Phosphoamino acid analysis

It is often valuable to identify the phosphorylated residue in a protein. In the case of proteins phosphorylated at serine, threonine, or tyrosine, this is readily accomplished by partial acid hydrolysis in HCl followed by two-dimensional thin-layer electrophoresis of the labeled phosphoamino acid, as described here. Phosphothreonine andphosphotyrosine are more stable to hydrolysis in alkali than are RNA andpho sphoserine. Therefore, a protocol for mild alkaline hydrolysis of protein samples is also provided to enhance the detection of phosphothreonine and phosphotyrosine. Although this procedure can be carried out with a protein eluted from a preparative gel and concentrated by trichloroacetic acid or acetone precipitation, it is most easily accomplished by transfer of the protein of interest to a PVDF membrane.