title: Unexpected improvement in stability and utility of cytochrome c by solution in biocompatible ionic liquids.
abstract: Proteins generally are only stable in vitro for short periods of time. This results in challenges during isolation and purification of recombinant proteins and reduces the shelf life of protein-based pharmaceuticals. Here we show that certain novel, biocompatible ionic liquids provide a stabilizing solvent for proteins, for example, cytochrome c, such that structure and activity are maintained even after 6 months of storage at room temperature. Normally, this protein would be rendered inactive after only 1 week in buffered aqueous solution. The effect of the ionic liquid solvent appears to be related to protection against hydrolysis.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forsyth
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Gloria D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D006736:Horses; D007477:Ions; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D007477:Ions; D012996:Solutions; D045304:Cytochromes c