NCIt definition : An aromatic hydrocarbon composed of a benzene ring linked to two nitro groups and
one fluoride group that is used for N-terminal amino acid sequencing by the Sanger
method. In vitro, dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) reacts with the amine group in amino
acids to produce dinitrophenyl (DNP)-amino acids. Then the sample is subjected to
acid hydrolysis. Under these conditions, the peptide bonds are broken but the DNP-amino
acid bonds remain intact. The DNP-amino acids can be recovered and their identities
can be determined through the use of various chromatography techniques. This reagent
can also be used to distinguish the reduced and oxidized forms of glutathione and
cysteine.;