Identification of residue 103 in hen egg-white lysozyme.

Since it has been uncertain whether residue 103 in hen egg-white lysozyme is aspartic acid or asparagine, we reexamined the identity of this residue. To avoid complication, the tryptic peptide T-13 (Ile 98-Arg 112) was further cleaved. The peptide containing residues Gly 102-Arg 112 was obtained by tryptic digestion of lysozyme modified at Asp 101 with diethylenetriamine. The peptide containing residues Ile 98-homoserine 105 was obtained by BrCN treatment of peptide T-13. Both Edman degradation of the former peptide and carboxypeptidase X digestion of the latter peptide identified residue 103 in hen egg-white lysozyme as asparagine.