A surfactant copolymer facilitates functional recovery of heat-denatured lysozyme

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Dec:1066:321-7. doi: 10.1196/annals.1363.029.

Abstract

The triblock copolymer poloxamer 188 is a non-cytotoxic, nonionic surfactant with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains. We show that P188 is able to facilitate the recovery of catalytic activity of heat-denatured lysozyme in dilute solution at low molar ratios of P188:enzyme. Heat-denatured enzyme retained 55% of native activity. After treatment with P188, the enzyme's activity was 85% of native. Because of the low molar ratios used and the non-cytotoxic nature of the compound, P188 may be of potential use in burn therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens
  • Molecular Structure
  • Muramidase / chemistry*
  • Muramidase / metabolism*
  • Poloxamer / chemistry
  • Poloxamer / pharmacology*
  • Protein Denaturation*
  • Protein Renaturation*

Substances

  • Poloxamer
  • hen egg lysozyme
  • Muramidase