein or of leaf material containing the whole of the protein, both of which latter products, after removal of non-protein-N, are rich in carbohydrate aind may contain only 3 or 4 % N. It has been thought advisable, therefore, to find out first of all whether the amino-acids set free during acid hydrolysis of the protein would condense with products derived from the carbohydrate and thus give low yields on subsequent analysis.