Correlation between surfactant/micelle structure and the stability of bacteriorhodopsin in solution

Biophysical Journal
E H Tan, R R Birge

Abstract

The rate of solubilization and isothermal bleaching of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in a series of nine alkylammonium surfactants is studied by using time-resolved optical spectroscopy. The surfactant series RN(+)R'(3) covers a range in tail length (R = C(12)H(25), C(14)H(29), or C(16)H(33)) and headgroup size and hydrophobicity (R' = CH(3); C(2)H(5), or C(3)H(7)). The rate of bleaching increases initially with increasing surfactant concentration but decreases at higher concentrations. Possible explanations for this behavior are discussed. The kinetic data are consistent with the penetration of the surfactant into the protein interior. Interaction of the surfactants with the protein is a complicated, multistep process, and the rate curves are a function of at least four variables: 1) the micellar environment, 2) the length of the surfactant tail, 3) the size of the headgroup, and 4) the hydrophobicity of the headgroup. Our data provide new insights into the molecular characteristics that help define the performance of surfactants in the solubilization and denaturation of membrane-bound proteins.

Citations

Oct 4, 2011·The Protein Journal·Srebrenka RobicShannon R McCartha
Oct 23, 2009·Photochemistry and Photobiology·Li-Kang Chu, Mostafa A El-Sayed
Dec 17, 2009·Photochemistry and Photobiology·Li-Kang Chu, Mostafa A El-Sayed
Sep 5, 2018·European Biophysics Journal : EBJ·T C Sabari GirisunS Anandan
Mar 12, 2010·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Patricia Bertoncini, Olivier Chauvet
Jul 28, 2012·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Martin ImhofNorbert Hampp
Apr 11, 2013·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Ka Chon Ng, Li-Kang Chu

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