3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate hydrate (CAS 313223-04-0)

3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate hydrate, commonly known as CHAPS, is a zwitterionic detergent extensively used in scientific research for its diverse applications in biochemistry and molecular biology. Its mechanism of action involves solubilizing membrane proteins by disrupting lipid-protein interactions without denaturing the proteins themselves. CHAPS achieves this by forming micelles in aqueous solutions, where its hydrophobic tail interacts with the hydrophobic regions of membrane proteins, while the hydrophilic headgroup stabilizes the micelle in solution. This detergent has been widely employed in various research areas, including protein purification, membrane protein extraction, and structural biology studies. In protein purification, CHAPS is utilized for solubilizing and stabilizing membrane proteins, allowing for their isolation and subsequent biochemical characterization. Additionally, CHAPS has been instrumental in the structural elucidation of membrane proteins using techniques such as X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Moreover, it finds applications in membrane protein reconstitution experiments, where it facilitates the incorporation of purified membrane proteins into synthetic lipid bilayers for functional studies. Overall, CHAPS remains a crucial tool in biochemical research for its ability to effectively solubilize membrane proteins while preserving their native structure and function.