A comparative study of the effect of various detergents on the structure and function of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles

Summary The effects produced by the detergents Triton X-100, sodium dodecylsulphate and sodium cholate on sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles have been comparatively studied. In all cases, maximal effects are found 5 min after detergent addition. Triton X-100 and SDS are approximately ten times more effective than cholate in protein and phospholipid solubilization. Both Triton X-100 and SDS maintain Ca⁺⁺ accumulation in SR vesicles at detergent concentrations below 10^–3 M; higher concentrations cause a strong inhibition. On the other hand, cholate produces a gradual inhibition of Ca⁺⁺ accumulation in the concentration range between 10^–4 M and 2.5 × 10^–2 M. Triton X-100 and SDS produce a gradual solubilization of the specific Ca⁺⁺-ATPase activity up to a 10^–3 M detergent concentration, above which a strong inactivation occurs, while the enzyme solubilization increases with the presence of cholate in the whole concentration range under study. The different behaviour of sodium cholate, when compared to SDS or Triton X-100, is discussed in relation to the surfactant molecular structures. The possibility of membrane lysis and reassembly in the presence of some detergents is also considered.Abbreviations SR sarcoplasmic reticulum - SDS sodium dodecylsulphate - DTT dithiothreitol - EGTA ethyleneglycoltetraacetate - PEP phosphoenolpyruvate     

Inhibition of Aflatoxin Production by Surfactants

The effect of 12 surfactants on aflatoxin production, growth, and conidial germination by the fungus Aspergillus flavus is reported. Five nonionic surfactants, Triton X-100, Tergitol NP-7, Tergitol NP-10, polyoxyethylene (POE) 10 lauryl ether, and Latron AG-98, reduced aflatoxin production by 96 to 99% at 1% (wt/vol). Colony growth was restricted by the five nonionic surfactants at this concentration. Aflatoxin production was inhibited 31 to 53% by lower concentrations of Triton X-100 (0.001 to 0.0001%) at which colony growth was not affected. Triton X-301, a POE-derived anionic surfactant, had an effect on colony growth and aflatoxin production similar to that of the five POE-derived nonionic surfactants. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant, and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, a cationic surfactant, suppressed conidial germination at 1% (wt/vol). SDS had no effect on aflatoxin production or colony growth at 0.001%. The degree of aflatoxin inhibition by a surfactant appears to be a function of the length of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic chains of POE-derived surfactants.     

Effect of surfactants on the intensity of chemiluminescence emission from acridinium ester labelled proteins

In order to establish optimum conditions for the chemiluminescent (CL) reaction of two acridinium ester labelled proteins (human albumin and rabbit anti-human albumin IgG), we investigated the effects of the following factors known to influence the CL emission: pH, presence of proteins, relative concentrations of components of CL reaction and presence of surfactants. Under optimal conditions of pH and hydrogen peroxide concentration, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) increased the intensity of the CL reaction of the acridinium ester labelled albumin by 42-fold. Triton X-100, Tween-20, 23 lauryl ether (Brij 35) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) exerted a much smaller effect. In the case of the acridinium ester labelled antibody, the greatest increase was obtained with Triton X-100 (15-fold) followed by CTAC, Brij 35 and Tween 20 (SDS decreased the emission intensity).     

Rocket and crossed immunoelectrophoresis of proteins solubilized with sodium dodecyl sulfate

A method for the immunoelectrophoretic analysis of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic proteins from whole-cell extracts solubilized with 2% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is described. For rocket immunoelectrophoresis, Triton X-100 is added to the sample before electrophoresis to sequester non-protein-bound SDS, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) is added to the antibody gel to enhance precipitin formation. With the optimal ratio of Triton X-100 to PEG, the quantitative determination of 5 ng of protein is possible. The SDS-solubilized sample can also be analyzed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis using SDS-polyacrylamide gels in the first dimension and antibody-containing agarose gels in the second. The best results are obtained when intermediate gels without nonionic detergents are used and when ionic detergents are omitted from the cathodal gel. Precipitin peaks of high quality, reproducibility, and without artifacts are obtained using antibody concentrations 5- to 50-fold lower than with other crossed-immunoelectrophoresis procedures.     

Molecular characterization of surfactant-driven microbial community changes in anaerobic phenanthrene-degrading cultures under methanogenic conditions

SDS and Triton X-100 added at their critical micelle concentrations (CMCs), increased phenanthrene solubility in the presence of sediments and inhibited phenanthrene biodegradation. Triton X-100 caused more inhibition than SDS. 16S rDNA analyses revealed that both surfactants changed the microbial communities of phenanthrene-degrading cultures. Further, after the surfactant additions, parts of the microbial populations were not detected and methane production decreased. Surfactant applications, necessary to achieve actual CMCs, alter microbial community structure and diminish methanogenic activity under anaerobic conditions. We propose that this change may be related to the inhibitory effects of SDS and Triton X-100 on phenanthrene biodegradation under methanogenic conditions.     

Comparative extraction of erythrocyte EDTA-membrane proteins by some ionic and non-ionic detergents

In order to examine whether it would be possible to obtain, by a simple extraction procedure from EDTA-erythrocyte-membranes, a partially purified preparation of the "band 3 zone" proteins, we have tested four solubilizing agents of common use. Detergents, both ionic (DOC and SDS) and non ionic (Tween 80 and Triton X-100), were not able, in our experimental conditions, to completely solubilize erythrocyte fragmented membranes which had previously been washed in EDTA-buffers. However, they were able to solubilize some of the membrane proteins, which could then be separated by SDS-PGE. The PGE densitometric profiles reported in this communication indicate that the protein mixture extracted by the ionic detergents DOC and SDS qualitatively reflects the protein composition of the membranes. Among the non ionic detergents, on the other hand, Triton X-100 appeared to be able to extract mainly one band (most probably the band 3 zone), while Tween 80 did not apparently extract any of the membrane proteins. Detergent concentrations, medium composition and experimental procedures are described in detail.     

Characterization of rat and human steroid sulfatases

Rat and human steroid sulfatases were purified from liver and placenta, respectively, by the same procedure. The rat and human enzymes were solubilized with Triton X-100, and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography with a monoclonal antibody showing high binding activities to both the enzymes. They were further purified by high-pressure anion-exchange chromatography to compare their structural and catalytic properties. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that both enzymes had a molecular weight of 62,000. The enzymes had similar amino acid compositions and amino-terminal amino acid sequences. Significant differences of the optimum pH, Michaelis constant and maximum velocity were observed between these enzymes. The optimum pH of each enzyme varied from 6.0 to 8.0, depending on substrates and with or without Triton X-100. In detergent-free media, steroid sulfates competitively inhibited the ability of these enzymes to hydrolyze 4-nitrophenyl sulfate. In media containing Triton X-100, on the other hand, the inhibition types of the steroid sulfates on the hydrolyzing activities of the rat and human enzymes were noncompetitive- and mixed-types, respectively.     

Triton solubilization of proteins from pig liver mitochondrial membranes

Various aspects of membrane solubilization by the Triton X-series of nonionic detergents were examined in pig liver mitochondrial membranes. Binding of Triton X-100 to nonsolubilized membranes was saturable with increased concentrations of the detergent. Maximum binding occurred at concentrations exceeding 0.5% Triton X-100 (w/v). Solubilization of both protein and phospholipid increased with increasing Triton X-100 to a plateau which was dependent on the initial membrane protein concentration used. At low detergent concentrations (less than 0.087% Triton X-100, w/v), proteins were preferentially solubilized over phospholipids. At higher Triton X-100 concentrations the opposite was true. Using the well-defined Triton X-series of detergents, the optimal hydrophile-lipophile balance number (HLB) for solubilization of phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase (EC 2.7.8.5) was 13.5, corresponding to Triton X-100. Activity was solubilized optimally at detergent concentrations between 0.1 and 0.2% (w/v). The optimal protein-to-detergent ratio for solubilization was 3 mg protein/mg Triton X-100. Solubilization of phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase was generally better at low ionic strength, though total protein solubilization increased at high ionic strength. Solubilization was also dependent on pH. Significantly higher protein solubilization was observed at high pH (i.e., 8.5), as was phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase solubilization. The manipulation of these variables in improving the recovery and specificity of membrane protein solubilization by detergents was examined.     

Use of resistant mutants to study the interaction of triton X-100 with Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus mutants resistant to the nonionic detergent Triton X-100, isolated from the wild-type strain H and the autolysin-deficient strain RUS3, could grow and divide in broth containing 5% (vol/vol) Triton X-100, while growth of the parental strains was markedly inhibited above the critical micellar concentration (0.02%) of the detergent. Growth-inhibitory concentrations of Triton X-100 killed wild-type cells without demonstrable cellular lysis. Triton X-100 stimulated autolysin activity of S. aureus cells under nongrowing conditions, and this lytic response was markedly reduced in energy-poisoned cells. In contrast, the detergent had no effect on the activity of autolysins in cell-free systems, and growth in the presence of Triton X-100 did not alter either the cellular autolysin activity or the susceptibility of cell walls to exogenous lytic enzymes. Treatment with either Triton X-100 or penicillin G in the growth medium stimulated release of predominantly acylated intracellular lipoteichoic acid and sensitized staphylococci to Triton X-100-induced autolysis. There was no significant difference in the cell wall and membrane compositions or Triton X-100 binding between the parental strains and the resistant mutants. The resistant mutant TXR1, derived from S. aureus H, had a higher level of L-alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity, and its oxygen uptake was more resistant to inhibition by a submicellar concentration (0.008%) of Triton X-100. Growth in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of Triton X-100 rendered S. aureus H cells phenotypically resistant to the detergent and greatly stimulated the level of oxygen uptake. Membranes isolated from such cells exhibited enhanced activity of the respiratory enzymes succinic dehydrogenase and L-alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase.     

Quantitation of human immunoglobulin G and albumin in electroimmunodiffusion gels containing ionic and nonionic detergents

Quantitation of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and albumin by agarose electroimmunodiffusion is influenced by the incorporation of ionic and nonionic detergents in the gel. The highest concentrations of each detergent at which human IgG and albumin determinations could be performed without perturbing the quantitations were 4% Triton X-100, 4% Tween 80, 1% NP-40, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate (SDOC), 0.5% Zwittergent, and 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and mixtures of Triton X-100, SDOC, and SDS. These detergent combinations all resulted in greater perturbations of albumin quantitation than of IgG. Immunoprecipitation of human IgG was quantitated in the absence and presence of Triton X-100, Zwittergent, and SDS. SDS was shown to cause nonspecific precipitation, whereas below 1% Triton X-100 or 0.5% Zwittergent no effects upon the immunoprecipitations were observed.     

Sensitivity and variability of the Bradford protein assay in the presence of detergents

The effects of Triton X-100, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and urea on the response of Coomassie blue G to 16 different proteins and peptides of Mr 1140 to 146,000 were studied to assess the significance of protein conformation and of ionic and nonionic interactions for the dye response to individual proteins. Triton X-100 at a final concentration of 0.008% (v/v) increased the sensitivity of the Bradford assay toward all proteins of Mr 5700 or higher by an average 33%. Increases ranged from +11% with myelin basic protein to +128% with aprotinin. The relative range of absorbance of proteins and deviations from bovine serum albumin decreased by approximately 25%. Triton X-100 appears to facilitate nonionic interactions of the dye with proteins of limited capacity for ionic binding. Conformation of proteins also seemed to be of some significance because the chaotropic agent urea (0.16 M final concentration) increased sensitivity of the assay by 14%. Sensitivity of the assay was lowered by SDS (0.004% final concentration, w/v) by an average 75% from that of the control assay. The results indicate that the incorporation of low concentrations of a nonionic detergent may be useful in improving sensitivity and variability of the Bradford assay.     

Detergents affect insulin binding, tyrosine kinase activity and oligomeric structure of partially purified insulin receptors.

Insulin receptor activities, i.e., insulin binding and tyrosine kinase activation depend on the lipid environment of the receptor. As detergent may disrupt or interfere with this environment, we investigated the effect of various common detergents on insulin receptor properties. Experiments were carried out (i) on solubilized and partially purified insulin receptor and (ii) on the receptor reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine vesicles. The detergents tested, Triton X-100, octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, octyl-beta-D-thioglucopyranoside, 3[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonic acid (Chaps), and Na deoxycholate affected the insulin receptor properties differently when compared with the control receptor in the absence of detergent. On the partially purified insulin receptor, Na deoxycholate inhibited both insulin receptor activities; octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and octyl-beta-D-thioglucopyranoside decreased insulin binding and kinase activation as their concentration increased, particularly above their respective critical micellar concentration (CMC). Triton X-100 was the only detergent which allowed an increase of insulin binding and kinase activation throughout the whole range of concentrations assayed. Reconstitution of the receptor into phosphatidylcholine vesicles protected the receptor from the direct effects of the detergents, for both the stimulation observed with Triton X-100 and the inhibition produced by the other detergents. In order to determine the effect of detergents on the oligomeric forms of the soluble insulin receptor, we investigated a new rapid sucrose gradient centrifugation technique. Insulin receptors were detected on the gradient by 125I insulin binding. For low concentrations of detergent, i.e., near the CMC, octylglucoside, Chaps, and Triton X-100 favored the (alpha 2 beta 2)2 oligomeric form of the receptor. Higher concentrations of Triton X-100 did not modify the polymeric state of the receptor. In contrast, octylglucoside and Chaps induced an increase in the sedimentation coefficient of the receptor which appeared as (alpha 2 beta 2)3 and (alpha 2 beta 2)4 forms. These alterations in the oligomerization status of the insulin receptor may explain the deleterious effects observed with both Chaps and octylglucoside at higher concentrations.     

Comparative study of enzyme activity and stability of bovine and human plasmins in electrophoretic reagents, beta-mercaptoethanol, DTT, SDS, Triton X-100, and urea

Effects of common electrophoretic reagents, reducing agents (beta-mercaptoethanol [BME] and DTT), denaturants (SDS and urea), and non-ionic detergent (Triton X-100), on the activity and stability of bovine plasmin (b-pln) and human plasmin (h-pln) were compared. In the presence of 0.1% SDS (w/v), all reagents completely inhibited two plns, whereas SDS (1%) and urea (1 M) denatured plns recovered their activities after removal of SDS by treatment of 2.5% Triton X-100 (v/v). However, reducing agents (0.1 M of BME and DTT) treated plns did not restore their activities. Based on a fibrin zymogram gel, five (from b-pln) and four (from h-pln) active fragments were resolved. Two plns exhibited unusual stability in concentrated SDS and Triton X-100 (final 10%) and urea (final 6 M) solutions. Two bands, heavy chain-2 (HC-2) and cleaved heavy chain-2 (CHC-2), of b-pln were completely inhibited in 0.5% SDS or 3 M urea, whereas no significant difference was found in h-pln. Interestingly, 50 kDa (cleaved heavy chain-1, CHC-1) of b-pln and two fragments, 26 kDa (light chain, LC) and 29 kDa (microplasmin, MP), of h-pln were increased by SDS in a concentration dependent manner. We also found that the inhibition of SDS against both plns was reversible.     

Photodynamic effect in lysozyme: a kinetic study in different micellar media.

The influence of medium heterogeneity on the kinetics of the photodynamic effect on native protein lysozyme (Lyso), as well as the interaction of protein and the medium, anionic (SDS) micelles, neutral (Triton X-100) micelles and reversed micelles of AOT, were investigated at pH 8. The interaction between Lyso, Triton X-100 and SDS micelles was quantified by determining the respective associations constant (K(Lyso)). Values were 37 M(-1) for Triton X-100 and 514 M(-1) for SDS, indicating that the Lyso molecule binds Triton X-100 micelles effectively and SDS micelles even more strongly. Time-resolved phosphorescence detection (TRPD) indicates that the protein interacts with O2 (1deltag), with overall rate constants of the order of 10(8) M(-1)/S in direct micelles and 10(7) M(-1)/S in reverse micelles. Apparent reactive rate constants for eosin-sensitized photo-oxidation (singlet molecular oxygen [O2 (1deltag)]-mediated) of the protein were determined through oxygen uptake experiments for the direct micelles, while the fade in the protein fluorescence spectrum upon sensitized irradiation was used in AOT. The results indicate that the O2 (1deltag) attack on the interior of Lyso on amino acid residues, was more effective in leading to a photo-oxidative reaction in SDS and in Triton X-100 at surfactant concentrations < 1 x 10(-2) M than in a homogeneous solution. However, Lyso reactivity reached a maximum when the concentration of micelles was approximately 1 x 10(-5), the same as the protein concentration In AOT reverse micelles, the quenching rate constants decreased > 75% with respect to water. This effect can be attributed to the decrease in accessibility of the amino acid residues to O2 (1deltag).     

The inhibitory effects of polyoxyethylene detergents on human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase and Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase

The activities of acetylcholinesterase and Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase were measured following treatment of human erythrocyte membranes with nonsolubilizing and solubilizing concentrations of Triton X-100. A concentration of 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100 caused a significant inhibition of both enzymes. The inhibition appears to be caused by perturbations in the membrane induced by Triton X-100 incorporation. No acetylcholinesterase activity and little Ca2+ + Mg2+ ATPase activity were detected in the supernatant at 0.05% Triton X-100 although this same detergent concentration induced changes in the turbidity of the membrane suspension. Also, no inhibition of soluble acetylcholinesterase was observed over the entire detergent concentration range. The inhibition of these enzymes at 0.1% Triton X-100 was present over an eightfold range of membrane protein in the assay indicating an independence of the protein/detergent ratio. The losses in activities of these two enzymes could be prevented by either including phosphatidylserine in the Triton X-100 suspension or using Brij 96 which has the same polyoxyethylene polar head group but an oleyl hydrophobic tail instead of the p-tert-octylphenol group of Triton X-100. The results are discussed in regard to the differential recovery of enzyme activities over the entire detergent concentration range.     

Inhibition of compound 48--80 induced histamine liberation from mast cells by triton X-100]

Triton X-100 at concentrations preceding those which liberated histamine, produced dose-dependent inhibition of compound 48/80-induced histamine release from rat mast cells. Triton X-100 (0.00002 1/1) depleted ATP content in the mast cells and blocked compound 48/80-induced histamine release. The inhibition of compound 48/80-induced histamine release and depletion of the ATP content in the mast cells was reversed by glucose (10 mmole). It is concluded that inhibition by Triton X-100 of histamine release induced by compound 48/80 is dependent on inhibition of energy production.     

Bacterial decolorization of acid orange 7 in the presence of ionic and non-ionic surfactants

The effects of the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100, the cationic surfactant cetyltri-methylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the anionic surfactant sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate (SLS) on the decolorization of the reaction medium containing the monoazo dye Acid Orange 7 (AO7) by Alcaligenes faecalis and Rhodococcus erythropolis were studied. It was found that the surfactants influenced in different ways the rate of decolorization. At all concentrations tested the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 decreased the decolorization rate of R. erythropolis. At concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) Triton X-100 upset the usually observed exponential decay of the dye with A. faecalis due probably to the existence of an outer membrane in this organism. In concentrations above the CMC the anionic surfactant SLS inhibited the decolorization and, at prolonged incubation, caused partial release of the bound dye. The cationic surfactant CTAB in concentrations above and below the CMC accelerated drastically the binding of AO7 to the cells causing a rapid staining of the biomass and complete decolorization of the reaction medium. An attempt was made for explanation of the observed differences by the negative electrostatic charge of the living bacterial cell.     

Two types of haemolytic activity of detergents

The nonionic detergent Triton X-100 at concentrations of about 0.003 to 0.008% causes swelling followed by the haemolysis of erythrocytes suspended in 160 mM KCl. The rate of haemolysis increases with the increase in detergent concentration. Finally all the erythrocytes are haemolysed. The resistance of erythrocytes to this detergent decreases with an increase in temperature. The effect of Triton X-100 is explained by increased membrane permeability to KCl and colloid osmotic haemolysis. The anionic detergent, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), at concentrations of about 0.003 to 0.001% causes the haemolysis of a certain number of erythrocytes. This number increases with an increase in detergent concentration. The resistance of erythrocytes to SDS increases with an increase in temperature. The effect of SDS is explained by direct disruption of membranes by the detergent.     

Detection and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to platelet membrane proteins

We have devised a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for the detection and characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against platelet surface antigens. Platelet membrane proteins, solubilized with 0.1% Triton X-100, were covalently coupled to cyanogen bromide (CNBr)-activated filter paper disks that were than used as the support in antibody binding assays. SDS PAGE of solubilized membrane proteins taken immediately before and after incubation with activated disks indicated that representative amounts of each membrane protein were bound to the disks. Either monoclonal or heterologous anti-platelet antibody could be detected on disks that had been prepared using as little as 50 micrograms of membrane protein per 100 disks. For the detection of antibody, disks were incubated with test sera for 2 h, washed, and incubated with 125I-labeled anti-immunoglobulin G, and the amount of bound radioactivity was determined. The sensitivity of the disk assay in detecting monoclonal antibodies was far greater than that of a corresponding radioimmunoassay that used whole platelets as the solid phase. By linking other proteins such as fibrinogen or anti-mouse subclass specific antisera to CNBr-activated disks, the method was adapted for antibody characterization. The sensitivity and ease with which the assay can be performed make this technique most suitable for screening and characterizing monoclonal antibodies.     

The impairment of mitochondrial function by Triton X-100. A study of mitochondrial respiration and energy-dependent swelling

Coupled and uncoupled respiration, and energy-dependent phosphate swelling have been studied in rat liver mitochondria in the presence of various concentration of Triton X-100. Detergent concentrations up to 10(-5) M do not affect any of the processes under study. At 10(-5) M, Triton X-100 produces a slight decrease of coupled respiration and a considerable inhibition of mersalyl-induced shrinking in swollen mitochondria. Increasing the surfactant concentration to 10(-4), coupled as well as uncoupled O2 consumption is decreased, succinate-dependent phosphate swelling is inhibited and an energy-dependent phosphate swelling in the absence of valinomycin is observed. At 2 X 10(-4) M. Triton X-100, ATP- dependent phosphate swelling is abolished, and passive swelling may be induced by various ions. Higher detergent concentrations do not allow observation of any of these events. On the basis of these results, a model of membrane-detergent interaction is proposed.