The use of tetrahydrofuran for delipidation and water solubilization of brain proteolipid proteins.

Tetrahydrofuran, an efficient total lipid solvent, was found to precipitate chloroform-methanol soluble proteins from CM (chloroform-methanol, 2:1) lipid extracts of bovine and rat white and grey matter. To total lipid extracts containing proteolipid proteins 4 volumes of tetrahydrofuran are added; the precipitate is centrifuged and washed once with the same solvent. The product contains all the protein and about 1 to 2% of the lipids of the original lipid extract. It is insoluble in CM; solubility in CM is restored by addition of acetic acid or of the lipids recovered from the tetrahydrofuran-soluble fraction It is also soluble in glacial acetic acid and this solution can be diluted either with CM or with distilled water.