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Related Concept Videos

Detergent Purification of Membrane Proteins01:18

Detergent Purification of Membrane Proteins

Detergents are used to purify the integral proteins of the membrane. The hydrophobic portion of the detergent can replace membrane phospholipids while solubilizing the membrane proteins. When detergent monomers reach a specific concentration in a solution called critical micelle concentration (CMC), they form micelles. Above CMC, the concentration of the detergent monomers remains in equilibrium with the micelle. The number of detergent monomers present in the CMC varies for each detergent, and...
Solubility03:00

Solubility

Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions)...
Entropy and Solvation02:05

Entropy and Solvation

The process of surrounding a solute with solvent is called solvation. It involves evenly distributing the solute within the solvent. The rule of thumb for determining a solvent for a given compound is that like dissolves like. A good solvent has molecular characteristics similar to those of the compound to be dissolved. For example, polar solutions dissolve polar solutes, and apolar solvents dissolve apolar solutes. A polar solvent is a solvent that has a high dielectric constant (ϵ ≥ 15); an...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

The membrane domains concentrate specific lipids and proteins at one place within the membrane, which helps in cell signaling, adhesion, and other critical cellular processes. These domains can differ in size, composition, function, and lifespan.
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the anterior...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Contrast-Matching Detergent in Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Experiments for Membrane Protein Structural Analysis and Ab Initio Modeling
10:27

Contrast-Matching Detergent in Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Experiments for Membrane Protein Structural Analysis and Ab Initio Modeling

Published on: October 21, 2018

Sequence hydropathy dominates membrane protein response to detergent solubilization.

Vincent G Nadeau1, Arianna Rath, Charles M Deber

  • 1Division of Molecular Structure & Function, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.

Biochemistry
|July 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Predicting membrane protein behavior during detergent solubilization is crucial. Sequence hydrophobicity dictates response to mild (DDM) and harsh (SDS) detergents, impacting protein structure and interactions.

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Contrast-Matching Detergent in Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Experiments for Membrane Protein Structural Analysis and Ab Initio Modeling
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Membrane-SPINE: A Biochemical Tool to Identify Protein-protein Interactions of Membrane Proteins In Vivo
10:53

Membrane-SPINE: A Biochemical Tool to Identify Protein-protein Interactions of Membrane Proteins In Vivo

Published on: November 7, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Structural Biology
  • Membrane Protein Chemistry

Background:

  • Membrane proteins are vital cellular components.
  • Experimental characterization is challenging due to their hydrophobic nature.
  • Predicting detergent solubilization response aids structural studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the response of membrane protein hairpins to mild (DDM) and harsh (SDS) detergents.
  • To identify sequence features governing detergent solubilization.
  • To understand how mutations affect membrane protein behavior in detergents.

Main Methods:

  • Circular dichroism spectroscopy to assess secondary structure.
  • Size-exclusion chromatography to evaluate complex size.
  • Pyrene fluorescence spectroscopy to measure hairpin compactness.

Main Results:

  • Sequence hydrophobicity is the primary determinant of solubilization response to DDM and SDS.
  • Hairpin secondary structure is highly sensitive to mutations with DDM.
  • DDM and SDS differ in their ability to facilitate TM segment end proximity.

Conclusions:

  • Net hydropathy of exposed residues governs solubilized protein properties.
  • Protein-protein and protein-detergent interactions are interdependent.
  • Understanding detergent interactions is key for membrane protein characterization.