Chemical Properties
clear to slightly hazy liquid
Definition
ChEBI: A poly(ethylene glycol) terminated with a 4-(2,4,4-trimethylpentan-3-yl) phenyl group at one end.
Uses
Nonionic detergent, emulsifier, dispersing agent. Octoxynol-9 as spermaticide.
Description
Triton X-100(9002-93-1) is a nonionic surfactant that has a hydrophilic polyethylene oxide chain (on average it has 9.5 ethylene oxide units) and an aromatic hydrocarbon lipophilic or hydrophobic group. The hydrocarbon group is a 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl group. Triton X-100 is closely related to IGEPAL CA-630 or former Nonidet P-40, which might differ from it mainly in having slightly shorter ethylene oxide chains. Thus Triton X-100 is slightly more hydrophilic than Igepal CA-630; these two detergents may not be considered to be functionally interchangeable for most applications.
Triton X-100 is a common non-ionic surfactant and emulsifier which is often used in biochemical applications to solubilize proteins. It is considered a comparatively mild detergent, non-denaturing, and is reported in numerous references as a routinely added reagent. It is utilized for lysing cells to extract protein and cellular organelles. It can also permeabilize the living cell membrane for transfection.
Brand name
Triton X-100 (Union Carbide).
General Description
Triton X-305 is a non-ionic surfactant. This octylphenol ethoxylate has higher number of ethylene oxide units, increased cmc (Critical micelle concentration) and hydrophile/lipophile balance when compared to Triton X-100. Triton X-305 is compatible with anionic, cationic, and other nonionic surfactants and chemically stable in most acidic and alkaline solutions.
Triton X-100 is a nonionic detergent, 100% active ingredient, which is often used in biochemical applications to solubilize proteins. Triton X-100 has no antimicrobial properties. It is considered a comparatively mild detergent, non-denaturing, and is reported in numerous references as a routinely added reagent. It does absorb in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum, however, so can interfere with protein quantitation. A number of polymeric resins have been used to remove X-100 from solution, including Amberlite hydrophobic XAD resins and Rezorian A161 cartridges. The "X" series of Triton detergents are produced from octylphenol polymerized with ethylene oxide. The number ("-100") relates only indirectly to the number of ethylene oxide units in the structure. X100 has an "average of 9.5" ethylene oxide units per molecule, with an average molecular weight of 625. In addition, lower and higher mole adducts will be present in lesser amounts, varying slightly within supplier's standard manufacturing conditions. No antioxidants are added by Sigma or the manufacturer, but commercial preparations of Triton X-100 have been found to contain peroxides up to 0.22% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) equivalents. These impurities may interfere with biological reactions. Sigma offers X-100-PC and X-100R-PC as biological grade alternatives.
Hazard
Triton X-100 is irritating to human skin and eyes, harmful if ingested and acutely toxic. It caused an increase in cellular and humoral immune responses in a 3-day intermittent skin study in mice, but there was no evidence of teratogenicity in rats.
Biological Activity
Triton X-100(9002-93-1) causes a change in the fluorescence characteristics of the Tritoln X-100 effectively ruptures chloroplasts and reduces the electron flow required for the Hill reaction at low concentrations. Treatment of pea root cell preparations with Tritoln X-100 and low-speed centrifugation resulted in a pellet containing a large amount of stromal material (including RNA polymerase and DNA polymerase activity, most of the DNA, about 30% of the RNA, and 50% of the protein)[1-2].
Toxics Screening Level
The current ITSL for Triton X-100 is 0.15 μg/m3, with annual averaging time (AT).
References
[1] L P VERNON; E S. Photochemical Activities of Spinach Chloroplasts Following Treatment with the Detergent Triton X-100.[J]. Plant Physiology, 1965. DOI:10.1104/pp.40.6.1269.
[2] BOTTOMLEY W. Some effects of triton x-100 on pea etioplasts.[J]. Plant Physiology, 1970. DOI:10.1104/pp.46.3.437.
