Sodium dodecyl sulfate (CAS 151-21-3)

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), also known as sodium lauryl sulfate with CAS number 151-21-3, is an anionic surfactant extensively used in biochemical research. Its primary function involves disrupting non-covalent bonds within proteins, leading to their denaturation, a process integral to SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) techniques. In SDS-PAGE, SDS binds uniformly to proteins, imparting a negative charge proportional to their molecular weight, thereby enabling their separation based on size under an electric field. This action is due to SDS′s ability to penetrate hydrophobic regions of proteins, unfolding their complex structures into linear forms. Additionally, SDS is crucial in nucleic acid extraction, where it facilitates cell lysis and denatures proteins to release DNA and RNA. Beyond laboratory settings, SDS′s properties as a surfactant find usage in industrial applications, particularly in detergents, due to its efficacy in solubilizing fats and oils. Its role in research extends to studying micelle formation and protein-protein interactions, underlining its versatility and importance in scientific studies that require precise manipulation and analysis of biomolecules.