Dear All - This may be a too physiological/biochemical question for
most, but, nonetheless I thought I'd ask.
We are trying to extract and measure chlorophyll amounts in
lichens, and the published protocols all mention using carbonates
(either CaCO3 or MgCO3) in the extracting solution (either DMF or
DMSO). These carbonates tend to neutralize "lichen acids", which can
cause the chlorophyll to degrade to phaeophytin otherwise. The best
protocol we have seen suggests first washing in carbonate containing
pure acetone to neutralize and wash out most of the lichen acids, then
extract the chlorophyll in the DMF or DMSO.
The problem we are facing is two-fold. First, should we use
anhydrous forms of the carbonates or not? Second, when we do mix in the
carbonates, the extracting solution becomes cloudy. We are trying to
filter to see if we can solve the second problem. None of the published
papers go into detail about how to deal with this cloudiness or whether
one should use anhydrous carbonates.
If anyone out there has any experience with this, or knows someone
who does, we would greatly appreciate being made known about the
protocols, or being put in touch with those people who know.
Thanks so much in advance for your assistance!
Howie Neufeld
--
Dr. Howard S. Neufeld, Professor
Department of Biology
572 Rivers Street
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
departmental webpage: http://www.biology.appstate.edu/faculty/neufeldhs.htm
personal webpage: http://www.appstate.edu/~neufeldhs/index.html
Tel: 828-262-2683
Fax: 828-262-2127
