Solubilization of membranes by detergents

Detergent‐like properties of polyethyleneglycols in relation to model membranes

“…Their appearance is not changed in the presence of PEG 1000 or PEG 6000, although their number decreases with increasing polymer concentrations (not shown). This is in accord with previous ideas of liposome solubilization by detergents [4,9]. The increase in turbidity of the sonicated vesicle suspensions can be due to liposome shrinking, or aggregation, or increase in size.…”

Use of a whole‐cell biosensor to assess the bioavailability enhancement of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds by nonionic surfactants

“…Conversely, other studies have reported inhibition of biodegradation in the presence of nonionic surfactants Luthy, 1991, 1992). This observed toxicity may be explained by the interaction of surfactants with the lipid components of the cell membrane, and with proteins essential to the functioning of the cell (Helenius and Simons, 1975).…”

“…It is well known that nonionic surfactants bind to cell membranes and that this interaction alters membrane properties (Brown and Al Nuaimi, 2005;Florence et al, 1984;Glover et al, 1999;Helenius and Simons, 1975;Lichtenberg et al, 1983). According to Helenius and Simons (1975), when surfactants penetrate into the membrane, they alter its molecular organization, leading to an increase in membrane permeability, and, at higher surfactant concentrations, to lysis and eventually, membrane solubilization, resulting in the formation of mixed micellar structures containing both lipids and proteins.…”

“…According to Helenius and Simons (1975), when surfactants penetrate into the membrane, they alter its molecular organization, leading to an increase in membrane permeability, and, at higher surfactant concentrations, to lysis and eventually, membrane solubilization, resulting in the formation of mixed micellar structures containing both lipids and proteins. Some studies have reported on the permeabilization of cell membranes by Triton X-100 in particular, as evidenced by the rapid release of colored biodegradation intermediates from the cytoplasm into the growth medium (Willumsen and Arvin, 1999;Willumsen and Karlson, 1998), and by transmission electron micrographs clearly showing an inflated periplasmic space and an uneven distribution of the cytoplasm adjacent to the cell envelope (Willumsen and Karlson, 1998).…”

“…The general consensus in the literature is that it is primarily the monomers, and not the micelles, that bind to the cell membranes and are responsible for altering the bacterial membrane structure (Florence et al, 1984;Helenius and Simons, 1975;Van Hoof and Rogers, 1992). Once the membrane structure has been altered by the binding of surfactant monomers, the transport of micellarphase compounds into the cell is facilitated by fusion of the micelles with the cell membrane, as hypothesized by Guha and Jaffe (1996b).…”