Merck, 50933-50G, Guanidine hydrochloride

General description
Guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) is a well-known protein and enzyme denaturant. It is a small molecule and hydroscopic in nature.
Application
Guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) has been used as a component of the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) for the incubation of Schlemm′s canal (SC) cells. It has also been used as a component of the digestion buffer for the gelation and expansion of human HeLa229 cells. GdnHCl is also used to isolate RNA.
Strong chaotropic agent useful for the denaturation and subsequent refolding of proteins. This strong denaturant can solubilize insoluble or denatured proteins such as inclusion bodies. This can be used as the first step in refolding proteins or enzymes into their active form. Urea and dithiothreitol (DTT) may also be necessary.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) is involved in conformational changes and loss of enzyme activity due to inactivation of the enzyme. It is involved in the loss of activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) enzyme in Haliotis diversicolor. GdnHCl functions by hampering the activity of heat shock protein 104 (Hsp104) adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in vivo. It can also inactivate enzymes like papain and aminocyclase. Higher concentrations of GdnHCl leads to viral inactivation of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1).