Solubilization of proteins in extracted oil bodies by SDS: A simple and efficient protein sample preparation method for Tricine–SDS–PAGE

• Protein sample preparation of extracted oil bodies for Tricine–SDS–PAGE.
• Proteins in oil body suspension can be well solubilized by SDS.
• SDS/protein mass ratio of 1.52/1 is efficient for protein solubilization.
• Higher or lower SDS/protein is unbeneficial for protein solubilization.
• About 99% of proteins can be recovered on Tricine–SDS–PAGE gel.

A simple and efficient method for preparing Tricine–SDS–PAGE protein sample of extracted oil bodies (OBs) was supplied: OB suspension was vortexed with SDS buffer (pH 6.8) for 2 min at room temperature with SDS/protein of 1.52/1 (w/w), which could be analyzed by Tricine–SDS–PAGE after simple treatments (dilution and 2-mercaptoethanol). At SDS/protein of 1.52/1, about 95% of proteins in soybean OB suspension were solubilized, whereas residual 5% of proteins were weakly bound to SDS-destroyed OBs; proteins in destroyed OBs might be further solubilized by SDS in the gel and cathode buffer of Tricine–SDS–PAGE, causing about 99% of proteins in soybean OB suspension recover on Tricine–SDS–PAGE gel, which was better than acetone (89%) and diethyl ether (96%) harvested protein samples. Higher or lower SDS/protein was unbeneficial for protein solubilization from OBs. Additionally, the above method was also better than organic solvent method for peanut, sesame, and rapeseed OB suspensions.