The Effects of Detergents on the Composition of Postsynaptic Densities

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Abstract
A method of purifying postsynaptic densities (PSD) of Cohen (1977) was modified, primarily by the substitution of octyl glucoside as the detergent used to solubilize mice synaptosomal fractions. Subsequent extraction with other detergents resulted in the selective removal of specific polypeptides. In particular, sulfobetaine 3-14 removed most of the .beta.-tubulin but not .alpha.-tubulin. Sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate completely destroyed the structural integrity of the PSD when the in vitro formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds was minimized. The structure of PSD is more labile than previously thought. A technique for further examining their composition is described.