Interaction of cellulase with sodium dodecyl sulfate at critical micelle concentration level

The interactions between Trichoderma reesei cellulase and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), at critical micelle concentration level have been investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism. SDS micelles have dual interactions with cellulase: electrostatic at first and then hydrophobic interactions. When the concentration of SDS is smaller than 45.0 mM, SDS micelles cause a partial loss in the hydrolytic activity together with a steep decrease in the α-helical content of cellulase. With further increasing the concentration of SDS, however, a re-formation of the α-helical structure and a partial recovery of the hydrolytic activity of cellulase induced by SDS micelles are observed. Taken together, these results indicate that SDS micelles exert dual effects on cellulase through binding as both a denaturant and a recovery reagent.