Protein Protective Agents: A Comprehensive Solution

There are various types of protein protective agents, primarily including carbohydrates, polyols, amino acids and their derivatives, inorganic salts, glycerol,  bovine serum albumin, antioxidants, metal chelators, surfactants, and protease inhibitors, among others. The mechanisms of action for protein protective agents involve different theories, mainly the water exclusion theory, preferential solvent binding theory, and hydration layer theory.

 

Protein protective agents refer to compounds or biological preparations that can safeguard proteins from denaturation, degradation, and damage. Protein denaturation is the process where the original structure and function of a protein undergo changes, and it is a major cause of protein inactivation. Protein protective agents employ various mechanisms to protect proteins, including:

 

Altering the protein's environment: Protein protective agents can modify the solution environment, stabilizing protein molecules. For instance, polyhydroxy compounds can increase the viscosity of the protein solution, preventing protein molecules from aggregating or precipitating.

 

Restoring protein structure: Protein protective agents can repair damage to the protein molecule's structure, preventing protein denaturation. For example, amino acids can react with carboxyl and amino groups in protein molecules, repairing disulfide bonds in protein molecules.

 

Inhibiting protein degradation: Protein protective agents can inhibit the activity of enzymes such as proteases, preventing protein degradation.

 

 

Commonly used protein protective agents fall into the following categories:

Polyhydroxy compounds: Glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, and other polyhydroxy compounds increase the viscosity and surface tension of the protein solution, protecting proteins from interactions and aggregation.

 

Carbohydrates: Glucose, sucrose, fructose, etc., stabilize the three-dimensional structure of proteins through interactions with protein molecules.

 

Amino acids: Glycine, alanine, glutamic acid, etc., stabilize protein structures through covalent bonding with proteins.

 

Surfactants: Sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, etc., reduce protein surface tension, preventing protein aggregation.

 

Metal chelators: Form stable complexes with metal ions, preventing their binding to proteins and thereby protecting proteins.

 

Proteins such as serum albumin and egg albumin interact with protein molecules to stabilize their three-dimensional structures.

 

Protein protective agents play a crucial role in protein production, storage, and transportation processes. They can enhance protein stability and activity, prolonging the lifespan of proteins.

 

 

Applications of Protein Protective Agents:

Protein protective agents find wide applications in biotechnology, food industry, cosmetics industry, and other fields. In biotechnology, these agents are used to preserve the activity of biological preparations, extending their shelf life and usability. In the food industry, protein protective agents preserve proteins in food, maintaining their flavor and nutritional value. In the cosmetics industry, these agents protect proteins in cosmetics, preventing denaturation and inactivation.

 

Biopharmaceuticals: Protein protective agents are used to protect antibodies and proteins.

 

Food Industry: Protein protective agents are used to preserve nutritional proteins in food, preventing denaturation during processing and storage.

 

Cosmetics Industry: Protein protective agents are used to safeguard proteins in cosmetics, preventing denaturation during use.

 

Shanghai Seebio Biotech is a company specializing in protein/enzyme protective agents. Its product line includes various types of protein/enzyme protective agents suitable for different in vitro diagnostic reagents and platforms. The selection and use of protein protective agents should be optimized based on the characteristics and application purposes of different proteins, considering factors such as protein structure, stability, function, concentration, storage conditions, and detection methods.

 

 

For more product details, please contact us: service@seebio.cn or Phone: +86 21 58183719 or Wechat: +86 158 0195 7578