How can you easily identify nucleic acids?
1 Answer
By using the Dishe's diphenylamine test...
Explanation:
Diphenylamine is used to test for nitrates:
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However, it can also react with the Deoxyribose sugar component of DNA:
When a sample is boiled with a strong acid, the resulting depurination of any DNA present, and the subsequent dehydration of the 2D-Deoxyribose sugar produces highly reactive ω-hydroxylevulinylaldehyde . (This reaction is not specific for DNA, but for 2-Deoxypentoses.)
In an acidic solution, the ω-hydroxylevulinylaldehyde reacts with diphenylamine to produce a blue-coloured complex that absorbs at 595 nm.
Reaction mechanism:
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Result:
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If RNA is present, the result will turn Green...
