Effect of organic solvents on the conformation and interaction of catalase and anticatalase antibodies

Effect of six organic solvents-methanol, ethanol, propanol, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF), and glycerol on the conformation and interaction of catalase and anticatalase antibodies were studied with the aim of identifying the solvents in which antigen-antibody interactions are strong. The antigen binding activity of the antibodies in the various organic solvents increased in the following order: ethanol < methanol < no organic solvent < propanol < DMSO < DMF < glycerol. The structure of both the antibody and the antigen molecule was affected significantly in 40% concentration of the organic solvents used in this study. Catalase activity was inhibited in DMSO. However, the enzyme was activated in DMF upto about 50% of its concentration. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.