Solubilization with SDS

Remove SDS Without Losing Your Protein

Until recently many researchers avoided using SDS, despite its efficiency as a solubilizing agent, due to fouling of ionization components and detergent interferences with mass spectrometry signals. Fortunately, there now are effective and specific methods of removing SDS from protein solutions. Protein Discovery’s FASP Protein Digestion Kit and FFPE-FASP Protein Digestion Kit use a spin filter “proteomic reactor” method for removing SDS from completely solubilized proteomes prior to digestion.

SDS Maximizes Membrane Protein Extraction and Protein Solubilization

Leading proteomics researchers now routinely use SDS at high concentration to maximize insoluble protein extraction and protein digestion efficiency. In their Chemical Reviews paper “Proteomics of Integral Membrane Proteins -Theory and Application,” authors Anna Speers and Christine Wu explain that SDS is an effective solubilizing agent because its long, flexible hydrocarbon tail breaks existing intra-protein interactions, and its anionic head group prevents protein aggregation (DOI: 10.1021/cr068286z). Alan Doucette et al., have recently reviewed the benefits of SDS in the preparation of proteins for analysis by mass spectrometry (DOI: 10.1021/pr900949p).

Extract with SDS for Complete Solubilization

The buffers that comes with Protein Discovery’s UPX Universal Protein Extraction Kit and YPX Yeast Protein Extraction Kit contain SDS and reducing agents for complete solubilization of the entire proteome, including both soluble and insoluble proteins, during extraction.