Transition of Solvent Interaction Research from Basic Science to Applied Science

Title:Transition of Solvent Interaction Research from Basic Science to Applied Science

Volume: 23 Issue: 11

Author(s): Tsutomu Arakawa

Affiliation:

Keywords: Co-solvent, interaction, aggregation, protein stability, osmolyte, chromatography.

Abstract: As a graduate course student, I studied the aggregation behavior of the wheat protein gluten, induced by changes in pH and ionic strength, thus beginning my research career in the field of solvent effects. The following 5 years were spent as a post-doctoral reseracher in the U.S., focused on protein-solvent interactions, which, according to my advisor, Dr. Timasheff, was too basic to be supported by academic grants. This study, however, answered a number of questions about how different solvents affect behavior of proteins in solution, e.g., a solubility behavior known as Hofmeister series. This research experience landed me an R&D position at a startup biotech company, Amgen, where knowledge on solvents played a fundamental role in protein refolding, formulation and chromatography. This demonstrates the unanticipated possibility that an un-funded, basic academic science study earlier can be transitioned later into an industrially-significant applied science.

Cite this article as:

Arakawa Tsutomu, Transition of Solvent Interaction Research from Basic Science to Applied Science, Protein & Peptide Letters 2016; 23 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929866523666160919100732