PropertiesProperties

Size - change covalent structure- change folding- aggregation state

Solubility - change charge (pH or pI)- dielectric constant of solvent- ionic strength of solvent

Charge - change pH or pIpI - chemical or enzymatic modificationHydrophobicity - chemical or enzymatic modificationFunction - depends on the function...

TreatmentsTreatments

pHDielectric constantSalt concentrationHydrolysisTemperatureChemical modificationEnzymatic modification

pHpHProteins have many acidic groups (-COOH) which are

negatively charged at neutral pH and many basic groups (LysNH2, Arg-guanidino) groups which are positively charged at neutral pH. These are generally surface groups.

At some pH, the isoelectric point or pI, negative and positive charges balance, and the protein has a net charge of zero.

Most globular proteins have pI<6.5, and are polyanions at neutral pH.

Proteins with a net charge generally tend to repel each other and allow their charged groups to interact with water. Proteins are least soluble at their pI, and proteinaceous structures (e.g., muscle fibers) tend to compact.

Dielectric ConstantDielectric ConstantAvailability of solvent water and the ability of water to decrease intermolecular attraction keeps globular proteins in solution.

In a vacuum: , in a medium

Water has a dielectric constant of ~80 and is relatively good at keeping opposite charges apart. Dielectric constants of water-miscible solvents:

Glycerol 42.5

Ethanol 24.3

Acetone 20.7

Isopropanol 18.3

force zizj

ri, j2 force

zizj

Dri, j2

Mixing one of these solvents with aqueous solutions can decrease the solubility ofproteins

Salt ConcentrationSalt ConcentrationSalts compete for water of solvationAt high concentrations, the salts bind the water that was necessary to solvate proteins, and the proteins seek other interactions. If they associate with one another,they precipitate.

Solubility depends on1) the protein2) the salt3) the ionic strength, I

I mizi2i

Salt ConcentrationSalt Concentration

log

(so

lub

ilit

y)

Enzyme 2

Enzyme 1

Ammonium sulfate (% of saturation)

Enzyme 3

40%20% 60%

log

(s

olu

bil

ity

)

I

slope = K's

(~1/2 m)

Idealized case (compare with previous slide)

If K’S values are differentthen salting-out fractionation

may be possible

Salt PropertiesSalt PropertiesLyotropes. Salts that favor water structure, and strengthen the hydrophobic effectChaotropes. Salts that disrupt solvent structure, weakening the hydrophobic effect (solubilizing membrane proteins, weakening globular protein folds)

HydrolysisHydrolysis

•6N HCl, 110°, reduced pressure, 20 hr • free amino acids, Trp destroyed• No longer proteins

•Enzymic (endoprotease)• limited - mixtures of peptides• exhaustive - limit peptides (mixture)• Often greater solubility, generally lower

water-holding capacity, lower foamability, probably lower emulsification

• Increased digestibility (duh)

TemperatureTemperature

•Most prominent effect - unfolding•Increase in partial specific volume•Increase in shape parameter•Increase in [] and observed viscosity

•Aggregation•Depending on T, rate of heating, I, etc., can get

•Gel (loose network entrapping much solvent)•Cooked precipitate•Melted cheese (!)

Chemical ModificationChemical Modification

•Succinic anhydride - converts Lys-NH3+ to R-COO-

•alters pI and charge at fixed pH•creates net anionic surface (functionality)

•Acetic anhydride- converts Lys-NH3+ to R-COO-

•alters pI and charge at fixed pH ; retards Maillard browning

•Aminoacyl anhydrides-add more amino acids•Carbodiimide/amines or carboxylic acids•Reductive methylation-aldehyde or ketone followed

by borohydride; retards Maillard browning•Crosslinking - glutaraldehyde, dimethyl suberimidate

Result depends on the reagent

Enzymatic ModificationEnzymatic Modification•Hydrolysis - discussed already•Dephosphorylation, deglycosylation (hard)•Transpeptidation - the Plastein Reaction*

•Use enzymatic hydrolyzate, concentrate•Add protease plus free amino acids or esters•Obtain small, reshuffled protein-lets (3 kD) with new amino acids incorporated•Actual composition depends on the mix and the specificity of the protease used.

•Transesterification* -glycosidases can reshuffle sugars•Lactase is specific for beta-galactosides•invertase is specific for beta-fructosides•Neither cares very much what the other reagent is.

*(catalysts catalyze both forward and reverse reactions)