The interaction of tubulin and other proteins with structure-stabilizing solvents

Serge N. Timasheff, James C. Lee, Eugene P. Pittz, Neil Tweedy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

111 Scopus citations

Abstract

A study has been carried out of the interactions with proteins of solvent systems which are commonly used to stabilize proteins in solution or to crystallize proteins out of solution. The first class consisted of water-sucrose and water-glycerol, which are frequently added to enzyme solutions in order to maintain their activity; the second class contained sodium and ammonium sulfates and 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD) as solvent components. Densimetry and differential refractometry experiments with the application of multicomponent thermodynamic theory, showed that, in all four systems, proteins are preferentially hydrated, i.e., addition of these cosolvents results in an unfavorable free energy change. Detailed analysis of the thermodynamics of protein transitions in the presence of sucrose showed that its stabilizing action can be accounted for to a great extent in terms of the surface energy of this solvent system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)658-663
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Colloid And Interface Science
Volume55
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1976
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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