6 How are the reagents useful in determining which macromole

6. How are the reagents useful in determining which macromolecules are present?

Solution

Reagents are substances or a mixture of substances used for chemical analysis or detection. Reagents binds to macromolecules and bring in color change and indicate the macromolecules present. The biological macromolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The detection of these macromoelcules is very essential part of the diagnosis and determination of a disease. A very simple example is the detection of starch, Iodine is used and biuret test for detection of proteins. The Iodine binds to amylose part of the starch and gives the blue color. Similarly peptide bonds in proteins subjected to biuret test and the biuret reagent turns violet from blue.