CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate) is a commonly used detergent in biochemistry and molecular biology. It is a zwitterionic detergent, meaning it has both a positively and negatively charged group.
CHAPS is known for its ability to solubilize and stabilize membrane proteins, making it useful for various applications such as protein extraction, purification, and characterization. It disrupts lipid-protein interactions, allowing membrane proteins to be extracted in their native state.
Unlike other detergents, CHAPS is relatively mild and does not denature most proteins, making it an excellent choice for maintaining protein structure and function during experiments. It can also help to prevent protein aggregation.
CHAPS is commonly used in techniques like SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), isoelectric focusing, and Western blotting. It is also frequently used in studies involving membrane-bound enzymes, signal transduction, and protein-lipid interactions.