Saponins - (Sep/02/2007 )

Hi,

I'm googling now about saponins in desert plants..did anyone work on them before, i need some protocols on this topic!

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some people use them for epitope retreival in immuno

dom

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I use saponin for cell permeabilization. But are you talking about making them?

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i'm looking for protocols to extract and measure their concentration in plant tissues


How can these saponins permealiza cells?!!!

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take a look a wikipedia

dom

there was supposed to be an attached file but it wont work

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Same as Triton-X, I think. They punch holes in the plasma membrane and also the organelles' membrane, so that when you want to do a complete permeabilization of cells (the usual type that we use for most IF) instead of the special partial permeabilization, you can use either Triton-X or saponin. However, unlike Triton-X, when you wash away saponin, the holes are supposed to be able to close (never try this before, so I only know theriotically). I don't know about extraction of saponin, sorry can't help you there. I only know that when we handle it in the lab (powdered form), we try not to breathe it in. But that doesn't mean that it is very harmful, just that due to its capability, we do take cautions.

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Almasy, thanks for explanation
I know that saponins can permealize cells, but by which mechanism !!

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Saponins are natural, mild surfactants. So they removes the lipid components of the membrane by acting as emulsifiers. The name saponin comes from a word that means soap. They were used as natural soaps before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponin
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/saponin.html

As for how detergents work:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingswor...etergentfaq.htm
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/Brands/Fluka__...urfactants.html

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