Re: trypsin activity in guanidine hydrochloride

From: Wei Wu (wuwei1@pilot.msu.edu)
Date: Sat Aug 19 2000 - 13:37:47 EDT


Hi Ting,

I just came across a paper that talks about the conditions for use of trypsin, including the effect of conc. of denaturant. May it help.

Anal. Biochem. 266, 31-47, 1999

Wei Wu
Department of Chemistry
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
1-517-353-6767
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Rod Levine
  To: Recipients of ABRF List
  Sent: Friday, August 18, 2000 4:48 PM
  Subject: re: trypsin activity in guanidine hydrochloride

  At 09:48 AM 8/18/2000 -0600, Ting Wong wrote:

    I have encountered incomplete digestion of protein using trypsin. Since
    I was given the impression that trpytic digestion of protein can be done
    in mild denaturing condition such as 1-2 M 0f guanidine hydrochloride, I
    tried that but was not successful. The trypsin seemed to lose activity
    even at S/E (w/w) of 5 to 1 (20:1 was used in normal codition). I wonder
    if there is anything that I am not aware of in applying such condition
    for trypsin. Thanks in advance for your advice.

  Ting,

  Another myth -- often perpetuated in lists of proteases -- is that trypsin is stable to such concentrations of trypsin. We did a few experiments to assess that point because we had virtually the same experience as you. Those experiments simply confirmed our initial impression -- trypsin doesn't die completely in 1 M guanidine, but it's seriously injured. The rate of peptide bond hydrolysis drops substantially, some bonds which should be cut not act resistant, and cleavage rarely goes to completion.

  Rod Levine

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