2006-07-09 07:12:55 · 5 answers · asked by k9 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Many proteins are made up of amino acides that have nonpolar side groups, and so cannot dissolve or mix with relatively polar organic compounds such as ethanol and acetone. Also, it could be that protein molecules are too big to disslove in those compounds.
2006-07-09 07:23:51 · answer #1 · answered by prune 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd like to emphasize, just for the record, what was mentioned in the previous answer: ethanol is an alcohol and acetone a ketone. They are not hydrocarbons.
It is true that the effect of any solvent on a protein depends on the nature of the protein, meaning its consistency in polar and non-polar amino acids. However you should take into account that each protein consists of many amino acids and in order for it to work properly it must have a specific shape.
This shape is influenced by the interactions of the amino acid side chains with each other and also the solvent.
Consider that proteins in the cytosol of your cells must be water soluble. This means that the arrangement of the amino acids in space is such that polar and charged side chains are mainly on the surface of the molecule while hydrophobic ones are forced to pack together mainly in the core of the molecule.
Less polar solvents like ethanol and acetone don't favour the hydrophobic interactions as much as water. Thus the protein structure loosens, the protein can open (unfold) and reveal non-polar groups. Non-polar groups from different molecules can interact with each other leading to aggregation.
In water these groups are "buried" inside each molecule and thus you avoid aggregation.
This is an extremely oversimplified explanation;just to get a picture of what's going on.
2006-07-11 02:59:12 · answer #2 · answered by bellerophon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, neither ethanol nor acetone are "hydrocarbon" solvents since they contain oxygen. Ethanol is an alcohol and acetone is a ketone.
A lot will depend on what amino acids make up the protein.
2006-07-09 18:01:47 · answer #3 · answered by rb42redsuns 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually , proteins (long chains of amino acids) are usually pretty polar, so they should soluble in polar ethanol and acetone (likes dissolve likes, always remember).
2006-07-09 08:28:03 · answer #4 · answered by The Frontrunner 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This sounds like something you were supposed to read in the textbook. Why not just go ahead and read about it?
2006-07-09 07:31:52 · answer #5 · answered by gtoacp 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋