PubMed1980
Coacervation is known to be a fundamental step in elastogenesis that is influenced by various naturally occurring substances in connective tissue. Therefore, interaction of alpha-elastin with ionic detergents (sodium dodecyl sulfate, dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium bromide, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, pentadecacarbethoxytrimethylammonium bromide and cetylpyridinium bromide) was studied as a model for the elastin interaction with amphipilic substances. The course of the interactions was followed by the effect on thermal coacervation, solubilization of lipophilic dye, difference spectra measurements and fluorescence probe. The results indicate that the detergents examined interact with alpha-elastin below critical micelle concentration in two different ways. In the first case, a mixed micelle can be formed from the detergent molecules (SDS, DBD) and alpha-elastin: alternatively mixed micelles are not formed, but the detergent molecules (CT, PCT, CP) do interact with elastin. The interaction of alpha-elastin at the isoelectric point was found to depend more on the chemical structure of the detergent molecule than on its charge. If detergent concentrations above the critical micelle concentration were applied, the interaction mechanism was different from that observed at lower detergent concentration.