AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BIOCHEMICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE NONIONIC SURFACTANT HECAMEG

A number of properties and effects of the novel non-ionic detergent Hecameg (6-O-(N-heptylcarbamoyl)-methyl- alpha-D-gluco-pyranoside) have been examined in view of its possible biochemical applications. In particular, its critical micellar concentration has been measured, and its effects on pure lipid membranes, soluble and membrane-bound enzymes have been recorded. Hecameg has some advantageous and some less advantageous properties; its relatively high critical micellar concentration (16.5 mM), almost insensitive to pH or ionic strength changes, makes it suitable for reconstitution procedures in which detergent must be removed by dialysis. It is also an effective lipid-solubilizing agent, producing leakage of vesicle contents at detergent concentrations well below the solubilizing range. Among the drawbacks, the presence of an amide group in the molecule may interfere with the protein amide group in spectroscopic measurements. It also appears to be less gentle than other nonionic surfactants towards certain enzyme activities.