Analyses of Reducing Sugars on a Thin-layer Chromatographic Plate with Modified Somogyi and Nelson Reagents, and with Copper Bicitichoninate

Abstract

Two novel methods to detect reducing sugar on a thin-layer chromatographic plate, using aqueous coloring reagents and a commercial microwave oven, were developed. After spraying the modified Somogyi reagent on the plate, irrigating the reducing sugars, and then heating in a commercial microwave oven for a few minutes, the modified Nelson reagent was sprayed on the plates. Reducing sugars were only apparent as blue spots. On the other hand, after spraying the bicinchoninate reagent on the plates and then heating in the microwave oven, the sugar spots became reddish-violet. These two new methods enabled 0.1μg of glucose per spot to be detected on a TLC plate. Non-reducing sugars (sucrose, trehalose, methyl α-D-glucoside, and transfer products containing non-reducing ends) were not detectable by these methods.