Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), also known as sodium lauryl sulfate, is an anionic surfactant widely used in various scientific applications, particularly in molecular biology, biochemical, and cell biology research. Its effectiveness stems from its amphiphilic nature, allowing it to interact with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. SDS is a versatile detergent that excels in solubilizing and denaturing proteins, making it an essential tool in protein extraction and purification procedures. By disrupting protein structures, SDS facilitates the separation of proteins based on their molecular weight during SDS-PAGE electrophoresis.
