Migratory songbirds need large amounts of energy in order to complete their travels. A major source of nutrition, including protein, during this time is wild berries. Traditionally, the quantification of protein in foodstuffs is done using expensive and time consuming methods, such as the Kjeldahl method. Since these methods measure total nitrogen in samples, it is possible that they could be inaccurately representing levels of protein in fruit. We modified a micro BCA assay to measure protein in extracts from wild fruit collected from a known stopover site for migratory birds in Rochester, NY. Theoretically, the modified method only takes into account the actual proteins in the sample, as the reaction occurs at peptide bonds. To improve the sensitivity and accuracy of the method, a linear working range was established and a dilution correction method, where three different dilutions are used to extrapolate a final undiluted concentration, was implemented.

Modified colorimetric microplate assay for the analysis of protein in wild fruit extracts

248th National Meeting (2014)

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