Merck, G3272-2KG, Guanidine hydrochloride

Guanidine hydrochloride, also known as aminoformamidine hydrochloride, is a versatile compound widely used in molecular biology and biochemical research. Functioning as a potent chaotropic agent, it disrupts protein and nucleic acid structures, making it invaluable for purifying proteins, particularly mRNA. Its denaturing capabilities extend to unfolding proteins, aiding their purification and subsequent refolding, and it can even solubilize denatured insoluble proteins at higher concentrations. At lower concentrations, guanidine hydrochloride exhibits a unique effect, promoting the refolding of denatured proteins and restoring enzymatic activity. This property is advantageous for protein renaturation studies. In RNA extraction, guanidine hydrochloride acts as a robust denaturant, disrupting cell structures and inactivating RNA enzymes, ensuring the integrity of extracted RNA. In summary, guanidine hydrochloride is a versatile compound with applications in protein purification, nucleic acid isolation, and protein refolding studies, showcasing its multifaceted utility in molecular biology and biochemical research.