AMPHIPOLS: Labeled or functionalized derivatives of A8-35

Radiolabeled APols have been synthesized so as to follow the distribution of the polymers in biochemistry experiments and to help assessing the amount of APol bound per trapped MP (Gohon et al. (2008), Tribet et al. (1997)). Deuterated A8-35 has been most useful in SANS and AUC experiments (Gohon et al. (2008, 2006,2004)) and in NMR studies ( Zoonens et al. (2005), Catoire et al. (2010a, 2009)).

At variance with detergents, APols are large molecules. A single functional group attached to the polymer, such as a fluorescent NBD group, does not affect its physical chemical properties (Zoonens et al. (2007)). Other functionalized APols carry different fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein, rhodamine or Alexa 647 (ref. Giusti et al. (2012) and unpublished data), or other functional groups, such as a biotin (Charvolin et al. (2009)) (Fig.5). The possibilities are nearly endless, and novel functionalized APols are regularly being designed, synthesized and validated for specific applications (Le Bon et al. (2014)). Some of their uses are briefly described in the section on Applications and detailed thoroughly in the review "Amphipols for each season" (Zoonens et Popot ( 2014)).

image4

Figure 5. Functionalized derivatives of A8-35. R1, octylamine; R2, isopropylamine; R3 can be a fluorophore (NBD, fluoresceine, rhodamine, Alexa 647...), a biotin etc. See refs.Giusti et al. (2012), Zoonens et al. (2007), Charvolin et al. (2009).