Solubilization of PNS myelin membrane proteins by detergents

We have applied 25 different detergents to the PNS myelin membrane. The ext racts produced were analyzed regarding the total amount of protein solubili zed, and which myelin glycoproteins were solubilized. The degree of protein extraction was correlated with the critical micelle concentration. For som e detergents the protein extraction ability depends clearly on critical mic elle concentration. These detergents are more potent if critical micelle co ncentration is small. The other type of extraction is independent on the cr itical micelle concentration, but extractability of proteins is low. The be st detergents for solubilization of myelin proteins are neutral of the alky l chain length n = 9 - 11, as follows: dodecyl-beta-D-maltopyranoside, decy l-beta-D-maltopyranoside, n-dodecylsulfobetaine. We expect that these deter gents will also be suitable for crystallization of PD and PASII/PMP22 glyco proteins. NeuroReport 11:2559-2563 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.