Alcian Blue at pH 1.0 demonstrates which substances?

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Multiple Choice

Alcian Blue at pH 1.0 demonstrates which substances?

Explanation:
Alcian blue binds to negatively charged groups on mucosubstances, and which groups are available depends on the pH. At pH 1.0, carboxyl groups are protonated and lose their negative charge, while sulfate groups remain negatively charged. This makes Alcian blue at this very acidic pH specific for sulfated mucosubstances (such as sulfomucins and sulfated glycosaminoglycans), because only those sulfated groups can attract the dye. Neutral mucosubstances lack sulfates and won’t bind under these conditions, and glycoproteins generally don’t carry the sulfated groups required for this stain at pH 1.0. So the substances demonstrated are sulfated mucosubstances.

Alcian blue binds to negatively charged groups on mucosubstances, and which groups are available depends on the pH. At pH 1.0, carboxyl groups are protonated and lose their negative charge, while sulfate groups remain negatively charged. This makes Alcian blue at this very acidic pH specific for sulfated mucosubstances (such as sulfomucins and sulfated glycosaminoglycans), because only those sulfated groups can attract the dye. Neutral mucosubstances lack sulfates and won’t bind under these conditions, and glycoproteins generally don’t carry the sulfated groups required for this stain at pH 1.0. So the substances demonstrated are sulfated mucosubstances.

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