A radiometric assay for determining the incorporation of L-canavanine or L-arginine into protein.

Procedures for a radiometric assay of L-[guanidinooxy-14C]canavanine were developed which provide a convenient and accurate measure of the incorporation of [14C]canavanine into de novo-synthesized proteins. These methods are also applicable to determining [14C]arginine incorporation into protein. These procedures have been employed to study the synthesis of L-[guanidinooxy-14C]canavanine- and L-[guanidino-14C]arginine-containing proteins from the hemolymph of Manduca sexta and Heliothis virescens, two highly destructive insect pests.