Anionic Detergents

Anionic detergents represent a crucial class in the realm of membrane protein research, with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) as a prominent example. These detergents are characterized by their negatively charged head groups, often sulfate or sulfonate. Anionic detergents play a pivotal role in protein solubilization and separation techniques, particularly in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SDS, a widely used anionic detergent, effectively denatures proteins by binding to them and imparting a uniform negative charge. This charge overwhelms the native charge of the proteins, allowing for their separation based on size during electrophoresis.