Abstract
ANHYDROUS hydrogen fluoride (m.p., − 83° C.; b.p., 19.5° C.) has been found to be a powerful solvent for a wide variety of proteins. Experiments were carried out in transparent tubes moulded or machined from polychlorotrifluoroethylene polymer; these tubes containing the intensively dried protein samples could be attached to a metal vacuum system, hydrogen fluoride added by distillation, and direct visual observations made in the absence of moisture. Among proteins which are readily soluble in hydrogen fluoride at 0° are ribonuclease, lysozyme, pepsin, trypsin, crystallized egg albumin, bovine plasma albumin, bovine plasma globulin, edestin, peanut protein globulin, casein, zein, silk fibroin, hide collagen, insulin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone. These are all soluble at least to the extent of 20 mgm. per ml., and much more concentrated solutions can in general easily be prepared. Thus, a solution containing 350 mgm. per ml. bovine plasma albumin is still quite fluid at 0° C. The solutions are clear, colourless to faint amber, and are very much less viscous than corresponding aqueous solutions. The globular proteins dissolve rapidly even at − 78° C., whereas silk fibroin and hide collagen undergo strong swelling and require many hours at room temperature for complete solution.
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KATZ, J. Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride as a Solvent for Proteins. Nature 173, 265 (1954). https://doi.org/10.1038/173265a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/173265a0
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