Abstract
Cultured mammalian cells and tissues can be solubilized by the nonionic detergent Triton X-114 (octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol). This detergent, when in solution above its critical micelle concentration, increases its micelle weight when warmed from 0 to 20°C and in the process decreases its critical micelle concentration. This induces intermicellar interactions, which lead to turbidity (the cloud point) and phase separation of the detergent at 20°C. A simple low-speed centrifugation step recovers the detergent-enriched phase as an oily pellet. Following solubilization and warming to 20°C, integral membrane proteins partition into the detergent-enriched phase, and peripheral and cytosolic proteins are recovered from the detergent-depleted aqueous phase.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Bordier, C. (1981) Phase separation of integral membrane proteins in Triton X-114 solution. J. Biol. Chem. 256, 1604–1607.
Pryde, J. G. (1986) Triton X-114: a detergent that has come in from the cold. Trends Biochem. Sci. 11, 160–163.
Brusca, J. S. and Radolf, J. D. (1994) Isolation of integral membrane proteins by phase partitioning with Triton X-114. Methods Enzymol. 228, 182–193.
Sanchez-Ferrer, A., Bru, R., and Garcia-Carmona, F. (1994) Phase separation of biomolecules in polyoxyethylene glycol nonionic detergents. Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 29, 275–313.
Pryde, J. G. and Phillips, J. H. (1986) Fractionation of membrane proteins by temperature-induced phase separation in Triton X-114. Biochem. J. 233, 525–533.
Maher, P. A. and Singer, S. J. (1985) Anomalous interaction of the acetylcholine receptor protein with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 82, 958–962.
Alcaraz, G., Kinet, J-P., Kumar, N., Wank, S. A., and Metzger, H. (1984) Phase separation of the receptor for immunoglobulin E and its subunits in Triton X-114. J. Biol. Chem. 259, 14,922–14,927.
Garewal, H. S. (1973) A procedure for the estimation of microgram quantities of Triton X-100. Anal. Biochem. 54, 319–324.
Perez-Castineira, J. R. and Apps, D. K. (1990) Vacuolar H+-ATPase of adrenal secretory granules. Biochem. J. 271, 127–131.
Pryde, J. G. (1994) A group of integral membrane proteins of the rat liver Golgi contains a conserved protein of 100 kDa. J. Cell Sci. 107, 3425–3436.
Shakur, Y., Pryde, J. G., and Houslay, M. D. (1993) Engineered deletion of the unique N-terminal domain of the cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase RD1 prevents plasma membrane association and the attainment of enhanced thermo-stability without altering its sensitivity to inhibition by rolipram. Biochem. J. 292, 677–686.
Clemetson, K. J., Bienz, D., Zahno, M.-L., and Luscher, E. F. (1984) Distribution of platelet glycoproteins and phosphoproteins in hydrophobic and hydrophilic phases in Triton X-114 phase partition. Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 778, 463–469.
Pember, S. O., Heyl, B. L., Kinkade, J. M., and Lambeth, J. D. (1984) Cytochrome b558 from (bovine) granulocytes. J. Biol. Chem. 259, 10,590–10,595.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Pryde, J.G. (1998). Partitioning of Proteins in Triton X-114. In: Clegg, R.A. (eds) Protein Targeting Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 88. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-487-9:23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-487-9:23
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-487-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-572-3
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols