What is the role of detergents in membrane protein extraction?
Membrane protein purification requires disruption of lipid bilayer while preserving protein-protein and protein-cofactor interactions necessary for activity. Biological membranes are stabilized by hydrophobic interactions among fatty acyl chains and among transmembrane helices. Detergents are amphipathic molecules with hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail that partition into bilayer, compete for hydrophobic surfaces, and at concentrations above critical micelle concentration form mixed micelles of lipid, detergent and protein. Appropriate non-ionic detergents like Triton X-100 and dodecyl mal
Ref: Privé, Methods 2007, Detergents for membrane protein purification; Lodish, Chapter 10.
