3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS)

CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate) is a zwitterionic detergent derived from cholic acid, commonly used in laboratory research to solubilize membrane proteins and stabilize biological macromolecules (PubChem CID 70642). It is characterized by its ability to break protein-protein interactions and extract proteins from lipid bilayers while maintaining their native conformation and biological activity (Sigma-Aldrich Product Information). CHAPS micelles form spontaneously in aqueous solutions when the concentration exceeds the critical micelle concentration (CMC), which is approximately 6-10 mM depending on temperature and ionic strength. Because it is non-denaturing and electrically neutral overall, it is frequently employed in applications such as isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional electrophoresis. CHAPS is not a biological receptor or a therapeutic target for drug development; rather, it is a chemical reagent used to study such targets in vitro.

Other names

CHAPS detergent3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propane-1-sulfonateZwitterionic detergent CHAPS

CHAPS is not a therapeutic target. As a zwitterionic detergent, it functions by disrupting lipid bilayers and forming mixed micelles with membrane lipids and proteins, thereby solubilizing hydrophobic molecules in aqueous solutions without denaturing them (Hjelmeland, L. M., 1980, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A).